Golf is fun, whether playing solo or with others. Having a basic understanding of the game’s rules makes it easier to enjoy the experience and improve your skills. In this periodic column, I provide brief explanations of golf rules and answer commonly asked questions.

Question: Kim and Clyde are playing in a stroke play tournament. On the seventh hole Kim tells Clyde that he is swinging too hard and that is the reason for his bad shots. Has Kim breached the rules of golf?

Answer: Yes. Rule 8-1 says that giving advice to anyone playing in a stipulated round of golf other than your partner is prohibited. The penalty is two strokes in stroke play and loss of hole in match play. If Clyde had asked Kim for advice on why he was hitting so many bad shots, he would also have been penalized under Rule 8-1, for soliciting advice from a fellow competitor.

Great news: Sapelo Hammock Golf course in Shellman’s Bluff is being purchased by a group of people in the community. The group’s intent is to restore the coastal treasure to its original beauty and charm. The details will be finalized soon. Updates will be provided on a regular basis. Stay tuned and get ready to visit Sapelo Hammock.

As always, have fun playing and practicing the game of golf. E-mail me at grahamgolf@darientel.net if you have any questions or suggestions.