Most breached Rules

[rogolf]

Thought it would be interesting to understand the "most breached" Rules of golf in general play (ie, not competition).  Here's a start, add your own

1.   not holing out (really obvious)

2.  advice

3.  touching, lifting, rotating ball to identify it without marking the ball

4.  one stroke penalty for OOB or lost ball for dropping in vicinity

5.

6.

[Hawkeye77]

Play the ball as it lies is usually violated 2-5 times on each hole  before failing to hole out! So my slight reorder. 

Edited February 23, 2023 by Hawkeye77

[bobfoster]

Foot wedges. I walk on a lot as a single. Get put with a lot of weekenders. Many of whom (as you say) think the rule is "play the ball (mostly) as it lies (unless it is inconvenient)". If a tree is in the way, they just move it until it isn't in the way. If it is in deep rough, kick it into low rough. 

 

Also, water. Very few casual golfers know the difference between red and yellow stakes. 

 

In truth, I don't care. The average male amateur is just out for fun, and is lucky to shoot 100. People should have their fun. In fact, weekenders cheating actually speeds up pace of play (weird, eh?)

 

The one irritating breached rule (to me) is first tee Mulligans. Last round I played was on a public course. Got to the tee close to a half hour past my tee time - watched 3 out of 4 of the two foursomes in front of me take "breakfast balls". 

 

I generally play by the strict RoG - just because when I shoot a great round by the rules, it gives me a lot of pleasure. But I get that this isn't the norm (though it kind of is on WRX). 

[bekgolf]

How about the guy who crossed a lateral penalty area and doesn't drop correctly?  Either he gives himself a generous amount of relief to get a good lie or he drops 30 yards farther up from where it crossed or he does both.

[Mr. Bean]

Touching sand in bunker when not allowed

Bending growing things unnecessarily (especially tree branches)

 

When giving Rules lectures I always begin by saying:

 

"When playing a casual round play as you like following the principles of Etiquette but when playing in a competition or a handicap round ALWAYS follow the Rules to the dot. In order to follow the Rules you need to know them and that is what this session is all about".

 

I do that myself as well. If I do not like the way my ball lies I move it. Thus I would be much more interested in the most common breaches in competitions / handicap rounds as those (should) result in a penalty.

[bcjim]

Agree,  not holing out. At least for people actually keeping score.

 

Including people that don't have a handicap,  it's probably fluffing the ball. 

[Itsjustagame]

Cart path relief

[Tiger_Stud]

Is "keep your head done" considered as advice? If yes advice will be the winner!

[davep043]

36 minutes ago, Itsjustagame said:

Cart path relief

This is the one that comes to my mind.  Even experienced players, intending to play by the rules, will often take Relief on the "good" side of the Obstruction (or any other Abnormal Course Condition), rather than using the NEAREST point of complete relief.

[jvincent]

I had the same first three as @rogolf. After that I would say "bad drops" are the next on the list. Either from penalty areas or from relief from cart paths/etc.

 

The one that still surprises me how often it happens in actual competitions are our club is playing the wrong ball. Would it have killed them to grab a damn sharpie before the round?

[pingfool]

Advice by a landslide. 

Big difference between public information (yardage) and “What did you hit there”? Or “I hit 6iron”

[SNIPERBBB]

Improper drop locations for PA relief is what I see most

[david.c.w]

Not holing out has to be #1 by a landslide.  I am a pretty crappy putter so in a normal round my total made putt distance is something like 10ft.  Lots of 6" putts that get picked up. 

 

#2 has to be not playing as it lies. 

 

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

I'd say the rule I break most frequently is using a laser rangefinder with the slope adjustment enabled 😉 

 

[Cancun]

I agree with Rofgolf’s list and with the rest of the contributions (particularly regarding the nearest point of relief), and I would add:

-          More than 14 clubs

-          Incorrect substitution of the ball (mostly with the putting “lucky ball”)

[Mr. Bean]

54 minutes ago, Cancun said:

 

 

Well, well, long time no hear!  Nice to hear from you, Cancun! 👍

[Halebopp]

2 hours ago, Cancun said:

I agree with Rofgolf’s list and with the rest of the contributions (particularly regarding the nearest point of relief), and I would add:

-          More than 14 clubs

-          Incorrect substitution of the ball (mostly with the putting “lucky ball”)

 

It's great to hear from you again, Cancun!

 

One not mentioned is practice when not allowed to.

[Cancun]

1 hour ago, Mr. Bean said:

 

Well, well, long time no hear!  Nice to hear from you, Cancun! 👍

I guess it’s been several years Mr. Bean. I can’t say that I’ll read every post written while I was gone, but I’ll try to read you guys as you write in the Rules forum. I missed the group! It's nice to be back 👋

[Cancun]

1 minute ago, Halebopp said:

 

It's great to hear from you again, Cancun!

 

One not mentioned is practice when not allowed to.

Nice to be back! Thank you, really!

 

[596]

I actually like it when people take golf leisurely and break some rules. It definitely speeds up play in most cases.  Most people don't keep a handicap and aren't playing for any money at all.

 

Fluffed lies

Not holing out

Water hazard drops 

 

I play in a small money game, about 30 guys, every Friday.  Have for years.  The main rule of the game is you get "one club length relief, unless you need more".  Fluffing lies within a score card size relief area. Pickup after bogey. No hitting off tee roots. Lots of WRX members would say this isn't real golf, but you know what, no one cares and we are all having fun. And it all speeds up play! 

 

 

 

[Newby]

1 hour ago, 596 said:

I actually like it when people take golf leisurely and break some rules. It definitely speeds up play in most cases.  Most people don't keep a handicap and aren't playing for any money at all.

 

Fluffed lies

Not holing out

Water hazard drops 

 

I play in a small money game, about 30 guys, every Friday.  Have for years.  The main rule of the game is you get "one club length relief, unless you need more".  Fluffing lies within a score card size relief area. Pickup after bogey. No hitting off tee roots. Lots of WRX members would say this isn't real golf, but you know what, no one cares and we are all having fun. And it all speeds up play! 

 

 

 

I have no real issue if you are enjoying yourselves playing whatever it is you call it but one thing always puzzles me. If you enjoy it so much why do you want to speed up play. More time surely would provide more enjoyment 😉 ☺️

[Abh159]

My list:

 

Tied - 1) Improving your lie

Tied - 1) Not holing out

Tied - 3) Advice

Tied - 3) Improper drops / penalty strokes added for OB and/or penalty areas

 

Then everything else is probably tied at the bottom simply because it doesn't happen enough during normal course of play.

[596]

17 minutes ago, Newby said:

I have no real issue if you are enjoying yourselves playing whatever it is you call it but one thing always puzzles me. If you enjoy it so much why do you want to speed up play. More time surely would provide more enjoyment 😉 ☺️

😂

You would think that. But, no.

 

I love golf. I love playing with the guys. Love being outdoors. But when you stand around for 5 minutes waiting for a few guys trying to figure out what club to hit, lining up a 2 foot putt like it was for a million dollars, using a range finder from a green side sand trap, hunting ponds for used golf balls, talking on a cell phone when it's their turn.... Things get way too slow for me.  I like a rhythm to my game. It's why I walk when the others ride. 

 

[pingfool]

14 hours ago, 596 said:

I actually like it when people take golf leisurely and break some rules. It definitely speeds up play in most cases.  Most people don't keep a handicap and aren't playing for any money at all.

 

Fluffed lies

Not holing out

Water hazard drops 

 

I play in a small money game, about 30 guys, every Friday.  Have for years.  The main rule of the game is you get "one club length relief, unless you need more".  Fluffing lies within a score card size relief area. Pickup after bogey. No hitting off tee roots. Lots of WRX members would say this isn't real golf, but you know what, no one cares and we are all having fun. And it all speeds up play! 

 

 

 

 

30 guys playing for money and you make up your own rules?

What could go wrong?

Hopefully whoever wins buys the first round and leaves the money on the table.

[ShortGolfer]

As an casual golfer on an Executive course, the most important rule is maintaining the pace of play!  

This trumps all the other rules! 

Edited February 24, 2023 by ShortGolfer

[davep043]

The talk of pace of play leads me to another often-broken rule, the MAXIMUM 3-minutes search time for a ball.  

[Greenie]

I have played with a group of guys for years. I have to admit we break a few rules that our group is ok with. Not holing out from 12" or less is one of them.

 

The one rule that we have had some arguments over is proper relief from a cart path. We will have a big blow up over cart path relief about once every two years.  We have gone over the rule and have looked at diagrams explaining how to take a drop and it will still come up and turn into a heated argument.

[James the Hogan Fan]

If we want to get super technical, 5.3a. You have a 9.10 starting time. You arrive on the tee at 9.03. There's no one on the first hole. You tee off. I guess you disqualify yourself and walk back to the parking lot?

 

I would imagine 14 clubs is breached frequently too, either by players who don't count, or upon discovery of a 15th club justify to themselves that they hadn't used and didn't intend to use it, and don't assess themselves penalty strokes over it.

 

Also I think a number of rules are broken with the "Hey that was a fantastic drive you hit there, I'm looking for a new driver do you mind if I take a swing with it?"

Edited February 24, 2023 by James the Hogan Fan

[straightshot7]

Mulligans...

 

many people (typically people who shoot 90+) will take multiple mulligans per round and then recite a score as if it is legit.

 

Do you know how many strokes that mulligan(s) saved you? A lot.

But, they are hackers, so who cares. That's their game. It's not a real score but it's how they play.

[naval2006]

On 2/24/2023 at 12:19 PM, davep043 said:

The talk of pace of play leads me to another often-broken rule, the MAXIMUM 3-minutes search time for a ball.  

You mean MINIMUM 3 minutes search lol. All for the sake of pace of play

Edited February 25, 2023 by naval2006