Golf is a game of precision, patience, and yes—plenty of rules. While many of them are straightforward, some continue to trip up even the most seasoned players. Whether it’s due to outdated traditions, clubhouse folklore, or just plain confusion, certain rules seem to be misunderstood more often than others.
Here, we break down the 10 most commonly misunderstood golf rules—and clear up the facts once and for all.
- You Can Always Take Relief from a Cart Path
Myth: You can drop the ball anywhere when it’s on a cart path.
Fact: You’re entitled to free relief, but only the nearest point of complete relief—not necessarily where you’d prefer to drop the ball. Sometimes that point could leave you with a worse lie or an awkward stance.
- Hitting a Ball Out of Bounds Means You Drop Nearby with a Penalty
Myth: Just drop a new ball near where it went out and add a stroke.
Fact: The correct procedure is stroke and distance—you must replay your shot from the original spot and take a one-stroke penalty. Local rules may allow alternatives, but only if officially adopted.
- Touching the Sand in a Bunker is Always a Penalty
Myth: Any touch of the sand before your shot is a penalty.
Fact: As of the 2019 rules update, you can now touch the sand with your hand or club—just not during your backswing or directly in front of or behind the ball when setting up.
- You Must Play the Ball as It Lies—Always
Myth: No matter what, you can’t touch or move the ball.
Fact: There are exceptions. You can take relief for abnormal course conditions like temporary water, embedded balls, or animal holes—sometimes without penalty.
- You Can’t Repair Spike Marks on the Green
Myth: If a spike mark is on your line, tough luck.
Fact: This changed in 2019. Now, you’re allowed to repair almost any damage on the green—including spike marks—before putting.
- You Can’t Ground Your Club in a Penalty Area
Myth: Grounding your club in a penalty area (formerly called a hazard) is always a penalty.
Fact: New rules allow players to ground their club and even remove loose impediments in penalty areas—just not in bunkers.
- A Ball That Moves After Address Is Always a Penalty
Myth: If your ball moves after you’ve addressed it, you’re penalized.
Fact: If it moves due to natural causes—like wind—and not because you caused it, there’s no penalty. You just play it from the new spot.
- You Can’t Ask Another Player for Advice
Myth: Any conversation about club choice or strategy is illegal.
Fact: You can’t ask or offer advice during a round, but you can discuss distances or share public information, like the location of hazards or flagstick positions.
- If You Hit the Flagstick While Putting, It’s a Penalty
Myth: Leaving the flagstick in while putting and hitting it results in a penalty.
Fact: This rule was changed in 2019. You can now leave the flagstick in, and there’s no penalty if your ball hits it.
- A Lost Ball Gives You Free Relief
Myth: If you lose a ball, you just drop a new one and take a stroke.
Fact: Unless a local rule allows otherwise, a lost ball requires you to return to the original spot under the stroke and distance rule—just like hitting it out of bounds.
Final Thoughts
Golf’s rules have evolved in recent years to make the game more enjoyable and accessible, but myths and outdated beliefs persist. Knowing the correct rules not only helps your score—it helps speed up play and ensures fairness. So next time you’re in doubt, skip the clubhouse hearsay and check the official rulebook!