Find A Course
Find A Course

Rules

THE BASICS

Starting from the teeing ground, the player hits the ball towards the cup, counting the number of strokes you take until the ball goes into the cup. The object is to put the ball in the cup with the fewest number of strokes. A “hole” is defined as the area from the teeing ground to the cup. One round consists of 18 holes.

  1. Each hole is 25 to 110 yards long, and can be Par-3, Par-4, or Par-5. Nine holes has a total par of 33.
  2. The difficulty of a hole depends on its distance and the layout of its elements, including the fairway, the rough, bunkers, and OB (out of bounds) zones.
  3. In stroke play, players count the number of strokes taken to complete each hole, adding up the total number of strokes taken over one or more rounds. The player with the fewest strokes wins.

 

PLAYING A ROUND

  1. One group should consist of 4 or fewer players. Slower groups should allow faster groups to play through.
  2. Order of play for the tee shot on the first hole should be determined by lottery (drawing straws, etc). For the next hole, the player with the best score in the previous hole plays first.
  3. From the second shot onwards, the ball farthest hole is generally played first.
  4. After finishing a hole, scores should be recorded after moving to the next hole.
  5. Any penalty incurred results in two strokes added to a player’s score, unless otherwise noted.
  6. Each player must play using only one club, one ball, and one tee (if any equipment gets damaged, it may be replaced with the consent of the other players).
  7. Players must use equipment that is certified by the Nippon
    Park Golf Association, or approved by the IPGAA. This ensures safety and fairness for all players (see Equipment for more information)

 

SELF-REFEREEING

  1. Responsibility: Players are responsible for refereeing their own games. They should consult with their card-mates when necessary.
  2. Making Calls: Most calls are straightforward and involve balls at rest. Players should call their own penalties.
  3. Seeking Input: In cases of uncertainty, players may seek input from their card-mates, but the final decision rests with the player.
  4. Conduct: Park Golf emphasizes honesty, integrity, and good sportsmanship. Players are expected to play fairly.
  5. Spirit of the Game: Adhering to the rules in a relaxed and friendly manner ensures an enjoyable experience for all participants.

 

EXPLANATION OF THE RULES

On the Teeing Ground – First Shot

  1. The first shot on a hole (the tee shot) is taken within the teeing ground. The ball must be placed on a tee and must be inside the teeing area. Your stance must be completely inside the teeing ground.
  2. A swing that completely misses the ball is not counted as a stroke. If you strike the ball but it remains on the teeing ground, it is not deemed a stroke and you may tee up again.
  3. If you hit the ball during address and it falls off the tee, it is not deemed as a stroke, and you may tee up again.
  4. When making a tee shot, you cannot ask other players to mark their balls.

 

From the Second Shot Onwards

  1. The ball farthest from the hole is played first.
  2. The ball must be played as it lies, except when marking and lifting the ball, lifting the ball in a relief situation, placing a ball that is OB, or as otherwise provided by the rules. A ball in play must not be touched, moved, or kicked. You cannot improve the lie of your ball by breaking or bending branches, pressing the ground down, etc. Doing so will incur a penalty.
  3. If the clubhead touches the ball during address, it is counted as a stroke.
  4. If the ball moves of its own accord before you address it, it is deemed a result of the previous stroke. You must play it from where it came to rest.
  5. A swing that completely misses the ball is not counted as a stroke. However, it is counted as a stroke if the ball moves.
  6. Movable obstructions (stones, leaves, twigs, animal droppings, mushrooms, etc.) may be removed without penalty. If the ball moves because of removing the obstruction, the ball must be returned to its original position with no penalty.
  7. From the second shot onwards, if another player’s ball is interfering with your play, you can request the player to mark the ball. To mark a ball, place a ball marker directly behind the ball in line with the cup or target, then lift the ball.
  8. If your ball is within 2 club lengths of the cup, you can mark the ball and lift it of your own accord, or inform the other players and play out the hole.
  9. If your ball in play is hit and moved by another ball, you must place it back to its original position. The striking ball must be played from where it came to rest.
  10. If you decide that your ball is unplayable, you must declare an unplayable ball, add 1 stroke to your score, then place the ball on a spot within 1 club length of and not closer to the hole than the spot where the ball lays.
  11. If an OB stake or net is interfering with play of your ball, you must play it as it lies or declare an “unplayable ball” to take relief (adding 1 stroke to your score).
  12. If your ball lies in heavy rough and you step down on the grass or use your club to press it down, you incur a penalty for improving the lie of your ball.
  13. An illegal shot (pushing the ball, pulling the ball, hitting the ball twice, etc.) incurs a penalty.
  14. If you make a stroke on another player’s ball by mistake (wrong ball), the stroke is not counted, but you incur a penalty. You must place the wrong ball back to its original position and continue play with your own ball.
  15. If your ball hits any part of another player’s body, no penalty is incurred, and you must play the ball from where it came to rest.
  16. If you make a stroke on your ball and it hits your own body (directly or indirectly), you incur a penalty, and you must play the ball from where it came to rest.
  17. If your ball becomes cracked or damaged, you can substitute it with another ball after confirmation from another player. No penalty is incurred.
  18. After declaring your intention to the other players, you can mark your ball and lift it (to check or clean it, etc.)
  19. If your ball lies in a puddle (casual water), you may take relief without penalty after confirmation from another player. You must place the ball on a spot that avoids the casual water, nearest to where the ball lay but not closer to the hole.
  20. When hitting from a bunker, smoothing down the sand to improve the condition of the lie results in a penalty. However, you may plant your feet firmly to take your stance, and you may rest the club’s sole on the sand (but you must not press down on the sand).
  21. Playing a ball inside an OB area is prohibited. OB areas are marked by OB stakes. The OB boundary line is determined by connecting the course-side points of any two adjacent OB stakes. A ball at rest is not out of bounds if any part of it touches this line. If the ball enters an OB area and comes to rest in bounds, no penalty is incurred. If there is doubt as to whether or not the ball is OB, you must obtain confirmation from another player. Some courses may include their own “home rules” for OB, such as “sidewalk and beyond are OB” or “fence line is OB”, and these rules should be clearly stated by the course.
  22. If your ball goes OB, you incur a penalty, and you must place the ball on a spot within 2 club lengths of, and not closer to the hole than the point where the ball last crossed the OB line.
  23. If you return a score that is lower than your actual score, you and all the players in your group who confirmed your score will be disqualified.