What is the one rule you wish could be changed

[sui generis]

> @Shipwreck said:

> Practice swing in a hazard. I get that they are meant to pose more of a challenge and you’re not supposed to be there, but the majority of us don’t play at PGA quality courses and the depth of sand varies. If I can take a practice swing in the rough to gauge how to play the shot, I should be able to take one in a bunker or in a staked area.

>

 

You're half in luck. Since 1/1/19, you may make a "practice swing" in a penalty area so long as you don't improve the Conditions Affecting the Stroke (CATS from Rule 8).

[Shipwreck]

> @"sui generis" said:

> > @Shipwreck said:

> > Practice swing in a hazard. I get that they are meant to pose more of a challenge and you’re not supposed to be there, but the majority of us don’t play at PGA quality courses and the depth of sand varies. If I can take a practice swing in the rough to gauge how to play the shot, I should be able to take one in a bunker or in a staked area.

> >

>

> You're half in luck. Since 1/1/19, you may make a "practice swing" in a penalty area so long as you don't improve the Conditions Affecting the Stroke (CATS from Rule 8).

 

Not according to the USGA site. It still states you can’t touch the ground in making a practice swing, unless I’m reading it wrong?

 

 

[Newby]

Bunkers and Penalty Areas are no longer Hazards

[larrybud]

> @"sui generis" said:

> > @larrybud said:

> > The new pin rule sucks.

> > Played in a tourney this past week, 2 guys in, 2 guys out. One of the "in" guys wanted it for a freakin' 1 footer.

 

> The previous flagstick procedure inconvenienced everyone. The 2019 flagstick procedure inconveniences very few.

 

Hardly. You take it out once, you put it in once. If you're playing solo and you want it left in, then leave it in, as your score can't be posted for handicapping anyway. I started to count. One hole it was removed and put back *6* times.

 

[Shipwreck]

> @larrybud said:

> > @"sui generis" said:

> > > @larrybud said:

> > > The new pin rule sucks.

> > > Played in a tourney this past week, 2 guys in, 2 guys out. One of the "in" guys wanted it for a freakin' 1 footer.

>

> > The previous flagstick procedure inconvenienced everyone. The 2019 flagstick procedure inconveniences very few.

>

> Hardly. You take it out once, you put it in once. If you're playing solo and you want it left in, then leave it in, as your score can't be posted for handicapping anyway. I started to count. One hole it was removed and put back *6* times.

>

 

Good god that’s mind numbing idiotic. Once the flag is out, it should remain out.

[Wendy123]

 

> Good god that’s mind numbing idiotic. Once the flag is out, it should remain out.

 

So, the first person to putt wants it out and no one else has a say? Can't have it in or tended? No thank you.

 

 

[antip]

> @TheCityGame said:

> I saw the thread title "what is the one rule you wish could be changed" and I thought, "surely, someone didn't start another 'relief from divot' thread."

>

> I had to click on it just out of morbid curiosity.

>

> Why do I do this?

 

You are an eternal optimist that likes to think the best of people. I admire that. I'm a lot more beaten down.

[antip]

> @"sui generis" said:

> > @Shipwreck said:

> > Practice swing in a hazard. I get that they are meant to pose more of a challenge and you’re not supposed to be there, but the majority of us don’t play at PGA quality courses and the depth of sand varies. If I can take a practice swing in the rough to gauge how to play the shot, I should be able to take one in a bunker or in a staked area.

> >

>

> You're half in luck. Since 1/1/19, you may make a "practice swing" in a penalty area so long as you don't improve the Conditions Affecting the Stroke (CATS from Rule 8).

 

It's even a little more than half, if there are two bunkers next to each other, you can take a practice swing in the other one (subject to the not improving the CATS constraint) (Edit, forgot the close bracket).

[antip]

> @larrybud said:

> > @"sui generis" said:

> > > @larrybud said:

> > > The new pin rule sucks.

> > > Played in a tourney this past week, 2 guys in, 2 guys out. One of the "in" guys wanted it for a freakin' 1 footer.

>

> > The previous flagstick procedure inconvenienced everyone. The 2019 flagstick procedure inconveniences very few.

>

> Hardly. You take it out once, you put it in once. If you're playing solo and you want it left in, then leave it in, as your score can't be posted for handicapping anyway. I started to count. One hole it was removed and put back *6* times.

>

 

So your foursome didn't work out how to approach this intellectual challenge?

[Shipwreck]

> @Wendy123 said:

>

> > Good god that’s mind numbing idiotic. Once the flag is out, it should remain out.

>

> So, the first person to putt wants it out and no one else has a say? Can't have it in or tended? No thank you.

>

>

 

Sorry it was more of a “within 15 feet or so” etiquette sort of thing. Why can’t golfers just be in agreement to leave it in for so long then take it out?

[BiggErn]

> @Vindog said:

> > @Brass_Bullseye said:

> > No OB anywhere on the golf course. Every white stake is converted to red.

>

> How does that work if you are in a red penalty area, yet try to trespass to play out of the private property not owned by the course?

 

Well just leave it white and and penalize a stroke instead of stroke and distance.

[antip]

> @BiggErn said:

> > @Vindog said:

> > > @Brass_Bullseye said:

> > > No OB anywhere on the golf course. Every white stake is converted to red.

> >

> > How does that work if you are in a red penalty area, yet try to trespass to play out of the private property not owned by the course?

>

> Well just leave it white and and penalize a stroke instead of stroke and distance.

 

That's not an option in the Rules (nor should it be), S&D or 2 strokes under MLR E-5.

[farmer]

I would like free relief from boundary fences.

[sui generis]

> @farmer said:

> I would like free relief from boundary fences.

 

And, I think you should have it. (Along with the freedom to move (and after your stroke, replace) a white OB stake.

[farmer]

> @"sui generis" said:

> > @farmer said:

> > I would like free relief from boundary fences.

>

> And, I think you should have it. (Along with the freedom to move (and after your stroke, replace) a white OB stake.

 

Our boundary fences are tight 5 and 7 wire barbed wire. Otherwise, I appreciate your agreement.

[slocagolfer]

Back to 5 minutes for a lost ball instead of 3.

[antip]

> @slocagolfer said:

> Back to 5 minutes for a lost ball instead of 3.

I like the new rule, helps rebalance the game to the skill of controlling the ball, something the equipment changes are taking away.

 

[BiggErn]

> @antip said:

> > @slocagolfer said:

> > Back to 5 minutes for a lost ball instead of 3.

> I like the new rule, helps rebalance the game to the skill of controlling the ball, something the equipment changes are taking away.

>

 

Lol, what? All it means is you’ll go back to the tee faster to replay the shot. Where on earth did you get anything to do with equipment out of that.

[Newby]

> @BiggErn said:

> Lol, what? All it means is you’ll go back to the tee faster to replay the shot. Where on earth did you get anything to do with equipment out of that.

Much quicker to play a provisional in the first place

 

[Newby]

> @"sui generis" said:

> > @farmer said:

> > I would like free relief from boundary fences.

>

> Along with the freedom to move (and after your stroke, replace) a white OB stake.

Do you think people are any more likely to replace them in the right place (or at all) than they they do with red or yellow stakes?

 

[antip]

> @BiggErn said:

> > @antip said:

> > > @slocagolfer said:

> > > Back to 5 minutes for a lost ball instead of 3.

> > I like the new rule, helps rebalance the game to the skill of controlling the ball, something the equipment changes are taking away.

> >

>

> Lol, what? All it means is you’ll go back to the tee faster to replay the shot. Where on earth did you get anything to do with equipment out of that.

 

1) I've always played a provisional, haven't taken a walk back to the tee in many years.

2) The clubs are far more forgiving now than in the past. Mishits do not go so far off target lines. That's my experience from 50+ years in the game. If you have a different experience, I'm happy to hear it.

[sui generis]

> @Newby said:

> > @"sui generis" said:

> > > @farmer said:

> > > I would like free relief from boundary fences.

> >

> > Along with the freedom to move (and after your stroke, replace) a white OB stake.

> Do you think people are any more likely to replace them in the right place (or at all) than they they do with red or yellow stakes?

>

 

Then perhaps we shouldn't be permitted to move reds and yellows? My cause is that we treat like things alike wherever they're to be found.

[Newby]

> @"sui generis" said:

> > @Newby said:

> > > @"sui generis" said:

> > > > @farmer said:

> > > > I would like free relief from boundary fences.

> > >

> > > Along with the freedom to move (and after your stroke, replace) a white OB stake.

> > Do you think people are any more likely to replace them in the right place (or at all) than they they do with red or yellow stakes?

> >

>

> Then perhaps we shouldn't be permitted to move reds and yellows? My cause is that we treat like things alike wherever they're to be found.

 

We have the option already of course

[Newby]

> @"sui generis" said:

> > @Newby said:

> > > @"sui generis" said:

> > > > @farmer said:

> > > > I would like free relief from boundary fences.

> > >

> > > Along with the freedom to move (and after your stroke, replace) a white OB stake.

> > Do you think people are any more likely to replace them in the right place (or at all) than they they do with red or yellow stakes?

> >

>

> Then perhaps we shouldn't be permitted to move reds and yellows? My cause is that we treat like things alike wherever they're to be found.

 

We have the option already of course

[Newby]

The flagstick must be left in the hole.

[slocagolfer]

> @Newby said:

> > @BiggErn said:

> > Lol, what? All it means is you’ll go back to the tee faster to replay the shot. Where on earth did you get anything to do with equipment out of that.

> Much quicker to play a provisional in the first place

>

 

The provisional is one of my better shots. Lots of practice. ;0)

 

[Newby]

> @slocagolfer said:

> > @Newby said:

> > > @BiggErn said:

> > > Lol, what? All it means is you’ll go back to the tee faster to replay the shot. Where on earth did you get anything to do with equipment out of that.

> > Much quicker to play a provisional in the first place

> >

>

> The provisional is one of my better shots. Lots of practice. ;0)

>

You should play your provisional first.

 

[BiggErn]

> @antip said:

> > @BiggErn said:

> > > @antip said:

> > > > @slocagolfer said:

> > > > Back to 5 minutes for a lost ball instead of 3.

> > > I like the new rule, helps rebalance the game to the skill of controlling the ball, something the equipment changes are taking away.

> > >

> >

> > Lol, what? All it means is you’ll go back to the tee faster to replay the shot. Where on earth did you get anything to do with equipment out of that.

>

> 1) I've always played a provisional, haven't taken a walk back to the tee in many years.

> 2) The clubs are far more forgiving now than in the past. Mishits do not go so far off target lines. That's my experience from 50+ years in the game. If you have a different experience, I'm happy to hear it.

 

I’m sure I’m not the only golfer to hit what they thought was a good shot only to get to where they think the ball should be and it’s nowhere to be found. Should we always hit 2 just to be safe?

[Roadking2003]

> @Pepperturbo said:

> If we could only change complainers into non-complainers and improve their skill from a divot.

 

If we could only change complainers into non-complainers and improve their skill from a cart path.

[CAT GOLFER]

If I’m playing alone, I don’t inconvenience myself with unintentional bad lies (beaver pelts not replaced, giant and deep foot prints in sand trap, tire tracks in wet areas). When I play with others or in a league, I accept that luck plays at least some part in the game.