The article below was written by Hannah Holden of National Club Golfer.

There are a number of rules club golfers are guilty of getting wrong. So what are they, and are you guilty of breaking them?

There are so many Rules of Golf that it is almost impossible to know each one inside out. But there are some very common rules that golfers constantly break. So what are they and are you breaking them?

Advice on the course

Deciding your own course strategy and tactics is considered a fundamental part of the challenge of golf. This means in competition play, there is certain advice that you can’t give or receive from your playing partners.

The main part of this that golfers constantly break is discussing club selection. In individual stroke play, before you hit a shot you must not give anyone advice on what club to hit or ask them for advice on what you should hit.

Unless of course, you have a caddie with whom you can discuss this.

This advice doesn’t just stop at club selection though. You can’t discuss anything that influences how a player picks a club, hits a shot or decides how to play the hole.

This comes under Rule 10.2, a breach would mean loss of hole in match play or a two-shot penalty in stroke play.

• RELATED: Quiet, please! How careless talk can cost you penalty shots

Moving out of bounds markers

Lots of posts and artificial objects on the golf course are moveable obstructions, so it would be easy to presume out-of-bounds posts fit under this same rule. Any boundary object, be it a wall, fence or post is treated differently.

Even if these are physically moveable, they are ‘artificial objects defining or showing out of bounds’ and therefore are treated as immovable. They have to stay put and you also can’t get free relief if they impede on your stroke.

You will either have to take a penalty drop or find a different way to hit the golf ball.

This comes under Rule 8.1a, a breach would mean loss of hole in match play or a two-shot penalty in stroke play as you are deemed to have ‘improved the conditions affecting the stroke’.

• RELATED: Everything you need to know about boundary objects

Moving sand on the fringe of the green

If there is sand or loose soil on the putting green which affects your stroke you are allowed to remove it. But if the sand or soil lays off the green, leave it where it is as under the rules it cannot be removed.

There is an exception to this rule, though. Players are entitled to the conditions affecting their stroke when the ball comes to rest. If there was no sand on the fringe affecting your shot when your ball landed, but your playing partner took a stroke and subsequently added some, you can create the original lie you had by removing the sand.

This comes under Rule 13.1c (1), which prohibits a player from improving conditions affecting the stroke, a breach would mean loss of hole in match play or a two-shot penalty in stroke play.

• RELATED: Can I move sand from the line of my putt?
• RELATED: Moving loose impediments? Proceed with caution

Improving conditions that affect the stroker

The Rules of Golf state that the course must be played as it is found. Rule 8.1 restricts any actions which improve the conditions affecting your stroke. Most golfers are aware they can’t improve the lie immediately around their golf ball. But this also applies to anything in your line of play.

If you stand behind your ball and look down your intended line to the target you can’t alter anything on this line. So if there is a divot just in front of your ball that hasn’t been replaced its best to leave it there until after you have played your shot.

You may think this rule doesn’t come in often, but at final qualifying for The Open, one player lost his spot at St Andrews by raking a bunker in his line of sight before hitting his shot!

This comes under Rule 8.1a, which prohibits a player from improving conditions affecting the stroke. A breach would mean loss of hole in match play or a two-shot penalty in stroke play. It is important to note this does not apply to the removal of loose impediments or movable obstructions.

Known or virtually certain

A player can take penalty relief from a penalty area as long as it is known or virtually certain that the golf ball is in the penalty area. This is often categorised as having 95% certainty the ball is in the penalty area.

If it is not known or virtually certain that the ball is in the penalty area, it is considered lost. You must take stroke-and-distance relief under Rule 18.2. This would be the case if there is somewhere else your ball could reasonably be, such as in grass, bushes or trees that aren’t inside the penalty area.

This comes under Rule 14.7a. A breach would mean you have played your shot from the Wrong Place. The penalty for this is loss of hole in match play or a two-shot penalty in stroke play.

Lifting ball without marking it

Not sure if the ball you have found is yours? You are allowed to lift the ball for identification purposes, BUT the spot of the ball must be marked before the ball is moved.

This comes under Rule 14.1a. A breach would lead to a one-shot penalty.

• RELATED: How to correctly identify your golf ball

Nearest point of relief

Under Rule 16, you are entitled to free relief if you have interference from an abnormal course condition such as the path below. In this scenario, you get a free drop, but it must be taken at the nearest point of full relief.

The nearest point of relief is the nearest place you can get complete relief for the next shot. This means the ball and your stance must no longer be impeded by the abnormal condition. While most golfers understand this, they still end up taking relief in the wrong place as they simply drop to the side that will give them the nicest lie and or angle for their next shot.

So think carefully before you race to pick up your ball if you see it on a path. You may be better off playing it as it lies. Alternatively, you can take an unplayable drop, giving you two club lengths, no nearer the hole, or a stroke and distance option.

• RELATED: How to find the nearest point of complete relief
• RELATED: What can you do if your ball is on a path?

The cost of living crisis is forcing many of us to tighten our belts. However, you don’t want to do something daft like stop playing golf.

Yes, there are new drivers on the market that retail for more than £500, and a dozen premium golf balls can set you back nearly £50. However, golf doesn’t need to be expensive, and there are several ways you can be smart and save money.

Here’s how to play golf on a budget…

Head to the supermarket before you play

It’s important to support your local pro, but if you want to save a few quid—and this can add up to a fairly chunky number over a year—fill your bags with snacks and drinks before you play.

Why pay £2 for a bottle of water, or £2.50 for a protein bar, if it costs you half that at the shop around the corner?

Buy a reusable water bottle

Just think how much money you spend on bottles of water over the course of a year. £20 a month, maybe, if you play a couple of times a week. Over a year, the amount of money you’d save with a reusable water bottle could be put towards a new driver—plus, you’re doing your bit for the environment. This is one of the simplest ways to save money.

Related: The 10 best insulated water bottles for golf

Play twilight golf

Most golf clubs offer discounted green fees at certain times of the day, particularly later in the afternoon, after most members have had the opportunity to play. Sometimes, this discount may be as much as half the normal rate.

Sometimes you’re allowed to play as many holes as you can fit in after a certain time. Twilight golf is a real treat in the summer, too, so it’s not as though you’re losing out—you just need to be a bit more flexible.

Play more nine-hole golf

As well as twilight golf, a lot of clubs offer nine-hole rates. If you’re put off by paying £50 or more for 18 holes, just play nine, which also gives you more time to enjoy a glass of something cold in the clubhouse afterwards.

Related: The UK’s best 9-hole golf courses

Try playing a non-premium ball

Stocking your bag can be expensive, especially if you’re struggling with the driver. The best golf balls on the market will cost you close to £50. However, some manufacturers have closed the gap between the top-performing urethane models and the more mid-range offerings. Give them a go, and you might be pleasantly surprised by what they offer.

Don’t swap balls so frequently

A slight blemish on your golf ball isn’t going to make a lot of difference. Professionals might notice the effects of a little scuff, but these guys have a different level of feel to the average club golfer. Keep using them until they’re worn out—then pop them in your practice bag.

Internet lessons

There’s nothing better than visiting a qualified PGA professional face to face, but if you’re looking to save money on lessons, there’s no shortage of free tips and advice on the World Wide Web.

There are a handful of YouTubers, too, who take great pride in helping you to improve and enjoy better golf—golfers like Alistair Davies, Ged Walters, and Matt Fryer. It’s certainly worth subscribing to a few channels, most of which are free.

Related: Q&A with golf YouTuber, Alex Elliott

Clean your grips

As a general rule, it’s recommended that you change your grips once a year. However, many of us, even those who are members of a club, simply don’t play anywhere near that much. Grips will get grimy regardless, but that doesn’t always mean they need a change.

Fill a bucket with hot water and washing-up liquid and give them a good scrub with a brush or cloth. A 14-club re-grip may cost you in excess of £125, whereas a thorough scrub at home in the garden won’t cost you a penny.

Re-grip yourself

This isn’t such a difficult process—and it’s actually quite rewarding. If you’re looking to get all 14 clubs re-gripped, you’re probably looking at somewhere between £3 and £5 per club—so a bit of DIY can make you a tidy little saving.

Related: How to regrip your golf clubs

Flexible memberships

If you’ve caught the golf bug and are considering joining a club, this is something worth considering. Generally, the way it works is that you pay a reduced annual fee and then buy credits depending on how much you intend to play.

By playing at less popular times, say, a Tuesday afternoon, you can still get a decent number of games in, too. Overall, it means you have greater control over how much you spend on playing. At the same time, you enjoy pretty much most of the same benefits at the club as a ‘full’ member.

GolfNow Hot Deals

If you’re flexible and happy to wait until the last minute, you can often grab a cracking deal with tee-booking websites, such as golfnow.co.uk.

Pick where you’re looking to play, the date and the time of day, and your price range, and you’ll get a list of options. According to the website, you can save up to 80%. There are some wonderful courses on there and some attractive green fees, too.

Buy second-hand clubs

Sure, nothing beats shiny, new gear, but buying used or second-hand clubs is a fantastic way to upgrade your equipment without hurting the wallet.

With trusted sources like Golfbidder, all golf clubs are checked and rated. And if you’re selling, it’s a good place to get a fair price for your old clubs, too.