You wake up to the sound of chirping birds and the sun peeking through the curtains, a perfect day for a round of golf. As you step onto the lush green fairway, you're filled with excitement and anticipation. But wait!

Before you tee off, let's brush up on the basic rules of golf to ensure a smooth and enjoyable game for everyone involved. From tee to green, these rules will be your trusty caddy, guiding you through bunkers, hazards, and the occasional rogue squirrel.

Let's go through the top basic rules of golf you need to know.

1. Teeing Off

The tee box is the designated area where you start each hole. It's usually indicated by tee markers and extends two club lengths behind the markers.

You can tee the ball up on a golf tee within the tee box. The golf ball must be played from in between the relevant tee markers and not more than two club lengths behind them.

You must tee off from within the tee box area and cannot move the ball closer to the hole. You can tee up the ball anywhere within the tee box area as long as it's not outside the tee markers.

If your ball falls off the tee you can re-tee the ball without a penalty as long as you haven't made a stroke at it.

If you accidentally tee off with the wrong ball, you incur a penalty and must correct the mistake by playing the correct ball from the tee box.

2. Out of Bounds

Out of bounds is an area outside the boundaries of the course where play is not allowed. They're usually marked in some way.

If your ball goes out of bounds, you'll have to put a penalty stroke on your scorecard and play your next shot from where you last played (stroke and distance penalty). This means you go back to the spot where you hit your previous shot and play again with a one-stroke penalty.

Having a strong golf swing can help you keep your ball in bounds.

A ball is out of bounds when it lies beyond the boundary lines, even if it's just a small portion of the ball that crosses the line.

When taking relief from out of bounds, you must determine the nearest point where your ball crossed the boundary and take relief within one club length of that point, no closer to the relevant golf hole.

Some courses may have local rules regarding out-of-bounds, such as designated drop zones or alternative penalties. Be sure to check the local rules of the course you're playing.

3. Water Hazards

Water hazards are areas on the course marked by yellow stakes, lines, or markings where water is present. They can include ponds, streams, lakes, or any other body of water.

Yellow-staked water penalty areas are standard penalty areas where the player has several options for relief. In some cases, these areas are marked with red stakes or lines. Red-staked areas have different relief options compared.

If your ball falls in a yellow-staked penalty area, you can try and play the ball as it lies without penalty. Or, you can take a penalty drop behind the water hazard, keeping the point where the ball last crossed the hazard line directly between the drop point and the hole.

If you're unsure whether your ball is in a water hazard, you can try playing a provisional ball before searching for the original ball. If the original ball is found in the area, you may proceed with options for relief.

4. Lost Balls

A golf ball is considered lost if it cannot be found within three minutes of searching. This includes balls that are out of bounds, in a water hazard, or in any other area where finding and playing the ball is impractical.

Golfers are usually given three minutes to find their lost ball. If the ball is not found within that time, it is deemed lost, and the player must proceed with penalty and relief options.

Then, you can either return to the spot where the previous stroke was played (stroke and distance penalty) and play again. Or you can take a penalty drop in accordance with the applicable rule (e.g., out-of-bounds, water hazard) and play from that spot.

It's important to be able to identify your ball to avoid confusion with other players' balls. Marking your golf ball in a specific way can help.

5. Order of Play

Knowing the order of play is important when you're learning to play golf.

Typically, the player with the lowest score on the last hole has the honor and goes first when you play the next hole. This sequence continues throughout the round.

While the honor system is common, ready golf encourages players to play when ready as long as it doesn't compromise safety or etiquette. This helps speed up play, especially in casual rounds or when players are ready before the player with honor.

Even in ready golf, players should be mindful of safety and courtesy. Be aware of other players' positions, and don't play if there's a risk of hitting someone.

On the putting green, the order of play is based on who is farthest from the hole. The player whose ball lands farthest from the hole putts first, and the order continues until all players have completed the hole.

In formats like alternate shot or foursomes, players alternate shots. The player whose turn it is to tee off alternates with their partner for subsequent shots until the hole is completed.

6. Scoring

Of course, you need to understand how to score golf. In stroke play, each golf player counts up the total number of strokes they've taken on each hole. The player with the lowest total score after all holes are completed wins.

In match play, every golf hole is a separate contest. The player or group of players with the lowest score on a specific hole wins that hole. The overall winner is the player or team with the most holes won.

Par is the number of strokes an expert golfer is expected to need to complete a hole or a round. Par varies by hole and course difficulty.

When you're scoring in strokes, a "birdie" is when you have a score of one stroke under par on a hole. An "eagle" is when you have a score of two strokes under par on a golf hole. A "bogey" is when you have a score of one stroke over par on a hole. A "double bogey" is a score of two strokes over par on a hole.

Penalty strokes are added to a player's score for various infractions, such as hitting into hazards, out of bounds, or taking relief. Keep track of your score for each hole. Write down the number of strokes taken on each hole as you complete them.

7. Etiquette

Etiquette is an important aspect of a golf game that helps maintain a respectful and enjoyable atmosphere on the golf course.

Avoid distracting the other players on the course. Stay quiet and still while others are preparing and making their swings. Be aware of what's around you and avoid unnecessary noise or movement that could disrupt other players' concentration.

Repair ball marks when you're out on the green. You can try and use a ball mark repair tool to carefully repair any indentations made by your ball landing on the green.

Make sure you pay attention to the dress code of the golf course. Most courses have guidelines regarding appropriate golf attire, including shirts with collars, golf shorts or pants, and non-metal spiked golf shoes.

After playing a shot from a bunker, use a rake to smooth out the sand. This ensures fair playing conditions for other golfers who may encounter the bunker.

Avoid damaging the course unnecessarily. Don't drive carts in areas where they're prohibited and be careful of wildlife in the area and natural habitats.

8. Golf Club Rules

Golfers can carry a limit of up to 14 different clubs in their golf bag during a specific round. Exceeding this limit results in a penalty. On most golf courses each player is required to have his or her own bag. Sharing a golf bag with another player is generally not allowed and slows down the game.

Golf clubs are generally divided into four categories: woods, irons, wedges, and putters. Each of the different types of clubs is designed for specific types of shots.

If a club is damaged during a round in the normal course of play, the golfer can continue using the club for the remainder of the round. However, if the club is damaged deliberately or excessively, the player cannot replace it during the round unless it becomes non-conforming or unusable.

Golfers can add or remove clubs from their bags between rounds or during play if they are not in breach of the limit. However, clubs cannot be added or removed during the stipulated round, except in specific cases like a club becoming unusable.

Learn These Basic Rules of Golf Today

Now that you know the basic rules of golf, it's time to hit the course and try them out.

If you're looking for a golf course in Texas, check out The Bandit Golf Course. Our award-winning 18-hole course is just a stone's throw from San Antonio.

Book your tee time today.