The first time you hit the links, it can be a bit scary. While it looks simple enough (you put the ball in the hole, right?) you know instinctively that there are rules at work here and what is more, the people you are playing expect you to know and follow these rules.

The official rules for golf are maintained by the USGA and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrew's in Scotland and can be found on their websites. However, here are the basic rules that everyone will expect you to know. Now, these are the straight rules, but sometimes variations occur in friendly games, depending on region or custom. It is always a good idea to ask your partner or opponent if you are unsure about a given rule.

The first thing you should know is that all the holes are numbered, and you are expected to play them in order (such as play hole #1, then #2, and so on).

You may hear about Match Play. In Match Play, each hole is sort of its own game. Who ever wins a hole is "one up" for the game, if you lose on a hole, you are "one down"; if you tie you are all square. The overall winner is the player with he most points at the end of the round. However, much more common is what is called "Stroke Play", which is where the number of strokes for each player is counted on each hole and totaled up at the end of the round The player with the lowest number of total strokes is the winner.

You are allowed to have up to fourteen clubs on the course, and while it is expected that you will use the same ball throughout the whole game, if you damage or cut your ball, you can change balls with the permission of those you are playing against.

It is always a good idea to mark your ball, so if someone is playing with an identical ball, they won't get confused. Picking up someone else's ball is a serious faux paux. Also, courtesy dictates that you make sure your stroke total is accurate when you are playing stroke play. Generally speaking, you can only stop a game for lightning, illness or if an official tells you to.

It is also against the rules to practice on the course while playing a hole or from any of the hazards. Generally, you should practice only at clearly marked practice areas.

You cannot ask anyone other than your caddy or your partner on advice on how to play a given hole. However, you can ask anyone a question about the location of various hazards or about the rules in general. Never give advice to anyone not on our team; not only is it against the rules, but it is also considered rude.When in Match Play, if your opponent asks, you are required to disclose how many strokes you have taken.

If you shoot the lowest score on a hole, you get to play first on the next hole. When you are playing a hole, whoever has the furthest ball out from the tee goes next. If you are playing Match Play, be sure you do not play out of turn, because your opponent can make you play the shot again; this is not so if you are playing stroke play.

When in the tee box, you place your tee either between the tee markers or just behind them. If your ball accidently falls off the tee, you are allowed to replace it with no penalty.

A hazard is an area of sand or water on the course. If your ball ends up in a hazard, you can move enough of the sand, leaves, etc. so that you can see a portion of the ball. Usually, if you are not sure if the ball is yours, you can pick it up to identify it, but you need your opponents permission first. However, in a hazard you may not pick up the ball at all.

Generally speaking, the rule is to play it as it lies. In other words, you can't improve the location of the ball You can't move natural objects out of the way (such as leaves or rocks) but you can move man-made objects like rakes or a bottle.

As was said earlier, playing the wrong ball is a major faux paux. If you are playing match play and you play the wrong ball, you lose for that hole. In stroke play, you get a two stroke penalty. Either way, this is something you want to avoid.

When your ball touches any part of the green, it is considered to be on the green. If there are old holes between your ball and the hole you can repair them, but you can't repair marks from shoes or spikes. It is OK to brush things such as leaves out of your way with your hands or a club, but you can't use a towel or anything else. If you end up having to move your ball, you have to mark it with a coin or other small object.

Whatever you do, don't hit the flag stick with the ball. If your ball hits the flag stick and you are in Match Play, you lost that hole. In stroke play, it is a two stroke penalty.

If you (or your partner) move your own ball, either on purpose or by accident, it will cost you a penalty stroke, then you must move it back and continue to play it. If something you have no control over (such as the wind) moves it, then you have to move it back, but there is no penalty. If the wind or water moves it, then you have to play it as it lies.

Once the ball is in motion, if it hits anyone of your team (you, your partner or caddy, your cart, etc) then you lose the hole if you are in match play or you lose two strokes if you are in stroke play. Hitting your opponent incurs no penalty (although you may make him mad!) but you must play the ball as it lies. If the ball hits what is called an outside agency (tree, bird, etc ) then it is just bad luck and you have to play the ball as it lies.

Anytime you move a ball, you have to mark the ball. Most people use a small coin, but any small object is allowed. If you are dropping the ball, you must stand up straight and hold your arm out straight and drop the ball. Generally, if you drop a ball and it rolls into a hazard, you can re-drop. If it does it again, you play the ball from where it hit the ground.

Anytime you can lift your ball, you are allowed to clean it. If your ball is in the path of another player, you can lift it; likewise, if another players ball is in your path, you can ask him to lift his.

In golf, there is a difference between obstructions and what is called loose impediments. A loose impediment is something natural and movable, such as a leaf, a twig or branch, a bird. An obstruction is man-made, and there are two types; movable and immovable. If an obstruction can be moved, you can move it. If the ball moves while moving, then you have to put it back, but there is no penalty. If you can't swing because of an immovable object, you are allowed to drop the ball at the nearest location that does not interfere with your swing or stance. Don't move the ball until you know where you are going to move it, however.

If the ball ends up in a puddle, that is called "casual water". If you can see the ball, then play it as it lies. If you cannot see the ball, then play a ball from where the ball entered the water.

If your ball ends up in a regular water hazard, then you have two choices: play it where it lies or take a penalty stroke and drop a ball from where you played the last one.

Before you may call a ball lost, you have to look for it for 5 minutes. A ball that ends up on the other side of a fence or wall or outside the playing area is said to be out of bounds. If the ball is lost or out of bounds, then you have to take a penalty stroke and play another ball from where you took your last shot.

If for some reason the ball is in an un-playable position, you have basically two choices. You can take a penalty stroke and move the ball up to two club lengths away and play it from there, or you can take a penalty stroke and move the ball back to where it was last played and play it from there.

Like we said at the beginning; these are the rules they assume you will know. For the "official rules", look at the USGA's web site.