What is the one rule you wish could be changed

[Mr. Bean]

Halebopp, there are always two sides for all things and for most things there is no absolute truth. Sure, it sounds like a good idea to minimize the risks by allowing removal stakes and I can easily approve if the Committee decides that to be the path to be taken. Then again, I can also approve the other approach, that is to avoid stakes lying around on the ground potentially in the rough where the lawnmower might run over it causing damage to both the stake and the mower, not to mention the players missing the distance information.

And yes, that was my take on it. If there are obstacles on or close to the line of play accidents can happen. Thus it is up to the player to determine the quantity of that risk and manage it. You may not like this philosophy but so be it. No need to get agitated if someone has a different view on things. I believe also antip expressed as his opinion that a single distance pole on the line of play should not be a problem.

As 'your first reply' I can only assume you were referring to my post #2034 in which I indeed tried to be funny. Sorry if I missed. I try to be funnier next time.

[Halebopp]

@Mr. Bean I wasn't agitated by you disagreeing but by the tone I read in the original reply (hence the lengthy edit).

Preferably the distance markers wouldn't cause trouble either way as the stakes aren't really a necessary part of a course (more like useful guides), so maybe the best way forward would be to do away with the stakes altogether and use those plastic "spheres" with the spring that go down when stepped on or driven over by a mower. Then again, those markers probably won't work too well on more undulating courses as they might be difficult to see.

[rogolf]

With DMD permitted, why do courses need to put out distance markers at all, particularly those that sit above the ground? Imo, courses look much better without them.

[James the Hogan Fan]

It's a big jump from recently permitted to the only way to get a distance; I think courses do it out of habit, and I think the vast majority of casual players do not have a DMD.

Courses do look much better without them, or when they have been suitably integrated into the overall course motif.

[Vindog]

I do not use, nor do I have any plans to use a DMD. So lets not rush to get rid of distance markers quite yet please.

[Roadking2003]

Not everyone has a DMD.

[Newby]

I would estimate that 75% of mid-high cappers in my club haven't got DMDs.

[rogolf]

Note that I didn't suggest getting rid of all distance markers, just those that sit above the ground. Those embedded in the ground are just fine imo. It's the visual clutter of posts, rocks etc that should disappear.

[Mikey5e]

The key word in your comment is 'visual'. By taking away the ability to see a marker from a distance will slow down play, which is one of the biggest cancers of golf today. Golfers will have to walk over to find the marker then walk back to their bag grab a club and then address the ball. Seeing a marker from a distance is so much better, and can be made visually pleasing with a little effort. Nice try but I disagree with your comment!

[nsxguy]

You had me until the "Nice try" crack.

Guess some things never change people never get it. [sigh]

[rogolf]

Well, I wasn't trying to get your agreement, which is irrelevant, just giving my opinion.

[Vindog]

Fair enough.

[antip]

Here's a little piece of detail from 18.3b/2 I find difficult to muster any support for:

Examples of announcements that CLEARLY INDICATE the player is playing a provisional ball include...... "I'm going to play another just in case." So this is OK.

Examples of announcements that DO NOT CLEARLY INDICATE the player is playing a provisional ball include ..... "I'm going to play another." So this is S&D penalty.

[Sawgrass]

I don’t expect to win you over on this, but I find the ruling to be rational, even comfortable. “Just in case” implies to me, “Just in case I don’t find my original.”

“I’m going to play another” is what you might say if you intend to put a new ball in play OR if you wish to play a provisional — and that ambiguity is unacceptable.

[rogolf]

I'll suggest that they approved that wording because of the definition of provisional ball, "Another ball played in case the ball just played ..."

[Newby]

Well spotted.

[antip]

Sure, you can drink that Kool Aid, imagine that is what it is short for.

But it could also be: I'll play another just in case that one went in the pond/lake etc. So "clearly indicate"? I think not.

It's a step in the direction of fuzzy, in a place where there was no fuzzy, at a time when the key objective is get rid of fuzzy. Ergo, I'm disappointed.

[antip]

The teeing area wrinkle of no need to play a ball in play as it lies is a change I would prefer to reverse. The core mantra of play the course as you find it and the ball as it lies has been unceremoniously dumped for a ball in play that remains in or has found it's way back to the teeing area. So if you squirt one sideways into the trees and it rebounds back toward the teeing area there is now a critical difference in your options if it comes to rest in that sacred 2cl deep rectangle or just next to it.

[davep043]

I have no problem with your suggestion. In essence, the Teeing Area would be a special place only until a ball is put into play. It would still be appropriate to allow full teeing area liberties for a shot that must be replayed (stroke and distance relief). Of course, the change was made in the pursuit of consistency, so that any ball played from the teeing area was treated the same way. We would have to accept a little bit of inconsistency if it was changed back. This would be the opposite trend from some of the other suggestions, such as treating obstructions OB the same way as obstructions on the course.

[LICC]

Or treat it similarly to a ball hit onto the wrong green. Allow a free drop just outside the tee area. Reason being to avoid the tee area getting chopped up.

[Sawgrass]

Sure, you can imagine it is short for "just in case that one went into a pond," but that's a less than probable imagining given that most of the time players who fear their ball went into a pond would rather take R17 relief, and can't take provisional ball relief, so that would be an odd meaning to assume IMO. But hey, I don't expect to win you over on this comment either!

[Vindog]

I agree and is part of the reason why I don’t really mention that I’m not fully onboard with removing LI restrictions in PAs, but it does make the removal of LI’s more consistent throughout the course.

Sometimes you gotta steal from Peter to pay Paul. No offense to Peters of the world of course.

[Mr. Bean]

You can always ask the other player what does they mean exactly before they make a stroke.

[nsxguy]

Kool Aid ? LOL

As Mr B. suggested, if you're not sure what somebody means,,,,,, ask. Easy peasy.

[antip]

Agree and agree. But I think the bigger issue is what guidance will get it right for most golfers most of the time, and I think the older formulation will do that better. And a message that you don't need to use the word provisional any more, IMO, is unhelpful. Moving on now. A little birdie has told me that the 2020 MGA rules quiz will be out shortly.

[antip]

Sure, peer assistance is valuable. But the first best world is have each payer get it right.

[Hawkeye77]

What if only one of them answers?

[Mr. Bean]

What do you mean?

[rogolf]

I suspect he's asking about why you used "they" in your post. Maybe he hasn't caught up with the latest definition of "they"?

a—used with a singular indefinite pronoun antecedent. No one has to go if they don't want to. Everyone knew where they stood …

b —used with a singular antecedent to refer to an unknown or unspecified person. An employee with a grievance can file a complaint if they need to. The person who answered the phone said they didn't know where she was.

c —used to refer to a single person whose gender is intentionally not revealed. A student was found with a knife in their backpack Monday, district spokeswoman Renee Murphy confirmed. The student, whose name has not been released, will be disciplined according to district policies, Murphy said. They also face charges from outside law enforcement, she said.

[The General]

Ball in divot in the fairway, and nothing else is even close. Should be a free drop in the fairway.