Let's get back to the original point of the thread. Know the rules. Get a rules book and read it, then ask you local pro about any hazy areas. Later consider taking a USGA/PGA Rules Course. It will really open some eyes. Every golf organization and serious competition could benefit from having a Rules Chairman who has had the above course. An old pro once told me, "If you don't play by the rules, it's not golf. Have fun, but don't kid yourself about what you're doing."