Play by the Rules or Not?

[TonyDunlop]

It never ceases to amaze me as a UK 'Snowbird' that most golfers in the US consider the rules are discretionary whereas in the UK they are enforced to the letter. Indeed on one the members of my home club was, after several cautions, expelled for 'rolling the ball' on the fairway - can you see this happening in the US?

 

Last week my wife and I were playing in a club competition, a player in the four ball ahead hit into a water hazard on a par three, dropped the ball on the greenside of the hole and played on. This was mentioned to the Pro (there is no Committee) who took no action because the player's score had not been counted on the hole!! My wife was discussing this with a few friends, one mentioned that one of the men she was playing with went into the water on the same hole, dropped on greenside chipped in and recorded a two - her team won!

 

In my view it is the responsibilty of the USGA and each States' Golf Association to promote the rules and ensure they are adhered to at all levels. Regretably the probelm is too deep rooted and it appears to be a rather forlong hope to expect any improvement.

 

Happy golfing!

[BILL12x]

It never ceases to amaze me as a UK 'Snowbird' that most golfers in the US consider the rules are discretionary whereas in the UK they are enforced to the letter.

In my view it is the responsibilty of the USGA and each States' Golf Association to promote the rules and ensure they are adhered to at all levels. Regretably the probelm is too deep rooted and it appears to be a rather forlong hope to expect any improvement.

Although not everyone plays it "to the letter", in our group, we always do. In our club, (and interclub), tournaments, it is always played by the letter of the rules. Period.

 

I enjoy playing against someone who has "earned" their handicap by bending the rules. They are that much easier to beat when the rules must be followed "to the letter".

[hbear]

In a competition it's strictly to the rules. To protect the field.

 

However in regular fun play, if a guy isn't playing by the rules the letter of the law, does it really matter?

I honestly don't want to see the group ahead of me hit 4 provisionals, walk off, find that all their balls are now OB, and then come back to the tee to rehit AGAIN!

 

Nor do I really care to see the poor sap dunk ball after ball in a water hazard in front of a green because he can't carry the water.

 

As I mentioned before competition on the other hand is a different story.

[The Ultimate Spin]

if the score is going to be entered into a handicap or during a tournament then i believe you should play by all the rules. if you don't your cheating the field or your cheating yourself. honestly i have no idea why people would want a handicap lower than their actual abilitiy and cheating in any competition is unjustifiable.

 

however, there are a far amount of people that just play golf for fun. following every rule is not that important for weekend warrior because there really isn't a point.

[blkdiamond]

As long as you aren't playing for money, in a tournament or posting a handicap I see no problem in improving a lie, or using a mulligan, dropping green-side, etc. Many groups come up with their own rules, and there is nothing wrong with that. For example, on our league you can improve your lie, within reason (you can't "foot-wedge" onto the fairway, but you can move your ball out of a divot) and double par is the max score on a hole (6 on a par 3, 8 on a par 4, 10 on a par 5). Also, there is so much complaining about pace-of-play on these boards, if everyone followed the rules to the letter pace-of-play would be much worse.

 

Now changing the rules for your group is one thing, out-right cheating is another.

[larrybud]

It never ceases to amaze me as a UK 'Snowbird' that most golfers in the US consider the rules are discretionary whereas in the UK they are enforced to the letter. Indeed on one the members of my home club was, after several cautions, expelled for 'rolling the ball' on the fairway - can you see this happening in the US?

No, because who cares what someone does in a casual round, especially if what they are doing gives them a handicap that is lower than reality?

 

Now, if you're talking about tournament golf or an event where your score actually matters, I've certainly never been witness to an incident where the rules were "discretionary".

[xtremeinaz]

I am one who would never hit out of the dirt (which AZ has alot of). My clubs cost me too much money to be hitting rocks with. So I would drop in some grass and keep playing. I got a desert club from a friend of mine which was like $3 at goodwill. I just replaced one of my long irons I rarely use anyway. I finally played a round playing the ball as it lied everytime. If it was unplayable I would take the penalty and drop according to the rules. At the end of the round I felt alot better about my game and in general cause it was in my eyes my first "true" round of golf in 2 years. I did hit in the low 90s, but it felt just as good as a "fake" 85.

[m3bimmer2000]

I honestly have to laugh at all the people who say "In a tournament, I play by the rules, but during a friendly round I'll roll the ball, etc." Why is it so difficult to follow a few simple rules? How you behave on a golf course says a lot about the type of person you are. It all comes down to integrity, either you have it or you dont.

[avrag]

"Rule I: The Game

 

1-1. General

The Game of Golf consists of playing a ball with a club from the teeing

ground into the hole by a stroke or successive strokes in accordance

with the Rules."

 

So, it is simple. If you don't play according to the rules, you play a game with golf clubs and golf balls on a golf course.

I wouldn't know what this game is called, but it is not Golf.

[jmckito]

It amazes me when I play with strangers how they make their own rules on the course. If I hit a ball in or near the trees, OB, etc. I hit another ball - I dont drop it where I think it went in.

 

The game is meant to be played by the rules.

[frozen_rope]

It's true most players in the US do not observe the USGA Rules of Golf. 1st tee mulligans, preferred lies, taking putts, 15 clubs, etc... are the standard.

They justify it by saying things like "it's only a practice round" or "if this were a tournament I would play by the Rules".

The irony is that the game is more interesting and more satisfying if a player observes the Rules.

 

It never ceases to amaze me as a UK 'Snowbird' that most golfers in the US consider the rules are discretionary whereas in the UK they are enforced to the letter. Indeed on one the members of my home club was, after several cautions, expelled for 'rolling the ball' on the fairway - can you see this happening in the US?

 

Last week my wife and I were playing in a club competition, a player in the four ball ahead hit into a water hazard on a par three, dropped the ball on the greenside of the hole and played on. This was mentioned to the Pro (there is no Committee) who took no action because the player's score had not been counted on the hole!! My wife was discussing this with a few friends, one mentioned that one of the men she was playing with went into the water on the same hole, dropped on greenside chipped in and recorded a two - her team won!

 

In my view it is the responsibilty of the USGA and each States' Golf Association to promote the rules and ensure they are adhered to at all levels. Regretably the probelm is too deep rooted and it appears to be a rather forlong hope to expect any improvement.

 

Happy golfing!

[Taylormadematt]

Play by the rules everytime, even when practicing otherwise you wont know how good/bad you are. When i played about a fortnight ago someone got DQ'd for rolling a ball on the 18th green as it was deemed as tobe testing the conditions and therefor having an unfair advantage.

[BFC]

The slow play arguments kills me. If you know the darn rules, it doesn't take any longer. I play with some guys that I would say play by the rules. Drops from hazards may sometimes be a little generous but I won't argue anymore, an extra club lenght to get a flat lie......gotta pick your battles.

 

I still have to remind them every week NOT to "gimme" my puts, ie kick the ball back, I want to hole out. They always say, "no way you would have missed that"........I always answer "then let me put it.

 

I find the state of gold etiquette as a whole seriously lacking. It's one of my major motivation to get to scratch or close. So I can go compete in heads up stroke play touney without have to worry about cheaters and sanbaggers.

 

Golf these days seems to be more about what you can get away with rather than being honest. Sad.