Showing 1 - 10 of 55
Repair the green, respect the game
Sports, Brett Brasier, Published on 01/04/2026
» Ball marks, shoe damage such as spike marks and scrapes or indentations caused by equipment or a flagstick are regarded as damage to the putting green and therefore may be repaired. Also included would be old hole plugs, turf plugs, seams of cut turf and scrapes or indentations from maintenance tools or vehicles, animal tracks or hoof indentations, and embedded objects such as a stone, acorn, hail or tee and indentations caused by them.
Mind the green for better play
Sports, Brett Brasier, Published on 25/03/2026
» If you lay down the flagstick, place it off the green to prevent doing any damage to the green and to hinder it from getting in the way of play. Generally, if there is no caddie, the player closest to the hole will be regarded as the one to look after and tend the flagstick when applicable. Try not to hang around after putting; therefore, after everyone has holed out, immediately walk to the next tee.
Smart play! Time to know your bunker relief options
Sports, Brett Brasier, Published on 04/03/2026
» There is no penalty for accidentally hitting the ball twice during a single stroke. If a player's club strikes the ball more than once, it only counts as one stroke, and the ball is played as it lies.
A guide to getting ball back in play
Sports, Brett Brasier, Published on 25/02/2026
» Drop a golf ball when taking free or penalty relief -- for example; a hazard, unplayable lie or abnormal conditions within a defined relief area. Place a ball back after previously marking it and lifting it from the green, replacing it after it moves, or cleaning it on the putting green.
Unplayable lies: Know the three relief options
Sports, Brett Brasier, Published on 04/02/2026
» You have basically three options if your golf ball finds itself in an unplayable lie. An unplayable lie allows a golfer to take relief almost anywhere on the course but comes with a one-stroke penalty, excluding penalty areas. The player is the sole judge of whether a ball is unplayable. The 3-options for relief are -- stroke-and-distance, back-on-the-line, or lateral relief within two club-lengths of where the ball is at rest.
One wrong score for a hole can end your round
Sports, Brett Brasier, Published on 15/10/2025
» If you return a scorecard with a wrong score for a hole; the score you entered stands if it was higher than your actual score. However, you are disqualified if you return a score that is lower than your actual score or if you fail to return a score for a hole. Putting down a lower score is considered a serious breach of the rules and results in disqualification, unless an unknown penalty was the cause. Some professional tours have adopted a rule that gives players a 15-minute window to correct an incorrect score after leaving the scoring area.
Golf made simple: Key rules every player should know
Sports, Brett Brasier, Published on 01/10/2025
» Carrying on with some basic 'easy to understand' golf rules that we all need to know well. To correctly drop a golf ball, you must release the ball from your hand at knee height, allowing it to fall straight down without touching your body or equipment before hitting the ground. The ball must then land and come to rest within the defined relief area for that required situation. Should it bounce away from the dropping area you can try two more times. If still unsuccessful -- you can then place the ball. If you drop the ball incorrectly, you simply must re-drop it without penalty, but you incur a penalty if you play the ball from a wrong place after dropping it.
Why a provisional saves you long walk back
Sports, Brett Brasier, Published on 17/09/2025
» Continuing on the theme of our rules; here's one that we should all know but it's best to go through the procedure once more.
Old tricks and new science in green reading
Sports, Brett Brasier, Published on 27/08/2025
» I have to be honest and say that the 'Feet Feeling Method' for finding the break in a putt has never excited me. This involves using your feet to feel the slope of the green while you walk around it. The Plumb Bob Method in finding the line of any putt involves using your putter as a plumb line to judge the slope. To do this, you need to stand behind your ball, at a right angle to the hole, and hold up your putter so it covers the ball. Then, you align the shaft of your putter with the ball. If the shaft seems to tilt to one side, it indicates that the green also slopes in that direction and you then allow for this.
Play it smart, watch your game soar
Sports, Brett Brasier, Published on 07/05/2025
» Good decisions on the golf course make up a good score and therefore allows you to feel good about yourself. Well thought out actions on the links will express your talents, skills, and knowledge. A good decision will silence many when you come in with a good score, and move you closer to your golfing goals. Your frustrations and anger disperse with a good decision on the golf course.