Alaska Golf Association · Rules of Golf
Rules of Golf
The AGA is Alaska's authoritative source for the USGA Rules of Golf. Know the rules. Play the game right. Everything you need is right here.
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Get the Rules of Golf
Free Mobile App
The USGA's Official Rules of Golf app is free — the fastest way to look up a rule on the course, search definitions, and access the full text with clarifications. Available for Apple and Android.
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Android →
Full Rules Online
The complete 2023 Rules of Golf — full text, all clarifications, definitions, and Committee Procedures — available free online through the USGA. Read and search the rules from any device, any time.
Read the Rules →
Free Book for AGA Members
Every AGA member is entitled to a free copy of the USGA Rules of Golf book upon request. Email info@alaskagolf.org to request your copy.
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The AGA & The Rules
Golf is the only sport where players
call penalties on themselves.
call penalties on themselves.
The AGA & The Rules
Knowing the rules isn't just a competitive advantage.
It's what makes you a complete golfer.
It's what makes you a complete golfer.
That's not a quirk of the game — it's the foundation of it. The AGA is here to make sure every Alaska golfer has access to the rules, the education, and the support to play the game right. Because the integrity of this sport starts with the people who play it.
Learn the Rules
Education Resources
Rules 101 — Online Course
The USGA's free, self-paced introduction to the Rules of Golf. Perfect for new golfers and anyone who wants to build a solid rules foundation from scratch.
Take the Course →
Virtual Rules School
A more in-depth online program from the USGA — ideal for golfers who want to deepen their understanding and prepare for competitive play or officiating at AGA events.
Enroll Now →
Rules Quizzes
700 questions across basic, intermediate, and advanced levels — updated for the 2023 Rules. Test your knowledge and sharpen your rules game before tournament season.
Take a Quiz →
Rules Explanation Videos
The USGA's YouTube playlist breaks down specific rules situations with clear, concise video explanations. Great for visual learners and for settling debates on the 18th green.
Watch the Videos →
USGA Rules Hub
The USGA's central hub for all rules resources — FAQs, the complete rules library, clarifications, committee procedures, and every educational tool the USGA offers.
Visit the Hub →
Become a Rules Official
Interested in officiating at AGA championships? The AGA Volunteer Corps trains and deploys rules officials at every event. Join the Corps, learn the rules at depth, and earn your membership doing it.
Join the Volunteer Corps →
The AGA's Role
Alaska's Local
Rules Authority
Rules Authority
As the USGA's allied golf association for Alaska, the AGA is the state's official resource for everything related to the Rules of Golf. That means providing rules officials at AGA championships, educating members, distributing free Rules of Golf books, and serving as the first point of contact for any rules question out of Alaska golf. If you have a question — from a simple on-course situation to a complex competitive ruling — the AGA is here to help.
Contact the AGA
24
Rules of Golf covering every situation in the game
2023
Current edition — joint USGA and R&A rules
Free
Rules of Golf book for every AGA member
7 days
USGA rules support line — 908-326-1850
AGA Championships
Every ruling made correctly.
Every scorecard earned.
Every scorecard earned.
Common Situations
Rules Every Golfer Should Know
What happens if I can't find my ball?
Under Rule 18.2, a ball is lost if not found within three minutes of beginning to search. You must take stroke-and-distance relief — return to where you last played and add one penalty stroke. Play a provisional ball (Rule 18.3) before searching to save time.
Can I move a loose impediment anywhere on the course?
Under Rule 15.1, you may move loose impediments (leaves, sticks, stones) anywhere on the course — including in bunkers and penalty areas — without penalty, as long as doing so doesn't cause your ball to move.
What is the penalty for hitting out of bounds?
Stroke and distance under Rule 18.2 — add one penalty stroke and replay from the original spot. Committees may also adopt a local rule allowing a two-stroke penalty drop option as an alternative to replaying from the original location.
Do I get relief from a cart path?
Yes — cart paths are immovable obstructions under Rule 16.1. You are entitled to free relief: find the nearest point of complete relief no closer to the hole, and drop within one club-length of that point. This applies to your stance, lie, and swing.
What counts as advice — and can I ask for it?
Under Rule 10.2, you may not ask anyone except your caddie for advice during a round. You can ask about public information (distances, hole locations, rules) but not club selection, shot shape, or swing. Giving or seeking advice from another player is a one-stroke penalty.
Can I repair spike marks on the green?
Yes — under Rule 13.1c, you may repair virtually any damage on the putting green, including spike marks, ball marks, and shoe scuffs. You may not repair natural surface imperfections or normal wear of the hole.
What is a penalty area and how does relief work?
Penalty areas are marked red or yellow. Red areas allow lateral relief — drop within two club-lengths of where the ball last crossed the edge, no closer to the hole, for one penalty stroke. Yellow areas require back-on-the-line or stroke-and-distance relief.
How many clubs am I allowed to carry?
A maximum of 14 clubs under Rule 4.1. If you start with fewer, you may add clubs during the round up to that limit. Carrying more than 14 results in a two-stroke penalty per hole, maximum four strokes per round.
Physical Copies
Order a Rules of Golf Book
AGA members receive one free Rules of Golf book upon request — email info@alaskagolf.org. Additional copies and the Official Guide to the Rules of Golf are available through USGA Publications. The USGA does not provide free books to non-members.
Order from USGA Publications
Free for AGA Members
Email info@alaskagolf.org to request your copy
Order Online
Order by Phone
1-800-336-4446
USGA Rules Questions
908-326-1850 · 7 days a week
rules@usga.org
rules@usga.org
Have a Rules Question?
We're Alaska's
Local Rules Resource
Local Rules Resource
If you have a rules question — from a situation that came up in your round to a competitive ruling at an AGA event — reach out to the AGA directly. We're here to help, or we'll connect you with the right USGA resource to get you a definitive answer.
Play the Game Right.
Join the Alaska Golf Association and get your free Rules of Golf book, access to rules officials at every AGA championship, and a community that takes the integrity of this game seriously.