SESKStuff Everyone Should Know

Games · Sports & Fitness

Stuff Every Golfer Should Know

Rules of Golf, scoring, etiquette, clubs and staying safe on the course.

Start Stuff Every Golfer Should Know ⚡ Today's sprint 🚗 Drive mode

Print the first 50 cards (free)Get the whole test as a printable PDF: $3 (pre-order)

Free to start, no sign-up. 62 cards so far. One Knowledge Score and day streak across all your courses.

⏱ Timed practice exam

SESK practice exam: 50 questions, 50 minutes, pass with 40 right (80%).

Take it like the real thing: a countdown, no hints until you finish, then your score by topic, every miss explained, and a readiness score from your last 3 exams.

Take a timed practice exam For SESK members. See plans

Try 3 cards

  1. What is the most clubs a golfer may carry during a round?
    Show the answer

    14 clubs. Rule 4.1b says a player must not start a round with more than 14 clubs or have more than 14 during it. The limit counts every club carried by or for the player.

  2. In stroke play, what is the penalty for carrying a 15th club?
    Show the answer

    Two strokes per hole, four strokes maximum. Rule 4.1b gives the general penalty of two strokes for each hole where the breach happened. The total is capped at four penalty strokes for the round.

  3. When is a golf ball at rest out of bounds?
    Show the answer

    Only when all of it is outside the boundary. Rule 18.2a says a ball is out of bounds only when the whole ball is outside the course's boundary edge. If any part touches or hangs over the course side, it is still in bounds.

All 62 practice questions

The first 50 are free, with the answer, why it's right and the official sources. The other 12 (🔒) are for SESK members. Or play them as a game and track what you've learned.

Show all 62 questions
  1. What is the most clubs a golfer may carry during a round?
  2. In stroke play, what is the penalty for carrying a 15th club?
  3. When is a golf ball at rest out of bounds?
  4. Your tee shot goes out of bounds. What must you do under the standard rule?
  5. When may a golfer choose stroke-and-distance relief?
  6. Why does a golfer play a provisional ball?
  7. Before hitting a provisional ball, what must a golfer do?
  8. Your provisional ball sits closer to the hole than where your first ball likely is. You hit it. What happens?
  9. How long may you search for a golf ball before it counts as lost?
  10. You put a new ball in play under stroke and distance, then find your first ball. Can you play it?
  11. Penalty areas on a golf course are marked in which two colors?
  12. What extra relief option does a red penalty area give that a yellow one does not?
  13. Under standard Rule 17.1d(3), how big is the lateral relief area for a red penalty area?
  14. Your ball is in a penalty area but you can hit it. Is there a penalty for playing it?
  15. How many penalty strokes for taking relief from a yellow penalty area?
  16. Who decides whether a golf ball is unplayable?
  17. Where on the course can you NOT declare a ball unplayable?
  18. Your ball is unplayable under a bush in the rough. How many relief options do you have?
  19. Your ball is unplayable in a bunker. Which listed option lets you drop it outside the bunker?
  20. From what height must a golfer drop a ball when taking relief?
  21. In the Rules of Golf, a club-length is measured with which club?
  22. Your ball plugs in its own pitch mark on the fairway. What relief do you get?
  23. When does a golf ball count as embedded?
  24. You accidentally knock your ball off its spot in the rough during a practice swing. What is the penalty?
  25. On the putting green, you accidentally bump your ball with your putter. What is the penalty?
  26. In stroke play, you hit someone else's ball by mistake. What happens?
  27. What is the basic rule for a golf ball at rest on the course?
  28. Can you putt from the green with the flagstick left in the hole?
  29. Your ball stops leaning against the flagstick, partly below the green's surface. Is it holed?
  30. May you repair spike marks on the putting green before you putt?
  31. Under the optional Local Rule alternative to stroke and distance, what does a lost or out of bounds ball cost?
  32. The Local Rule alternative to stroke and distance is meant for which golfers?
  33. What does the golf term par mean?
  34. What is a birdie in golf?
  35. What is an eagle in golf?
  36. What is an albatross in golf?
  37. What is a bogey in golf?
  38. According to the National Hole-In-One Registry, how often is a hole in one scored?
  39. Once a scoring record has at least 20 Score Differentials, how does the World Handicap System calculate a Handicap Index?
  40. For a player with an established Handicap Index, what is the maximum hole score for handicap posting?
  41. In stroke play, how do you win?
  42. In match play, how is the winner decided?
  43. Who tees off first on the next hole in stroke play?
  44. What is ready golf in stroke play?
  45. What should you shout when your ball may hit someone?
  46. When another player is hitting, what should you do?
  47. What should you do after you make a divot in the fairway?
  48. After playing from a bunker, what should you do?
  49. What is the most time the Rules of Golf recommend for making a stroke?
  50. What should a group do when lightning is seen on a golf course?
  51. Before the measurement tolerance, what is the Equipment Rules volume limit for a driver head? 🔒
  52. Which clubs does the PGA of America call the short irons? 🔒
  53. Which clubs are designed for high, short shots around the green? 🔒
  54. Which club is used on the putting green to roll the ball into the hole? 🔒
  55. What does club loft measure in golf? 🔒
  56. What is a links golf course? 🔒
  57. What does the Masters winner receive along with the trophy? 🔒
  58. Which four events make up the men's major championships today? 🔒
  59. What should a golfer do when a course posts cart path only? 🔒
  60. What is a scratch golfer under the World Handicap System? 🔒
  61. How do you calculate a net score in golf? 🔒
  62. In the World Handicap System, what does a Score Differential compare? 🔒