To play golf, you must understand the flow of the game and the essential rules that keep it fair and enjoyable for everyone. A standard round consists of 18 holes, and the goal is to hit your ball into each hole in as few strokes as possible. Every time you swing with the intent to hit the ball, it counts as one stroke toward your total score. Most holes are assigned a “par,” which is the number of strokes an expert player is expected to take; finishing in fewer strokes than par is called a birdie or an eagle, while taking more strokes results in a bogey. 

Each hole begins at the teeing area, where you must play from between the designated markers. A fundamental rule of golf is to “play the ball as it lies,” meaning you cannot move or touch your ball once it is in play unless a specific rule allows for it. If your ball goes out of bounds or into a water hazard, you typically must add a penalty stroke to your score and play from a specific relief area. When you reach the putting green, you use a putter to roll the ball into the cup; once the ball is in the hole, that specific hole is complete, and you move on to the next tee.