Course rating and slope rating are calculated for a course on the basis of a visit to the course by a USGA rating team. The rating team will spend time with the course’s staff going over the course and will spend a lot of time on the course taking measurements of various things. The USGA recommends... 

Question: I hit my approach over water. The ball landed on the other side of the water in fair ground, then spun back into the water. Where do I get to drop? Answer: If it was a water hazzard (marked with yellow line or stakes), you have the following 3 options: 1. Play ball as it lies (no penalty) 2.... 

Question: For once I hit a good tee shot right down the middle. While addressing the ball in the fairway I accidentally tapped my ball and it rolled forward a millimeter then rolled right back to where it was. Is that a stroke? Answer: No if the ball truly just oscillated and did not move forward. USGA... 

Question: While addressing the ball on a tee shot on a par 5 I accidentally tapped my ball off the tee and closer to the hole. What’s the penalty? Answer: No penalty (and you re-tee ball) since you did not take an actual swing. USGA Rule 11-3: Ball Falls off Tee at Address Q. Billy Bob addressed the... 

Question: I pulled my tee shot way left on a par 4. My tee shot rolled under a bush/hedge and up against a metal residential fence. I couldn’t hit my 2nd shot because the ball was under the hedge and leaning up against that fence. Do I get relief? Answer: Since your stance/swing was impeeded by a bush/hedge... 

Question: I hit my tee shot on par 3 and it rolled in back of the green. The ball came to rest against a red hazard stake. Do I get to pull the stake out of the ground to hit the shot? What if it is a white stake? Answer: Yes you can move a stake if it is any color other than white (red, yellow, green,... 

Question: I hit my tee shot on a par 3 and it went way right (no surprise). The ball landed out of a hazard but in the rough 20 yards to the right of the green. When I walked up to my ball I realized that my ball was embedded/plugged 60% in the rough. I heard that I get relief if the ball is embedded...