If you could change one rule in golf....

[barrs]

I'd make putts count half a stroke.

 

May as well just make the cup bigger.

 

 

 

I don't want to make putts easier, I would like to see them count less than a full shot or any shot off the green really. There is a big difference if you think about it.

[Dill Pickleson]

10 club only rule. No more 14 clubs in the bag.

 

 

Hmmmmmmm, very interesting - I had to think for a minute about what I would do - I suppose Driver, 16* hybrid, 2, 4, 6, 8, PW, SW, LW, Putter

 

i would love to see the pros do this, they'd be hitting lots of 3 quarter irons and nuked irons, be pretty fun to watch

[Tighthead]

I'd make putts count half a stroke.

 

May as well just make the cup bigger.

 

 

 

I don't want to make putts easier, I would like to see them count less than a full shot or any shot off the green really. There is a big difference if you think about it.

 

So potentially a 40 foot putt would not count as a full stroke, but a 15 foot shot from the fringe would? How would this work?

[golfdad907]

the TWO stupidest rules are, can't decide which one is worst...

 

- if address ball and wind moves it, penalty stroke

 

- fairway divots, probably more annoying but ...

 

I go with the wind, I think. How are you supposed to control that? If greens are slick what are you supposed to do.

 

Fairway divots are just lack of etiquette/courtesy...course those who don't fix likely roll it anyway

[WarEagle71]

I could not disagree more about the fairway divots. It really isn't THAT hard of a shot, plus anyone remember Payne Stewart? I think the rules if you understand them and use them are quite fair to everybody. If I had to choose one I would say the ballmark/spikemark issue. I think you should be able to fix anything. However, this would lead to severe pace of play issues as everyone creates the perfect carpet for themselves. I also like the idea of the 10 clubs!!! I have played in many 5 club tournaments before, and they are always a blast!

[golf_bhoy]

This one is a no-brainer:

 

Without question, I would change Rule 19-1b to include worms.

[suavemilagro]

10 club only rule. No more 14 clubs in the bag.

 

+ 1 for me on the 10 club rule... this would be the best thing that the PGA could do to make golf more interesting/ exciting..

 

These guys are the best, let them make some shots, i wouldn't even be apposed to 8 clubs. Thats like Driver, hybrid/5wood 4,6,8,w,sw, putter. Who couldn't get around with that?

 

I always wanted to see a tourney with 8 clubs, call it the crazy 8! Played on an awesome links course.... it would be the bragging right of all tour guys to win this tourney, real golf for real shotmakers. I'll just keep dreaming.

[Sawgrass]

First, this thread is really interesting.

 

Second, I don't like the rule that requires you to drop a lost or o.b. ball "as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played". This rule, while few follow it, obligates you to attempt to drop the ball precisely in your own divot if you hit it fat and o.b. from the fairway. While it's likely that the dropped ball might bounce out of the divot, it burns me to be morally compelled to try to drop it in the divot. Further, if your first drop hits the divot and bounces an inch forward toward closer to the hole, and your second drop does the same thing, you have to actually place the ball in the divot (the spot it hit prior to moving closer). I'm much prefer to be given a club length no closer to the hole for a drop.

 

Third, if for no other reason than to speed up play, I agree with those who wish to change the lost ball/o.b. ball penalty to a drop similar to a lateral water hazard drop. I just hate it when I lose a ball in an area where it should be easy to find (I therefore didn't hit a provisional) and I can't. It's rarely acceptable to go back to where you last hit the shot, particularly on a public course. So the intgrety of that day's game is totally ruined. And eveyone spends at least the full five minutes searching because there's no rules-abiding alternative. One aspect where I differ with other posters' opinions on this is I believe if such a change in the rules was adopted, I'd like to see the lost ball be dropped where it was estimated to be lost, but with a two stoke penalty instead of a one stroke like a water hazard. That would simulate the true two stoke penalty that stroke and distance usually hits us with, and would therefore keep basically in line with tradition -- and protect previous scoring records.

[SadTrombone]

...I'd like to see the lost ball be dropped where it was estimated to be lost, but with a two stoke penalty instead of a one stroke like a water hazard.

Alright I can see why so many people think this rule should be changed. But I'd have to know...who gets to "estimate" where the ball was/would have been when it was lost? It can't be the competitor...it shouldn't be the opponent (match play) or fellow competitor (stroke play) nor anyone from either side (team events). It would have to be someone impartial.

 

So...who is it?

 

-mini

[Sawgrass]

Mini, I grant you that sometimes it would be challenging to estimate where the ball was lost. But that challange already exists within the rules if you hit into a water hazard. Sometimes it's really difficult to determine where the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard (if you slice one off the tee for instance into a lake boardering the right side of the fairway you often have a bad angle from which to see it). In that case I believe that you do your best to estimate (sometimes the pros actually ask spectators to help with this), get your fellow competitor to endorse your decision, and move on.

 

While this solution is imperfect, it's the best I can think of doing on a public course when I've surprised myself by losing a ball (under a leaf in the fall?). There's just nothing else one can do, and I wish it had some official sanction -- even if it were a three shot penalty!

[Logan Joseph]

Am I the only one who likes golf just the way it is?

[SadTrombone]

Am I the only one who likes golf just the way it is?

I like your avatar just the way it is. As for golf...I should be allowed to tap down spike marks if someone's wearing metal spikes in front of me. It isn't my fault.

 

-mini

[D'KRUSHER]

I think some of the " Purists" here would never want to change the game.

Q: Do any of you here think that the R & A - USGA would accept a major -change, like the Mr.Sawgrass - OB, 2 penalty drop near point of OB entered ?

 

Of all the ideas listed here.. His has multiple benefits and would greatly help, non tournament public golf by speeding up play. I have played with people that already will penalize themselves with the OB ball- just as Sawgrass has proposed.

 

Q:Should there be "Tournamnet Rules " - keep OB rule as is .. AND " Public OB Rule " with play the OB Ball more like the Hazard..but with 2 shot penalty ?

To save time- to less than the dreaded 5+ hrs a round, and help local cheaper clubs stay in Biz... I'd say this OB variance would be great!

 

I play on a course that has lots of OB, lots of steep drop offs.. unless your young- you dont want to go down there into the Hazards. The 5 Minute rule starts when you get to the where abouts of the ball. It would take the average player 10 minutes to climb down,10 minutes out, the steep boulder slope to get near where you saw the ball go & deal with Briar bushes scraping against your bare legs.

When the wind blows in the afternoon, gusts to 25 are common with OB on right - rediculous desert steep dont want to even try to find ball- on left.

 

So, us locals, after the second OB or rediculous hazard ball- already drive down - 2 penalty and play where 2nd entered OB or Hazard. You can easlily spend an hour on one of those holes....and the "local" unwritten rules, like Sawgrass, is used most of the time- even by low hcp. players.

 

The game of golf would benefit by a tiny separation of "Tourni Rules" and "Club Rules ".

[Giantbear]

To me, i have never understood why an ob line is treated differently than a lateral hazzard line in terms of penalty. I think stroke and distance for ob is too punative when compared to just stroke for a ball hit into a lateral

[SadTrombone]

To me, i have never understood why an ob line is treated differently than a lateral hazzard line in terms of penalty. I think stroke and distance for ob is too punative when compared to just stroke for a ball hit into a lateral

So you don't think there should be a stiffer penalty for hitting the ball OFF of the course than into a hazard ON the course?

 

-mini

[RichB]

Best defense of the OB rule yet. I still hate it, but I agree with this reasoning on why it should be more of a penalty. However, it makes me hate on course OB even more. I don't think there is any grounds for making another fairway OB for one hole, but in for another.

 

Generally speaking, you will find the holes that mark an opposing fairway OB is due to it falling into one of these categories:

 

1. The parallel fairway can be used as a "shortcut". An example would be a bypass to a dogleg giving you a much easier / shorter approach.

 

2. It consistently puts golfers in the line of fire from opposing tee shots, thus slowing play as the group on the tee have to wait for the player to enter their fairway and play the shot.

 

3. Hole would be too easy if not for the penalty of stroke & distance. Example: short Par 4 that is "driveable" for a long hitter, but has a very narrow fairway. This forces them to either hit an iron / hybrid tee shot or gamble with risk / reward.

 

 

Easy for me to decide....Internal out of bounds has to go.

 

Put in trees to block the shortcuts, and protect the other fairway.

(anyone remember Lon Hinkle, had a tree named after him.)

 

And if I can't get that....allow for internal out of bounds stakes to be treated like

hazard stakes. As it is now..you cannot move an out of bounds marker.

10 feet (yes, I measured) off my FAIRWAY, and I can't take a swing at the green

because the internal out of bounds stake is interfering with my backswing.

[zdawg1rhs]

my rule change would be the 2 stroke penalty if you get hit by your own ball... if you hit it and it hits a tree and bounces back and hits you 2 shots and you feel stupid... IMO the worst rule in golf... the ob stuff and the hitting it out of a divot and all that i think is part of golf in general but if the ball hits you its not even your fault...

[golfismygame]

my rule change would be the 2 stroke penalty if you get hit by your own ball... if you hit it and it hits a tree and bounces back and hits you 2 shots and you feel stupid... IMO the worst rule in golf...

 

Your prayers have been heard.

That Rule was changed 1½ year ago, and since 1.1.08 the penalty have been 1 penalty stroke instead of 2...

 

:D