The rule every amateur needs to be aware of after putting off the green which could save you strokes

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The rules of golf are an absolute minefield at times, with the regulations put in place by the R&A and the USGA often leading to more confusion than anything else.

However, amateurs may not be aware of one of the most simple rules of golf and it actually could help you out if you familiarize yourself with it.

The USGA are at the center of real controversy right now, with regards to one incoming rule change.

The USGA will be implementing the golf ball rollback rule in 2028, much to the frustration of golf fans and PGA Tour pros alike.

While some rules put in place by golf’s governing bodies seem to be fairly pedantic, there is one that all amateur golfers should really be aware of, so that they can take advantage of it if the opportunity presents itself.

The rule every amateur needs to know after putting off the green

Let’s say you face a tricky putt with the green sloping away from you, and you stroke your ball with a little too much power.

We’ve all been there before. You stand back and watch hopelessly as your ball drifts off into the distance and falls off the edge of the putting surface.

Sometimes your ball ends up in a bunker, or in a nasty lie in the rough or even in a bare lie on a tightly cut fringe.

More often than not, you will now be short-sided, and faced with a really difficult chip, pitch or bunker shot back to the pin.

Here’s where it gets interesting.

Rather than play that shot, you can take a stroke and distance penalty, and simply replace your ball to the exact position you putted from before.

By doing that, you will know the exact pace and line of the putt you just hit and although you have to suffer a one-stroke penalty, you may well be in a better position to salvage a decent score from the hole than you otherwise would be.

Three other golf rules amateurs should be using to their advantage

Understanding the rules of golf can actually be hugely beneficial for you, and a real knowledge of them might just help you lower your scores.

Here are three more rules all amateurs really should be keeping an eye out for.

1. If your ball comes to rest just outside of a hazard, but your swing is impeded by an immovable obstruction inside said hazard, you are entitled to a free drop. If your ball is sitting inside the hazard line, you are not allowed a free drop. It’s vital to be aware of the difference in when faced with situations like this.
2. So what happens if you accidentally move your ball when searching for it? Do you incur a penalty? The answer to that question is no. Simply replace your ball in its original resting spot and if you can’t be sure of its exact position, just use your best judgement to estimate where your ball was lying initially.
3. If your drive finds the rough but you’re standing in the fairway to play your shot, always keep an eye on your surroundings. Are you standing on a sprinkler-head? If so, you can drop your ball back into the fairway due to the ‘free relief’ rule. The reason for that is because the rough and the fairway are both considered to be the same part of the golf course – the ‘General Area’.

So there you have it. It is an absolute must for amateur golfers to keep themselves in the loop with the rules of golf.