Grupo Mayan Golf Lovers

Principles
While golf has a clear set of rules, say the Grupo Mayan experts, the underlying principle of these rules is explicitly stated to be fairness. The rules could be summarized very simply as: play the ball where it lies, play the course as you find it, and if you cannot do either, do what is fair.

The rules
One of the most important rules in golf, according to the Grupo Mayan golf professionals, is that players are entitled to play their ball from wherever it lands after the previous stroke, unless another rule allows or demands something different to this. Players may not accept assistance in playing a stroke, and the condition of the ground or other part of the course may not be modified by the players to give them an advantage.

International standards
The rules of golf are standardized internationally, say the Grupo Mayan experts. They are presided over jointly by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (founded in 1754) and the United States Golf Association (USGA).

While the USGA has jurisdiction by agreement with the R&A for the US and Mexico, national associations in other countries use rules laid down by the R&A, and in the event of a point of doubt or contention, will go to the R&A to resolve it. Having jurisdiction means having the responsibility for interpreting and for enforcing the rules.

The formal rules of golf are based on case decisions made by the R&A and by the USGA, and are updated every second year to reflect the most recent of these, say the Grupo Mayan Golf experts.

Amateurs
Golf has strict regulations concerning amateurs, as some competitions are designated amateur-only events. Basically, any golfer who has ever received payment or other compensation for teaching or playing golf is no longer an amateur, and may not play in amateur-only events. However, amateurs may receive money which goes solely to cover expenses, and may also accept non-cash prizes without violating their amateur status.

Golf etiquette
In addition to the strict, printed rules of golf, there is also a system of golf etiquette that most players follow, say the Grupo Mayan experts. This system carries no penalties or possibility of enforcement, but it designed to make the game of golf more safe and enjoyable for all its participants, and so is respected and abided by the vast majority of the time. Examples or golf etiquette are not to swing a club in the direction of another player, and not to hit a ball until it is clear that the group in front are out of the way.