Common Penalties Under The Rules of Golf
More Clubs in Bag than Allowed
Fourteen clubs is the maximum allowed. Penalty for exceeding 14 in match play is
loss of hole for each hole on which the breach occurred, up to a maximum of two
holes. In stroke play, penalty is two strokes for each hole on which the breach
occurred, up to a maximum of four strokes.
Wrong Score Recorded on Scorecard
Penalty for signing scorecard that includes scores lower than actually recorded
is disqualification. There is no penalty for signing a scorecard that
incorrectly inflates a player's score, but the higher score stands.
Playing out of Turn
There is no penalty for playing out of turn. Other than the scorn of other
members of your group. In match play, a competitor has the option of making you
re-do your shot in the correct order of play.
Grounding the Club in a Hazard
Grounding the club in a hazard is illegal. Anyone who does it must assess
themselves (or have assessed) a 2-stroke penalty (or loss of hole in match
play).
Hitting an Unattended Flagstick with a Putt
The flagstick is in the hole, unattended, and your putt strikes it. That's a
2-stroke penalty in stroke play (ball subsequently played as it lies) and loss
of hole in match play.
Ball Moves after Address
If your ball moves once you've taken your address, it's a 1-stroke penalty. The
ball is replaced on its original spot.
Ball Moves after Loose Impediment is Removed
Players can remove loose impediments without penalty as long as the ball and the
loose impediment are not both in a hazard. Through the green, if the ball moves
when any loose impediment within one club length of the ball is removed, it's a
1-stroke penalty. The ball is replaced at the original spot.
Ball in Water Hazard
If you find your ball in a water hazard, you can always try to play it without
penalty. Otherwise, it's a stroke-plus-distance penalty. Option 1: Take a
1-stroke penalty and return to the spot of the original shot to re-play. Option
2: Take a 1-stroke penalty and drop a ball behind the water hazard (going back
as far as you want), keeping the point at which the original shot crossed into
the hazard directly between your drop and the hole. For a lateral water hazard,
drop within two club lengths of the spot where the ball crossed the margin of
the hazard (no nearer the hole), or on the opposite side of the hazard at an
equidistant spot.
Ball Lost or Out of Bounds
Stroke plus distance. Take a 1-stroke penalty and return to the spot of the
original shot to re-play. A provisional ball may be played before searching for
the original ball begins.
Ball Unplayable
You can declare a ball unplayable anywhere except in a water hazard, and you are
the sole judge as to whether your ball is unplayable. Declaring a ball
unplayable results in 1-stroke penalty and a drop. Drop as close as possible to
the spot of the old ball; within two club lengths and not nearer the hole; or at
any point behind the spot of the original ball, as long as that spot remains in
between the hole and the location of the dropped ball.