Yardage book rules

[wildcatden]

Quick question on yardage book rules:

 

1. Assuming I have a yardage book of legal size (4.25" x7" maximum), am I allowed to write anything in the book? For example, I could write out the words to the national anthem in there if I wanted? Or more related, I could write out swing thoughts and reminders?

 

Note: I now that there are rules with respect to scale of diagrams ("books are limited in scale for green diagrams to where a grid can be no more precise than 3/8" equaling 5 yards of the green.")

 

 

[Newby]

1 minute ago, wildcatden said:

Quick question on yardage book rules:

 

1. Assuming I have a yardage book of legal size (4.25" x7" maximum), am I allowed to write anything in the book? For example, I could write out the words to the national anthem in there if I wanted? Or more related, I could write out swing thoughts and reminders?

 

 

 

 

Yes.

[Mr. Bean]

4.3a/1 Limitations on Using Green-Reading Materials

Purpose of Interpretation: Rule 4.3 limits the use of equipment and devices that might help a player in his or her play, based on the principle that golf is a challenging game in which success should depend on the judgement, skills and abilities of the player.  This interpretation of Rule 4.3 limits the size and scale of detailed putting green maps and any similar electronic or digital materials that a player may use during a round to help with reading his or her line of play on the putting green so that a player's ability to read a green remains an essential part of the skill of putting.

 

Putting Green Maps

The player is allowed to use a putting green map or other putting green information, except that:

• Any image of a putting green must be limited to a scale of 3/8 inch to 5 yards (1:480) or smaller (the "scale limit").
• Any book or other paper containing a map or image of a putting green must not be larger than 4 1/4 inches x 7 inches (the "size limit"), although a "hole location sheet" that displays 9 or more holes on a single sheet of paper may be larger, provided that any image of a single putting green meets the scale limit.
• No magnification of putting green information is allowed other than a player's normal wearing of prescription glasses or lenses.
• Hand drawn or written information about a putting green is only allowed if contained in a book or paper meeting the size limit and written by the player and/or his or her caddie.

Edited May 25, 2022 by Mr. Bean

[Warrior42111]

Just a question on the yardage books for the referees.

 

Are they going through all pages at high level events to check for this specifically the scaling? 

 

What about the size rules are we breaking out rulers are the start of the round?

 

I'm thinking for hackers like me, I sometimes hand draw maps of the course, but I submit as a HC round, my scaling could be off 

Edited May 25, 2022 by Warrior42111

[Mr. Bean]

3 hours ago, Warrior42111 said:

Just a question on the yardage books for the referees.

 

Are they going through all pages at high level events to check for this specifically the scaling? 

 

What about the size rules are we breaking out rulers are the start of the round?

 

I'm thinking for hackers like me, I sometimes hand draw maps of the course, but I submit as a HC round, my scaling could be off 

 

What I have heard from the big boys is that yardage books, clubs, balls etc. are player's responsibility and referees only come into picture if there is any doubt or when asked to do so. Your own rounds should be the same. Either you follow the Rules or you do not. Golf is based on integrity.

[sui generis]

4 hours ago, Warrior42111 said:

Just a question on the yardage books for the referees.

 

Are they going through all pages at high level events to check for this specifically the scaling? 

 

Didn't Alex Cejka on the geezer travelling circus just get dinged? I seem to recall that another player in his group dropped a dime on him.

[betarhoalphadelta]

On 5/25/2022 at 12:50 PM, Warrior42111 said:

Just a question on the yardage books for the referees.

 

Are they going through all pages at high level events to check for this specifically the scaling? 

 

What about the size rules are we breaking out rulers are the start of the round?

 

I'm thinking for hackers like me, I sometimes hand draw maps of the course, but I submit as a HC round, my scaling could be off 

 

Per the rule quoted above, these size restrictions ONLY apply to the putting green image/map. You could draw a map of a hole on 8.5" x 11" and as long as the putting green doesn't violate the size or scale rules, your map is legal. 

[Forrest Sanchez]

On 5/25/2022 at 10:21 PM, Mr. Bean said:

4.3a/1 Limitations on Using Green-Reading Materials

Purpose of Interpretation: Rule 4.3 limits the use of equipment and devices that might help a player in his or her play, based on the principle that golf is a challenging game in which success should depend on the judgement, skills and abilities of the player.  This interpretation of Rule 4.3 limits the size and scale of detailed putting green maps and any similar electronic or digital materials that a player may use during a round to help with reading his or her line of play on the putting green so that a player's ability to read a green remains an essential part of the skill of putting.

 

Putting Green Maps

The player is allowed to use a putting green map or other putting green information, except that:

• Any image of a putting green must be limited to a scale of 3/8 inch to 5 yards (1:480) or smaller (the "scale limit").
• Any book or other paper containing a map or image of a putting green must not be larger than 4 1/4 inches x 7 inches (the "size limit"), although a "hole location sheet" that displays 9 or more holes on a single sheet of paper may be larger, provided that any image of a single putting green meets the scale limit.
• No magnification of putting green information is allowed other than a player's normal wearing of prescription glasses or lenses.
• Hand drawn or written information about a putting green is only allowed if contained in a book or paper meeting the size limit and written by the player and/or his or her caddie.
  
  In the Higher School, there are often problems between teenagers. Someone considers himself superior to others and allows himself humiliating behavior. This is not correct and therefore I would like to convey to students that everyone is equal. It is better to have priority in the spotting as shown above. That's why I suggest you go here https://happyessays.com/free-essays/harrison-bergeron/  There are essays about Garrison Bergeron who beautifully described equality between people. You can take some useful information from there and put it into practice. You can also see examples of how to write a good essay and use it in your studies.

Thanks for the explanation.

Edited October 3, 2022 by Forrest Sanchez

[North Butte]

There's a guy at my club keeps a little notebook in his pocket for tournaments (it's not a yardage book, just a spiral bound notebook) and writes himself all kinds of notes during and after his practice rounds. I think he's been doing it for decades whenever he plays in tournaments. Kind of old-school but he says it's not just to remind himself of yardages or hazards, it's to remind himself how to visualize the hole and what his plan and vision for each shot ought to be.

 

Honestly, it sounds too much like work to me! But certainly legal according to ROG. 

[RSinSG]

2 hours ago, North Butte said:

There's a guy at my club keeps a little notebook in his pocket for tournaments (it's not a yardage book, just a spiral bound notebook) and writes himself all kinds of notes during and after his practice rounds. I think he's been doing it for decades whenever he plays in tournaments. Kind of old-school but he says it's not just to remind himself of yardages or hazards, it's to remind himself how to visualize the hole and what his plan and vision for each shot ought to be.

 

Honestly, it sounds too much like work to me! But certainly legal according to ROG. 

That aid is complicated. One fellow I played with occasional went the opposite route when he had a small card that had his distances on it (9 = 110, 8 = 130 etc) and laminated it and wore it with a lanyard around his neck. Made it easy to know which club to use.😑

[alittleoverpar]

When I used to play in tournaments, I would keep a notebook.  During practice rounds I would decide how I was going to play each hole, which clubs I planned to use, and where I wanted to hit the shot.  I could refer to those notes during the tournament and it was easier to stay focused on your plan when on the tee box.  Of course if you didn't hit your tee shot where you planned then you were improvising.  I did a lot of that, but in concept the plan was solid and helped.

[Colin L]

Rule 10.b (6)

If a player writes the words of the nationall anthem in his yardage book, he is  required to stand to attention when making a stroke on the putting green.  

Edited October 1, 2022 by Colin L

[Mr. Bean]

3 hours ago, Colin L said:

Rule 10.b (6)

If a player writes the words of the nationall anthem in his yardage book, he is e required to stand to attention when making a stroke on the putting green.  

 

This reminds me of a great movie "Last king of Scotland". Forest Whittaker does an excellent role.

[North Butte]

20 hours ago, alittleoverpar said:

When I used to play in tournaments, I would keep a notebook.  During practice rounds I would decide how I was going to play each hole, which clubs I planned to use, and where I wanted to hit the shot.  I could refer to those notes during the tournament and it was easier to stay focused on your plan when on the tee box.  Of course if you didn't hit your tee shot where you planned then you were improvising.  I did a lot of that, but in concept the plan was solid and helped.

As Eisenhower was fond of saying, the plan itself is worthless but planning is everything.

 

Or as Mike Tyson paraphrased it, everybody's got a plan until I punch 'em in the mouth. 

[Robert72]

10 hours ago, Colin L said:

Rule 10.b (6)

If a player writes the words of the nationall anthem in his yardage book, he is e required to stand to attention when making a stroke on the putting green.  

 

Correct.  We don't want anyone "taking a knee" on the putting green.  It would leave an unrepairable dent.

[larrybud]

On 9/30/2022 at 10:45 AM, alittleoverpar said:

When I used to play in tournaments, I would keep a notebook.  During practice rounds I would decide how I was going to play each hole, which clubs I planned to use, and where I wanted to hit the shot.  I could refer to those notes during the tournament and it was easier to stay focused on your plan when on the tee box.  Of course if you didn't hit your tee shot where you planned then you were improvising.  I did a lot of that, but in concept the plan was solid and helped.

 

I used to do that until by the 3rd hole I'd blast one into the trees and the best laid plans are wasted! lol