Just like with every sport, there are some rules dictated in the official rulebook that are likely to raise a few eyebrows. While some of these rules are not usually enforced, anyone officiating a competition would be well within their rights to pull up a golfer on any of these rulings – all the while leaving more than a few people scratching their heads at the absurdity of it all!
Here are some of golf’s most bizarre rules so you can be prepared for any eventuality on the green – perfect for pulling up friends with when they’re storming ahead of you in a game!
Play it where it lies
This is the most famous rule which is the bane of golfers around the world, even the pros get stung by this rule from time to time. Your ball gets stuck in a tree as it’s coming down? We’re afraid you’ll either have to climb up that tree to hit it out or suffer the stroke penalty. Even if your ball winds up in the clubhouse, which has been known to happen from time to time, you’ll still have to hit it from inside since it isn’t quite out-of-bounds – let’s hope that they’ll let you open a window at least.
Beware of falling on fruit
Apparently, if your ball becomes lodged within an orange, you must play the shot without dislodging it first or suffer a penalty. Probably best to direct your shot away from the fruit orchard…
Don’t spit on your club
We’re not quite sure why you’d do this anyway, but it’s a great deterrent for anyone disgusting enough to do this. Apparently spitting on your club can give an unfair advantage in reducing spin on a ball, plus the fact that it’s a repulsive thing to do in polite society… just don’t do it guys.
Protection from the elements
Some courses come rife with painful elements that you can unluckily find yourself in if a shot doesn’t go your way – a cactus field is one such painful inclusion in a golf course designed by sadists. While you can protect yourself from painful elements like prickly spikes by buying some sturdy pants in a golf sale or wrapping a towel round yourself, you wouldn’t be allowed to put a towel over the element itself – we’re not entirely sure why.
Water is for drinking
If at any point you thought that you’d come up with an ingenious idea of testing the level of a putting green by placing a water bottle on it and checking the gradient, well, there’s a rule against that. Just like you aren’t allowed to rake bunkers to test how to play it, the same goes for greens too.
Head’s up
If while taking a shot and the head of your club falls off during your downswing it counts as one stroke whether you managed to hit the ball or not. Bizarrely, if the clubhead falls off in your backswing, then it doesn’t count as a stroke – but it’d probably be good manners to shout “fore” when people have a clubhead hurtling towards them.
