Golf Rules Quiz
Questions: 16 · 10 minutes
1. Which action is allowed in match play but is not part of ordinary stroke play?
Conceding an opponent's next stroke, a hole, or the match.
Replaying any stroke that both sides consider unfair.
Ignoring a penalty when both players agree it made no difference.
Combining both players' scores into one score for the hole.
2. Under the standard procedure, without a Local Rule offering another option, what relief applies when your ball is out of bounds?
Drop within two club-lengths of where the ball crossed the boundary, adding one penalty stroke.
Take stroke-and-distance relief by adding one penalty stroke and playing from where the previous stroke was made.
Drop on a line extending back from where the ball crossed the boundary, adding one penalty stroke.
Drop at the nearest point inside the boundary, adding two penalty strokes.
3. You address a teed ball and make a full swing intending to hit it, but miss completely. What is the result?
The swing counts as a stroke, and the ball remains in play in the teeing area.
The swing does not count because the ball did not move.
The swing counts only if another player saw it.
You add one penalty stroke but do not count the swing itself.
4. While searching in long grass, you accidentally move your ball with your foot. What is the usual ruling?
Replace the ball in its original spot, with no penalty for the accidental movement during the search.
Play the ball from its new position, with no penalty.
Replace the ball and add one penalty stroke.
Declare the ball unplayable and take penalty relief.
5. Your ball stops on the wrong putting green. What must you generally do?
Play the ball as it lies unless the course has a Local Rule requiring relief.
Take free relief so the wrong green no longer interferes with the lie, stance, or intended swing.
Move the ball to the edge of that green and add one penalty stroke.
Putt across the wrong green but avoid damaging its surface.
6. What is the maximum number of clubs a player may normally start a round with?
There is no maximum if every club is declared before play.
12 clubs.
15 clubs.
14 clubs.
7. A ball from your approach shot is embedded in its own pitch mark in the fairway. What relief is generally available?
No relief; embedded-ball relief applies only on the putting green.
One-stroke relief within two club-lengths of the pitch mark.
Free placement anywhere on the nearest closely mown area.
Free relief by dropping in the prescribed relief area immediately behind the ball's spot.
8. When are you generally allowed to play a provisional ball?
Whenever the original ball may be in any penalty area.
Whenever you dislike the likely lie of the original ball.
When the original ball may be lost outside a penalty area or may be out of bounds.
Only after the three-minute search period has expired.
9. A putt played from the putting green strikes the flagstick left in the hole. What is the general ruling?
Add one penalty stroke and play the ball as it lies.
Cancel the stroke and replay it without penalty.
There is no penalty solely because the ball struck the flagstick; play it as it lies or treat it as holed when applicable.
Add two penalty strokes if the ball drops into the hole.
10. Your ball enters a red penalty area, and you choose lateral relief. What is the usual procedure?
Add one penalty stroke and drop within two club-lengths of the estimated crossing point, no nearer the hole.
Drop within one club-length of the estimated crossing point without penalty.
Add two penalty strokes and place the ball on the nearest fairway.
Drop anywhere behind the penalty area on the line of play without penalty.
11. Before lifting your ball from the putting green so that you can clean it, what should you do?
Ask another player to watch the ball's location.
Mark the ball's position with a ball-marker or another permitted marker.
Move the ball one putter-head away from the hole.
Announce that you are taking free relief.
12. In individual stroke play, you ask another competitor which club they just used before making your own stroke. How is this generally treated?
It is allowed because the other person has already played.
It is allowed if you do not ask about distance or wind.
It is permitted once per hole as a pace-of-play measure.
It is asking for advice and normally brings the general penalty.
13. You need to lift a ball in the rough to identify whether it is yours. Which procedure is generally correct?
Lift and fully clean the ball, then drop it within one club-length.
Play a provisional ball first, because a ball in the rough cannot be lifted for identification.
Ask another player to lift it, then play it from where they place it.
Mark its position, lift only as needed for identification, and replace it on its original spot.
14. Your ball lies in a bunker beside a loose leaf. What may you generally do?
Move the ball away from the leaf and replace it without penalty.
Remove the leaf only after playing the ball out of the bunker.
Remove the leaf, taking care not to cause the ball to move.
Remove the leaf only by taking unplayable-ball relief.
15. Which list contains the three standard one-stroke relief options for an unplayable ball in the general area?
Nearest-point relief, opposite-side relief, or a free drop behind the ball.
Stroke-and-distance relief, back-on-the-line relief, or lateral relief within two club-lengths.
Lateral relief, free line-of-sight relief, or replaying without penalty.
A free drop, a one-club-length drop, or placement on the nearest fairway.
16. A spectator accidentally kicks your stationary ball in the general area. What should you generally do?
Play it from the new position without penalty.
Drop within one club-length of the new position.
Replace the ball on its original spot, with no penalty to you.
Add one penalty stroke and replace the ball.