The rules of golf can be complicated. It is important to understand how they work to ensure that you are following them, you can even use them to your advantage if you know them well enough. Before going into the specific rules, it is important to understand there are five specific areas of the golf course under Rule 2. These five areas are:
Penalty areas will be found on nearly every golf course that you will play, so it is important to understand the differences between the two penalty area colors and how to proceed if you find your ball in a penalty area.
A very common situation that arises on the golf course is when a cart path interferes with a players lie, stance, or area of swing. Knowing how to properly handle this situation will help you stay safe while playing.
Sometimes during a round the best option for a shot is to not take it and take relief. Understanding how the unplayable ball rule works will ensure that you follow the rules and can even help you out of a tough situation.