It may seem silly to describe the areas of the course in a video, especially if you have already been playing for a while. However, in 2019 the new rules of golf contain quite a few new terms. Knowing the Defined Areas of The Course will help you understand which rules apply (or don’t apply) in certain areas of the course.
Rule 2.2 Defined Areas of the Course.
The General Area covers the entire course expect for the four specific areas of the course described in Rule 2.2b.
- It covers most of the course and is where a player’s ball will most often be played until the ball reaches the Putting Green
- It includes every type of ground and growing or attached objects found in that area, such as fairways, rough and trees.
There are now four specific areas of the course under Rule 2.2b
- The Teeing Area the player must use in starting the hole he or she is playing,
- All Penalty Areas (Rule 17)
- All Bunkers (Rule 12), and
- The Putting Green of the hole the player is playing (Rule 1.3)
Take a peek at the video below for the foundation of the Defined Areas of the Course.
According to the USGA Rules of Golf:
Rule 2.2c The area of the course where a player’s ball lies affects the Rules that apply in playing the ball or taking relief.
A ball is always treated as lying in only one area of the course.
- If part of the ball is in both the General Area and one of the four specific Areas of the Course, it is treated as lying in that specific area of the course.
- If part of the ball is in two specific Areas of the Course, it is treated as lying in the specific are that comes first in this order: Penalty Area, Bunker, Putting Green.
TIP: A fun way to remember this priority list is to think of a PB&J sandwich, but PB&G (Penalty, Bunker, Green).
Marcela launched Girlfriends Guide To Golf and her On-Course Rules Experiences to grow the game, help women learn the rules of golf, and feel more confident out on the course.