Briefing
The briefing is the address by the committee before a competition in which players are informed about rules, course conditions and particularities.
Before official rounds the referee or the competition director summarises everything important. Typical content is the current local rules, ground under repair, dropping zones, out of bounds and the planned procedure for weather interruptions. The briefing is not a nice extra piece of information but part of the conditions of competition. Everything announced there or on the notice board is binding for the round.
In practice this often happens shortly before the start. An example: at the monthly trophy with a shotgun start, the competition director gathers the participants at the clubhouse. He explains that the construction work on hole 7 counts as ground under repair and that a dropping zone has been set up behind green 12. Anyone who later drops incorrectly cannot plead ignorance. That is why it is worth listening for those two minutes instead of already walking to the tee.
A common misconception is the sentence “I did not know that”. In a competition ignorance does not protect you from penalty strokes, because briefing and notice board count as announced. Whoever wants to fundamentally clarify rule questions before they become expensive on the course is in good hands at their club's rules evening.
FAQ
Do I have to attend the briefing before the competition?
Yes, absolutely. Everything announced there or on the notice board is binding for your round — anyone who arrives late plays at their own risk. Plan those two minutes firmly into your schedule before your tee time.
What happens if I did not know a local rule that was announced?
Ignorance does not protect you from penalty strokes, because briefing and notice board officially count as announced. If you drop incorrectly, for example, although a dropping zone was prescribed, you are still penalised.
Where do I find the rules if there is no briefing?
In a week without a competition, the local rules on the notice board and on the scorecard apply. Whoever wants to fundamentally clarify rule questions before they become expensive is in the right place at their club's rules evening.