Trim down the Rules

[BowmanvilleJim]

It seems to me that most golfers don't know the rules of the game. Their not sure of when they get relief, how to take relief, what to do when their ball is lost in a hazard etc.

I think the rules of golf can be simplified but I'm sure others would disagree.

The way I see it you set the rules like this. Play the ball as you find it. If you cannot play it because it's in the water, lost, down a gofer hole, under a bush etc then go back to where you last played from, drop and carry on.

[The Kicker of Elves]

I agree that some of the rules need to be simplified, and in some cases they are inconsistent and unfair (OB rule vs hazards).

However, I disagree that the solution should be to go back to where the last shot was played and reload. Only because this causes even more delays during a round, and you'll have people walking or riding back to the tee box constantly.

I'd like it better if people just took a penalty and a drop at approximately the place the ball entered the hazard/went out of bounds/disappeared into the trees (or some jerkoff's pocket)...

[el tigre]

It seems to me that most golfers don't know the rules of the game. Their not sure of when they get relief, how to take relief, what to do when their ball is lost in a hazard etc.

I think the rules of golf can be simplified but I'm sure others would disagree.
IMHO the Rules of Golf are not that complicated. Considering the countless number of situations that you could face on a golf course, the fact that you can deal with 99% of them with only 34 rules is actually quite remarkable. The problem is that very few people actually read them.

Unlike other sports, the players referee themselves in golf - and the vast majority of them only learn the rules from other players who haven't actually read the Rules of Golf either. So rules knowledge is generally based on hearsay and anecdotal stories rather than actually reading the rules or even seeing them applied properly.

You can buy the Rules of Golf at any golf store for under $10. Read it once - you don't have to memorize it so much as learn the definitions and know where in the book to look stuff up. Keep it in your golf bag and/or refer to it every time a question comes up and you'll be a rules expert in no time.

I agree that some of the rules need to be simplified, and in some cases they are inconsistent and unfair (OB rule vs hazards). I think if you owned property next to a golf course you would not want OB and hazards treated in the same way.:D

Though I think you could treat OB in the same manner as an "environmentally sensitive area" and accomplish the same thing without making the punishment so severe.

[slicendice]

You can buy the Rules of Golf at any golf store for under $10. Read it once - you don't have to memorize it so much as learn the definitions and know where in the book to look stuff up. Keep it in your golf bag and/or refer to it every time a question comes up and you'll be a rules expert in no time.


This is so worth it - especially as a new golfer - buy the book (or as in my case, get it for free from the R&A website) and then when some blow hard so called "expert" starts giving you a bs line you can whip out the book and prove him wrong. That same person will usually also stop giving unsolicited golf advice as well - so it's money well spent.

Learn the rules! Then if you choose to ignore them - at least you're not doing so ignorantly.

slice.

[Thimble]

i think that all hazards should be treated as lateral hazards.

[SoNgMaN]

i think that all hazards should be treated as lateral hazards.

when playing with people i know and have golfed with before this is usually the case in our round. I agree with eeryone when you have someone not in your group walking back to re-tee etc it's a big waste of time.

[tjhayko]

when playing with people i know and have golfed with before this is usually the case in our round. I agree with eeryone when you have someone not in your group walking back to re-tee etc it's a big waste of time.

This is the way I usually play as well. It's not quite in accordance with the rules of golf, but for recreational play, it sure does speed things up.

[hogannut]

I agree with the statements if you are playing for fun. If you hit on the other side of a white stake, play it from where it entered the hazzard. However, if you were playing a bit more serious but wanted to keep it simple the basic concept is if the ball goes on the other side of a red stake lift and drop at point of entry for 1 penalty shot. If it crosses on a white stake, hit the shot again from where you lay (reload from the tee or drop one from where the shot was hit) and take 1 penalty shot and count the next shot too.

[Thimble]

even better would be for whoever hits an OB owes everyone else a beer and hits from the point of entry with no penalty...

[tjhayko]

even better would be for whoever hits an OB owes everyone else a beer and hits from the point of entry with no penalty...

This rule change will lead to higher scores, even though the penalty is less severe. It will also increase the number of balls hit too close to the group in front without any increase in distance by your foursome :rofl:.

[el tigre]

i think that all hazards should be treated as lateral hazards. A hazard is a bunker or a water hazard.

You would treat a bunker the same as a water hazard?

[Thimble]

This rule change will lead to higher scores, even though the penalty is less severe. It will also increase the number of balls hit too close to the group in front without any increase in distance by your foursome :rofl:.

if you actually hit someone in the group in front, everybody buys you a beer (as long as nobody is "really" hurt).

A hazard is a bunker or a water hazard.

You would treat a bunker the same as a water hazard?

hrm... you know, why not? some of us duffers are so bad out of the sand that golf would be tremendously more enjoyable if we were allowed to take a 1 shot penalty for dropping laterally...

[el tigre]

when playing with people i know and have golfed with before this is usually the case in our round. I agree with eeryone when you have someone not in your group walking back to re-tee etc it's a big waste of time. You can save time (and play by the rules) by hitting a provisional.

In my experience, the "pace-of-play" excuse is more often used for "score management" rather than a genuine regard for other golfers on the course. When I see someone hit a ball into possible OB or the woods, and refuse to hit a provisional but instead announce "I''ll find it" - then I know I will very soon be hearing "Oh well, guess I'll just drop one here". No wonder they never score worse than a double bogey!

Not that I really care how others wish to play in a casual round - there are lots of ways to have fun on a golf course. But I play provisionals all the time (I'm hardly a fairway-finder off the tee) and I have no problems finishing a round in 4 hours.

[slicendice]

You can save time (and play by the rules) by hitting a provisional.

If I hit one in the water and then load up, I just end up hitting two in the water :rofl:

well, that might be exagerating a bit - but your point is valid - if in doubt - reload - still faster to pick up the provisional when you find your original than it is to hike back to the tee.

[Shadow]

I think the rules of golf can be simplified but I'm sure others would disagree.
While there are some situations we can get into where the rules seem complicated, the basic rules are very simple and easy to learn. By basic, I am referring to:
1 ball lost or OB
2 ball in hazard(s)
3 ball unplayable
4 how to take relief

These 4 cover 99% of the situations where a ruling is needed.

[Heits]

The most common questions are in regards to how to properly take relief... whether it's OB, water hazards, ground under repair, unplayable, etc...

The only one I really have trouble remembering is the club lengths rule... water hazard vs GUI, 1 or 2 club lengths, stance, etc!