A golf ball in the rough beside a white boundary stake

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Get plain-English answers to golf rules, including any penalty, your options and what to do next. Search with a few words, or choose a common situation.

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Golfers searching for a ball in the rough

Lost ball

Ruling, penalty and relief options.

Club hovering above the sand beside a ball

Bunker rules

What you can and can’t do in a bunker.

Out of bounds

Ruling, penalty and where to play next.

Golfer checking where a ball crossed a penalty-area edge

Penalty areas

Red and yellow penalty areas explained.

Cart paths

When you can get free relief.

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A golfer practising a putt between holes

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About What’s the Ruling?

Plain-English golf rules for the situations that actually happen on the course. Every guide explains the ruling, any penalty and exactly what to do next, with links to the official Rules of Golf.

Explore the official rules

Based on the official Rules of Golf (R&A)
Plain-English explanations
Built for real situations on the course

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