Rule 2: The Course

The course and its boundaries are set by the Committee; everything outside them is out of bounds.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 2.1 · recall

Anything outside the boundary edge set by the Committee is out of bounds.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 2.1; Definitions (Out of Bounds) · recall

With stakes or fence posts, the edge is the line between their course-side points at ground level.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Definitions (Out of Bounds) · recall

The stakes or fence posts that define the boundary edge are themselves out of bounds.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Definitions (Out of Bounds) · recall

When an object is both inside and outside the boundary edge, only the part outside is out of bounds.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Definitions (Out of Bounds) · applied

The boundary edge extends up above and down below the ground, so anything inside it is in bounds.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Definitions (Out of Bounds) · recall

Boundary objects are treated as immovable even when they could be moved.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Definitions (Boundary Object) · applied

The boundary edge runs along the course-side points of the stakes, and the stakes themselves are already out of bounds.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Definitions (Out of Bounds) · applied

The Committee decides the boundaries and marks them; a ball is out of bounds only when all of it is beyond the edge.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 2.1; Definitions (Out of Bounds) · recall

Only A is entirely beyond the boundary edge. B still has part of the ball on the course side, and C and D are on the course.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Definitions (Out of Bounds) · applied

The course has five defined areas: the general area and four specific areas.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 2.2; Definitions (Areas of the Course) · recall

The fairway is part of the general area; the specific areas are the teeing area, penalty areas, bunkers and the putting green.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 2.2b · recall

It is the default area: whatever is not one of the four special areas belongs to it, wherever it is on the course.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 2.2a; Definitions (General Area) · recall

Only the teeing area of the hole being played is a specific area; every other teeing location is part of the general area.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Definitions (General Area) · applied

The putting green of the hole being played is a specific area; the others are wrong greens and part of the general area.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 2.2b; Definitions (Putting Green) · recall

It covers most of the course and is where most strokes are played before the ball reaches the putting green.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 2.2a · recall

The general area takes in every type of ground and growing object in it, such as fairway, rough and trees.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 2.2a · applied

Teeing area (Rule 6.2), bunkers (Rule 12), putting green (Rule 13) and penalty areas (Rule 17) each have their own Rule.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 2.2b · recall

The fairway is part of the general area, which is itself one of the five areas that make up the course.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rules 2.1 and 2.2a · applied

B is inside the area edged in red, a penalty area. A is in a bunker, C on the fairway in the general area and D on the putting green.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 2.2; Definitions (Penalty Area) · applied

A ball touching the general area and a specific area is treated as lying in the specific area.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 2.2c · applied

The bunker outranks the putting green, so the ball counts as being in the bunker and bunker Rules apply.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 2.2c · applied

The Rules always treat a ball as lying in exactly one area of the course.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 2.2c · recall

The area where the ball lies changes the Rules for playing it and the relief options available.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rules 2 (Purpose) and 2.2c · recall

Every body of water on the course is a penalty area whether or not it is marked, including ditches that are dry.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Definitions (Penalty Area) · applied

The edge is where the specially prepared area can be seen to begin, such as at a distinct cut, unless the Committee defines it another way.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Definitions (Putting Green) · recall

The teeing area is a rectangle two club-lengths deep, its front edge the line between the front points of the tee-markers.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Definitions (Teeing Area) · recall

When a ball touches two specific areas it is treated as lying in whichever comes first: penalty area, bunker, putting green.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 2.2c · recall

A specific area beats the general area, two specific areas follow the set order, and the result decides which Rules apply.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 2.2c · applied

B sits on the line between the penalty area and the bunker, and the penalty area wins. A and C count as bunker, D as putting green.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 2.2c · applied

The four abnormal course conditions are animal holes, ground under repair, immovable obstructions and temporary water.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 2.3; Definitions (Abnormal Course Condition) · recall

Integral objects are part of the challenge of playing the course, so they give no free relief.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 2.3; Definitions (Integral Object) · applied

A loose impediment is an unattached natural object; a bottle is artificial, a root is attached and sand is excluded.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 2.3; Definitions (Loose Impediment) · applied

A rake is artificial and can be moved easily without damage; a fence post is a boundary object, a sprinkler head is immovable and an aeration plug is a loose impediment.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 2.3; Definitions (Movable Obstruction) · applied

A temporary accumulation of water outside a penalty area that can be seen is temporary water, one of the abnormal course conditions.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 2.3; Definitions (Temporary Water) · applied

Dew and frost are specifically excluded from temporary water.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Definitions (Temporary Water) · recall

Free relief is relief with no penalty, such as from loose impediments, movable obstructions and abnormal course conditions.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 2.3 · recall

An obstruction is any artificial object other than a boundary or integral object; it is movable if it can be moved with reasonable effort and without damage.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Definitions (Obstruction, Movable Obstruction) · applied

Natural objects are loose impediments unless they are attached or growing, solidly embedded, or sticking to the ball.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Definitions (Loose Impediment) · applied

A boundary object (A) gives no free relief. The rake (B) is a movable obstruction, the sprinkler head (C) an immovable obstruction and the branch (D) a loose impediment.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 2.3; Definitions (Boundary Object) · applied

A no play zone is a part of the course where the Committee has prohibited play.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 2.4; Definitions (No Play Zone) · recall

Every no play zone is part of either an abnormal course condition or a penalty area.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 2.4; Definitions (No Play Zone) · recall

No play zones can protect wildlife and sensitive areas, young trees and planted areas, players' safety and historic sites.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Definitions (No Play Zone) · recall

A player must take relief when a no play zone interferes with the area of intended stance or swing, even for a ball outside it.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 2.4 · applied

Where the Committee has not marked or indicated a colour, the penalty area is treated as red.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Definitions (Penalty Area) · recall

The Committee should mark a no play zone with a line or stakes that identify it as different from the rest of the condition or penalty area.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Definitions (No Play Zone) · recall

Red penalty areas give lateral relief in addition to the two options of a yellow one; white marks out of bounds.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Definitions (Penalty Area) · recall

Play from a no play zone is never allowed, so the player must take relief under the Rule for that condition or penalty area.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 2.4; Rules 16.1f and 17.1e · applied

Out of bounds allows only stroke and distance, a yellow penalty area two options and a red one a third, lateral option.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Definitions (Penalty Area); Rules 17.1d and 18.2b · applied

C is in the penalty area but clear of the no play zone. A and D are in the zone, and B's stance would be inside it, so all three need relief.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 2.4 · applied