Rule 2 - The Course

2.1 Course Boundaries and Out of Bounds

Golf is played on a courseCourse: The entire area of play within the edge of any boundaries set by the Committee. The boundary edge extends both up above the ground and down below the ground.. Areas not on the courseCourse: The entire area of play within the edge of any boundaries set by the Committee. The boundary edge extends both up above the ground and down below the ground. are out of boundsOut of Bounds: All areas outside the boundary edge of the course as defined by the Committee. All areas inside that edge are in bounds.(...Continued).

2.2 Defined Areas of the Course

There are five areas of the courseAreas of the Course: The five defined areas that make up the course: (1) the general area, (2) the teeing area you must play from in starting the hole you are playing, (3) all penalty areas, (4) all bunkers, and (5) the putting green of the hole you are playing.. The general areaGeneral Area: The area of the course that covers all of the courseexcept for the other four defined areas: (1) the teeing area you must play from in starting the hole you are playing, (2) all penalty areas, (3) all bunkers, and (4) the putting green of the hole you are playing.(...Continued), which covers the entire courseCourse: The entire area of play within the edge of any boundaries set by the Committee. The boundary edge extends both up above the ground and down below the ground. except for the four specific areas.

• The teeing areaTeeing Area: The area you must play from in starting the hole you are playing. The teeing area is a rectangle that is two club-lengths deep where: of the hole you are playing (Rule 6.2),

• All penalty areasPenalty Area: An area from which relief with a one-stroke penalty is allowed if your ball comes to rest there.(...Continued) (Rule 17),

• All bunkersBunker: A specially prepared area of sand, which is often a hollow from which turf or soil has been removed. These are not part of a bunker: (Rule 12), and

• The putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole you are playing that is specially prepared for putting, or the Committee has defined as the putting green (such as when a temporary green is used). of the hole you are playing (Rule 13).

It is important to know the area of the courseAreas of the Course: The five defined areas that make up the course: (1) the general area, (2) the teeing area you must play from in starting the hole you are playing, (3) all penalty areas, (4) all bunkers, and (5) the putting green of the hole you are playing. where your ball lies as this affects the Rules that apply in playing your ball or taking relief.

 For information on how to treat a ball that is lying on two parts of the course.

2.3  Objects or Conditions That Can Interfere with Your Play

Free relief (relief with no penalty) may be available from: 

• Loose impedimentsLoose Impediment: Any unattached natural object such as:(...Continued) (Rule 15.1),

• Movable obstructionsMovable Obstruction: An obstruction that can be moved with reasonable effort and without damaging the obstruction or the course.(...Continued) (Rule 15.2), and

• Abnormal course conditionsAbnormal Course Condition: An animal hole, ground under repair, an immovable obstruction, or temporary water., which are animal holesAnimal Hole: Any hole dug in the ground by an animal, except for holes dug by animals that are also defined as loose impediments (such as worms or insects).(...Continued), ground under repairGround Under Repair: Any part of the course the Committee defines to be ground under repair (whether by marking it or otherwise).(...Continued), immovable obstructionsImmovable Obstruction: Any obstruction that cannot be moved without unreasonable effort or without damaging the obstruction or the course, and otherwise does not meet the definition of a movable obstruction. and temporary waterTemporary Water: Any temporary accumulation of water on the surface of the ground (such as puddles from rain or irrigation or an overflow from a body of water) that is not in a penalty area, and can be seen before or after you take a stance (without pressing down excessively with your feet).(...Continued) (Rule 16.1).

But you do not get free relief from boundary objectsBoundary Object: Artificial objects defining or showing out of bounds, such as walls, fences, stakes and railings, from which free relief is not allowed.(...Continued) or integral objectsIntegral Object: An artificial object defined by the Committee as part of the challenge of playing the course from which free relief is not allowed.(...Continued) that interfere with your play.

2.4 No Play Zones

A no play zoneNo Play Zone: A part of the course where the Committee has prohibited play. A no play zone must be defined as part of either an abnormal course condition or a penalty area. is a part of the courseCourse: The entire area of play within the edge of any boundaries set by the Committee. The boundary edge extends both up above the ground and down below the ground. that you are not allowed to play your ball from. You must also take relief if the no play zoneNo Play Zone: A part of the course where the Committee has prohibited play. A no play zone must be defined as part of either an abnormal course condition or a penalty area. interferes with your stanceStance: The position of your feet and body in preparing for and making your stroke. or area of intended swing when playing a ball outside the no play zoneNo Play Zone: A part of the course where the Committee has prohibited play. A no play zone must be defined as part of either an abnormal course condition or a penalty area..