# Rule 2: The Course (The R&A and USGA Rules of Golf)

Golf · Rule 2: The Course · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/golf/laws/rule-2-the-course/)

What every player needs to know about the course: where its boundaries are and what out of bounds means, the five defined areas and how to tell which one a ball lies in, the objects and conditions that can give free relief or none, and the no play zones where play is not allowed.

## 2.21 The Course

Course boundaries and out of bounds, the five areas of the course, a ball touching two areas, objects and conditions that interfere with play, and no play zones.

### Test 1: Course boundaries and out of bounds

- 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)
- 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))
- 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))
- The stakes or fence posts that define the boundary edge are themselves out of bounds. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Definitions (Out of Bounds))
- 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))
- 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))
- Boundary objects are treated as immovable even when they could be moved. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Definitions (Boundary Object))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))

### Test 2: The five areas of the course

- 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))
- 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)
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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))

### Test 3: A ball touching two areas

- 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)
- 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)
- The Rules always treat a ball as lying in exactly one area of the course. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 2.2c)
- 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)
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)

### Test 4: Objects and conditions that interfere with play

- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- Dew and frost are specifically excluded from temporary water. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Definitions (Temporary Water))
- 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)
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))

### Test 5: No play zones and penalty areas

- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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)
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)

Sources: Rules of Golf, effective January 2023 (The R&A and USGA), Rule 2 and the Definitions (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Rules, not reproduced)

Take the tests: https://insporta.app/try?utm_source=book&utm_medium=referral