Are The Rules of Golf Outdated?

[chiantibro]

So, here it is. With professional golf now televised and captured there forever, and where some players have every moment of their round(s) recorded, and given that most players and caddies do not understand every detail of the rule book, should the Rules of Golf be changed? Simplified? Altered? Or left the same?
Discuss at length...

[thecoach]

The rules were created with one main thing in mind - fairness. They have lasted this long for a reason - they were written well and in good faith to the main goal - fairness. They work for this sport. The only changes required are with technology etc. The essence of the rules are fine. (Unless you use a towel to protect your pants - then they suck - LOL).:rofl:

[Mule56]

So, here it is. With professional golf now televised and captured there forever, and where some players have every moment of their round(s) recorded, and given that most players and caddies do not understand every detail of the rule book, should the Rules of Golf be changed? Simplified? Altered? Or left the same?
Discuss at length...
Leave them alone. As far as the PGA and the LPGA, they have officials to help them with the rules. They don't have to remember them all like you and I. If they are in doubt about what they are doing, they can ask their opponent, or call for a ruling. Could you imagine playing hockey and looking at the guy on the other team and saying to him, "I'm about to slash your legs with my stick, are you okay with that". Or "Mr Ref, I would like to grab the next guy that skates by me and haul him to the ground, see any issue with that". I think golf is fine were it is. Everyone talks about equipment making rules changes necessary, but average scores are not any lower now then they were 20 years ago.
I use to play with an old guy that loved saying, "if you keep the ball in play, you don't have to know many rules". One thing I would do at the pro level is to outlaw anyone but players and tournament officials from imposing penalties. Keep the armchair folks (and reporters) doing what they do best watching.
Mule

[el tigre]

So, here it is. With professional golf now televised and captured there forever, and where some players have every moment of their round(s) recorded, and given that most players and caddies do not understand every detail of the rule book, should the Rules of Golf be changed? Simplified? Altered? Or left the same?
Discuss at length... Given the infinite number of possible situations that can happen on a golf course and the fact that golf is largely self-officiated, the Rules are actually pretty simple and easy-to-understand. You DO have to read the Rulebook carefully, but any golfer can read and understand the Rules of Golf without too much difficulty - if they make the effort. Sadly, most golfers do not, and simply learn by trial-and-error.

The other thing you must remember is that the media only reports the strange and odd rules situations - not the 99% of rule applications that most players and caddies know intimately. The Rules are really not as complex and arcane as the media makes them out to be.

That being said, the Rules are always being "tweaked" and hopefully improved, and that is a good thing. For example, a lot of the "administrative" stuff like the Roe/Parnevik situation has been cleaned up with the recent release of the new Decisions. But I agree with thecoach that the essence of the rules are fine.

The only major change I would like to see is to change the penalty and procedures for OB to be similar to environmentally-protected water hazards (i.e., 1-stroke penalty only, can't play from them, can't retrieve your ball). Stroke-and-distance seems too severe when in many cases OB is in play because golf course owners simply squeeze too much stuff into not enough land.

[Greywolf]

The rules are tweaked periodically, there is an official update every 4 years.

[duffer_devon]

I agree the rules should be looked at and updated from time to time. For example, completely whiffing a ball on the tee is one stroke, hitting it 300 yards, one foot out of bounds is now 3 off the tee, doesn't seem fair.

The other fairness rule that should be changed is the signing an incorrect scorecard. If someone 24 hrs later discovers a rule violation and the tournament is not official yet, they should be able to add the penalty strokes to their final score, even if it happened the day before.

[tjhayko]

I think that golf is one of the few sports where a spectator can affect the outcome, and I think this takes away from the spirit of a sport. I should be competitors against each other, not the fans.

[chiantibro]

The rules have to change. Driving the ball perfectly down the fairway and landing in a divot is unfair. There's no reason not to be able to tap down spike marks on the green. Except for tournament play, tee shots OB should be played from the point of entry with the addition of two strokes. In general, play the ball as it lies, but if unplayable you should be able to place the ball wherever you want (no nearer the hole) with the penalty of two strokes. This dropping from the shoulder thing and re-dropping because the ball moved down back into the hazard is time-consuming and ridiculous.

And that's just for starters....

[el tigre]

The rules have to change. Driving the ball perfectly down the fairway and landing in a divot is unfair. Golf is supposed to be fair??!!??

What about slicing the ball into the forest and having it bounce off the tree into the fairway?? That's not fair either. Or skulling one across the green but hitting the flagstick. Or hitting the rake to stay out of the bunker. Or... well, you get the picture.

Except for tournament play, tee shots OB should be played from the point of entry with the addition of two strokes. So, you have one set of rules for "tournament play" (whatever that is) and a different set of rules the rest of the time. What makes "tournament play" so special???
In general, play the ball as it lies, but if unplayable you should be able to place the ball wherever you want (no nearer the hole) with the penalty of two strokes. I can't believe you used the terms "play the ball as it lies" and "place the ball wherever you want" in the same sentence!

[chiantibro]

Golf is supposed to be fair??!!??

What about slicing the ball into the forest and having it bounce off the tree into the fairway?? That's not fair either. Or skulling one across the green but hitting the flagstick. Or hitting the rake to stay out of the bunker. Or... well, you get the picture.

So, you have one set of rules for "tournament play" (whatever that is) and a different set of rules the rest of the time. What makes "tournament play" so special???
I can't believe you used the terms "play the ball as it lies" and "place the ball wherever you want" in the same sentence!
Ah, I knew this would solicit a response.
Hitting a good shot from a tee box straight down the fairway is different from hitting a bad shot off a tree onto the fairway. The latter is luck. Much different than unfair.

Tournament play is for professionals, relevant amateur events, and club championships. My argument is for casual games in order to speed the pace of play. Do you really want a guy who shoots 100 to walk back to the tee box and re-load?

I believe in playing the ball as it lies whenever possible, but used the preposition if in order to clarify the distinction.

Golf doesn't have to be fair, but the rules sometimes promote an "unfair" situation.

[el tigre]

Ah, I knew this would solicit a response.
Hitting a good shot from a tee box straight down the fairway is different from hitting a bad shot off a tree onto the fairway. The latter is luck. Much different than unfair Like the song goes: "If it wasn't for bad luck, I wouldn't have no luck at all". Lady Luck is a fickle, two-faced little wench, my friend.

Tournament play is for professionals, relevant amateur events, and club championships. My argument is for casual games in order to speed the pace of play. Do you really want a guy who shoots 100 to walk back to the tee box and re-load? No, I want him to hit a provisional like he is supposed to.

I believe in playing the ball as it lies whenever possible, but used the preposition if in order to clarify the distinction. Since you can declare a ball unplayable at any time (as long as your ball is not in a hazard, lost or OB), and it is totally up to the player to determine whether his ball is unplayable or not - your rule change effectively means you can place your ball anywhere you want (no closer to the hole) any time you want. So much for risk vs reward in golf, eh?

[iyah]

No, I want him to hit a provisional like he is supposed to.

Like the lady at the chinese drive thru says in Dude Where's My Car?: and den and den and den and den............

I suspect that when playing a "casual" round, most people cheat with regards to the odd preferred lie, the Michele Wie drop procedure, the "put me down for a 6 line" and "I'll just drop it here."

Also, if you are shooting over 100, the rules are not really your main concern. Honestly, is shooting 102 or 105 that much different.

It's funny in club championships how a lot of players have their worst games when they are forced to play by the rules.

One time when I was playing in a company tournament, I hit my balls into the trees and had an unplayable. My partners said, just drop out here and add a stroke. I replied, "That's not really fair though, I am supposed to go back to the tee and hit again.
To this one of my buddies said, "In this tournament, the only time you go back to the tee is if you left your beer there" One of my favourite all time lines.

[Grass Roots Tour]

To this one of my buddies said, "In this tournament, the only time you go back to the tee is if you left your beer there"


I don't care who you are right there.... that theres funny. :rofl:

[mikemakeitso]

Golf is supposed to be fair??!!??

What about slicing the ball into the forest and having it bounce off the tree into the fairway?? That's not fair either. Or skulling one across the green but hitting the flagstick. Or hitting the rake to stay out of the bunker. Or... well, you get the picture.I think your confusing plain old "dumb" luck, with what the original intent of the meaning of "fair play"... It's not the same.

[noback]

I don't care who you are right there.... that theres funny. :rofl:Been there done that!!!:eek: :rofl:

[Thimble]

i think the lost ball rule could be modified... does it make sense that PGA professionals have all kinds of aids when it comes to locating a ball, whereas weekend duffers are forced to take a 2 shot penalty and then hit another ball from where they last hit?

if a ball is clearly seen NOT going into OB, we should be allowed to play it as an "unplayable" ball from where we lost sight of the ball.

[Bellyhungry]

....Also, if you are shooting over 100, the rules are not really your main concern. Honestly, is shooting 102 or 105 that much different.....
Shooting between 101 or 99 makes a big difference for a lot of golfers though...

[Grass Roots Tour]

Shooting between 101 or 99 makes a big difference for a lot of golfers though...
Good point. You'll know how important is is for me the day I break 99. :rolleyes:


BTW, didn't I hear the dinosaurs at PGA National headquarters were considering allowing laser range finders? What the heck is taking so long to make this simple, smart decision?

[iyah]

Shooting between 101 or 99 makes a big difference for a lot of golfers though...
True, but are all those strokes within the rules.

If you tip your ball up in the rough, or move it out of a divot, make a good shot and shoot 99 would you consider that cheating?

Or would you be more satisfied with playing it as it lies and shooting 100?

My guess is that most people would pick the first choice. I am assuming that this is a "casual" round with no money riding on the outcome.

Should I start a poll?

[Bellyhungry]

True, but are all those strokes within the rules.

If you tip your ball up in the rough, or move it out of a divot, make a good shot and shoot 99 would you consider that cheating?

Or would you be more satisfied with playing it as it lies and shooting 100?

My guess is that most people would pick the first choice. I am assuming that this is a "casual" round with no money riding on the outcome.

Should I start a poll?
This leads to another point: You can only observe and adhere to the rules of golf as much as you know of them. If you are honest but lacking in the knowledge of the rules of golf, you won't even know it when you breach the rules (especially the obscure ones).