1. Count all of your strokes. If you don’t, I am sure someone will help you. You know who counts an 8? Someone who doesn’t want a 9. We all, on occasion, have missed counted our strokes. Don’t be a douche, if your playing group is telling you that you hit the ball 9 times then you should listen to them and work out the number.

1.1 If you swing with the intent of hitting the ball and miss, add the stroke.

2. You cannot improve your lie, stance or swing.

2.1. Improving the Situation: The Rules of Golf forbid improving the situation in which a golf ball has come to rest. This includes "breaking anything growing or fixed," moving or pressing down the surface on which the ball lies, making or removing "irregularities" on the playing surface, or moving any form of water (including dew or frost).

2.2. Exception: Stance: If your ball lands such that you are not able to stand on playable ground--such as if your stance would be on a cart path or sprinkler head--you may move your ball one club length from the spot where it lies, but not closer to the hole.

3. Teeing Ground

The "teeing ground" is the starting place for the hole to be played. It is a rectangular area two club-lengths in depth, the front and the sides of which are defined by the outside limits of two tee-markers. A ball is outside the teeing ground when all of it lies outside the teeing ground.

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4. Lost ball off the Tee Box, hit the provisional. Hit the provisional if you even think that it might not be lost. (Add one stroke). In the interest of time, you can only hit 2 balls off the tee box - the first tee shot and then a provisional. If both balls go out of play you will drop a 3rd ball two club lengths from where the 2nd ball went out of play. You would then be hitting 5. Your riding partner must agree where the ball went out of play. The simple concept is where you started looking for your lost ball is where you should be taking the drop.

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5. Lost ball - If you think the ball is lost, hit a provisional ball which would be a 1 stroke penalty.

5.1 - You have 3 minutes to look for your lost ball. At the end of 3 minutes your ball is lost, move on with your life.

5.2 - If you did not hit a provisional ball then drop your new ball 2 club lengths from where the ball was lost but no closer to the hole. Take a 2 stroke penalty.

5.3 - If you or anyone else finds your ball you MUST play that ball.

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6. Water Hazard –

6.1 Yellow Stakes or Lines: If your ball is in a water hazard (yellow stakes and / or lines) you may play the ball as it lies or, under penalty of one stroke: • play a ball from where your last shot was played, OR • drop a ball any distance behind the water hazard keeping a straight line between the hole, the point where the ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard and the spot on which the ball is dropped.

6.2 Red Stakes or Lines If your ball is in a LATERAL water hazard (red stakes and/or lines), in addition to the above options for a ball in a water hazard, under penalty of one stroke, you may drop the ball within two club lengths but not closer to the hole. • the point where the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard, OR • a point on the opposite side of the hazard equidistant to the hole from the point where the ball last crossed the margin.

7. Out of bounds. We don't really play "out of Bounds. If you find it you can hit it (in most cases) but... If you did not hit a provisional then drop you ball 2 club lengths from where the ball went out of bounds but no closer to the hole. Take a 2 stroke penalty.

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8. Unplayable ball. A player can determine at any time that their ball is unplayable. Your choices are: a. Hit a provisional ball again from the same place you hit the original ball. Add 1 stroke penalty. b. Drop the ball 2 club lengths (no closer to the hole). Add 1 stroke penalty c. Drop the ball in a straight line backwards between the unplayable ball and the hole. Add 1 stroke penalty

8.1. An unplayable ball in a bunker must be dropped in the bunker.

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9. Relief is given if your ball is on a cart path, ground under repair and any manmade object. You get one club length but the ball cannot move closer to the hole.

9.1. A root does not constitute the need for relief. A fence that is marking the boundary of the golf course is not a “manmade object”. When in doubt, get a ruling from your playing partners.

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10. Grounding your club in a hazard (sand or water), add a stroke. You may ground your club on the fairway, rough and off the tee.

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11. Hitting the wrong ball – add 2 strokes

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12. Hitting the ball twice during one swing – add 2 strokes

13. Mark your ball, hell, mark all of your balls. You must always know what ball you are hitting and your group must know what ball you’re hitting. Don’t be the guy that hits 2 balls into the woods and then pretends he found the first one or say “Oh yea, I forgot I was playing ball x.” Just add a stroke or 2 and play on.

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14. You must finish every putt and call your score to the group before leaving putting green. You must turn in your scorecard.

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15. Any player who witnesses a violation of the rules must say something as soon as possible so that the violation can be corrected. In case of any dispute, table it until the end of the round and the Commissioner will make his ruling.

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16. In 2018, a fee of between $80.00 and $120.00 is due before the first day of play. This money is used for awards and other Broken Joe Golf paraphernalia. No one who has not paid this fee will not be eligible to compete until the fee is paid.

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17. All players must RSVP the Sunday prior to the round. This so that tee times and cart assignments can be made on Monday. Failure to RSVP will result in a "Did Not Play".

18. In cases of a tie during a Major, there will be a 3 hole playoff. For all other rounds, the tie will be broken by a putt off on the practice green.

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19. Be competitive but don’t forget to have fun. If you not laughing at yourself then it just makes the rest of us look bad for laughing at you instead of with you. Remember, no one gets out a live, so enjoy the moment.

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20. Last but not least, the Commissioner is always right.

20.1 If you believe that the Commissioner is wrong, you can appeal his decision to the Competition Committee. While it is true that the Commissioner and the Competition Committee is the same person, I do take more time to make a ruling as the Competition Committee. This works well in the NFL, just ask Roger Goodell.

20.2 If at any time you believe that the Commissioner is wrong, please re-read rule 17.

19. In any case not covered by these rules, you can always quickly google the Rules of Golf for an initial ruling so that play may continue. The key word here is quickly.