So today I think I’m reading one of the stupidest, dumbest, things I’ve ever read I couldn’t link it for some reason so you all could see it. In a nutshell, here it goes. What’s the rule if a small rattlesnake has curled up in hole on a green? My rule, run! He wanted to know if you should putt out and how to record the score! Are you kidding me. Are these people dopes! 3,times in my life on a course there were just move on. One was in Florida, I hit a ball near a water hazard and I was walking over and thank God a playing partner says just drop here are you stupid? I didn’t see it, it looked like a mud pile. 7 ft gator! So yea drop no penalty. Then once we were playing a course in upstate NY and posted in the clubhouse is 15th hole closed, just take a par. Huh? Yeah, mama bear had 2 cubs and decided to suckle them within 500 ft of the hole. Okey Doke don’t tell me twice! Then on a course in PA. a large overhanging branch snapped off a pine tree and was about 4 ft off the ground by the side of the green. Attached to it was the biggest Yellowjacket nest I ever saw. Yea…. Just write 3 and move on. Anyone encounter stuff like that. Putt out with a young rattlesnake in the hole… ah NO Thanks!
If not in a tournament play, I’m all for the forsaken of the lost of stroke and distance rule.
Assessing a two stroke penalty instead of one plus the distance will definitely speed up the play in a jammed packed public daily fee golf course.
we used to walk back to the original spot for the lost of distance penalty, maybe 30 years ago; and the groups behind would understood with patience. Not, in today’s environment! We had made agreement of “bending” the rules like both the stroke and distance penalty within our weekly gathering to not block the golf course.
In a sanctioned tournament will be following the rules, of course.
In many lower-level competitions, Model Local Rule E-5 is used. To me this makes sense, it avoids the potential for confusion in places where E-5 is used for everyday play.
One of the retiree club I occasionally golf with composed of mostly seniors picking up the sports after retirement.
I never fuss with their interpretation of the rules. Their weekly optional buy-in is additional $15 for all the long drive, KP, gross and net. No trophy except for the annual meet.
If those guys want to have a gimme for inside the leather, I’ll close one eye and let it be. They are out to have fun and to see their friends and to do exercise in the nature surrounding.
It make sense for them to enjoy their time on the golf course as they had earned the right.
I would avoid their weekly meet if I don’t feel like join a 5 hour round plus the 19th afterward.
Rules are made for those time when something is at stake. For these seniors when no one really care if their index is 25 or 17. They are not going to attend any regional or National outings. A little relaxed with the rules of the game will make them a lot more happier.
I used to help them spot their errant golf shots, not so much after I had the cataract surgery a few years back.
Here’s a place where you and I disagree. Rules are made for people who want (or are required) to play by them. I play with a group who chooses to play by the rules to the best of their abilities. We don’t play for much, but we follow the rules. I don’t care what other people choose to do in their own casual play, I do care about what people do when we’re competing against one another. Its a lot easier to follow the rules than it is to decide which rules aren’t going to apply.
I always do my best to play the game of golf with the rules. Just in recent years, I do not look down on those who chose to break a rule or two on occasion.
To me, playing this game by the rules is the only way to enjoy to the fullest. The victory will come sweeter if we had gone through the defeat.
I’d always played the golf ball as it lies, unless in casual water which I did not sign up for water polo. I don’t play by the winter rules, then again, it won’t matter to the others because off-season scores are not counted for the index.
I don’t fudge my handicap index, I worked hard for every score I shaved off the index. Never had the time nor the fortune to go after the elusive scratch - plus realm.
I enjoy playing this game as it is supposed to be played but I no longer have any negative thoughts on those who does not. As long as they are not in my way or step on my putting line.
Even encountering a slow moving day, I’d leave before finishing the round should I have unbreakable engagement.
I have a more relaxed view of how the others play this game. For myself, I still play it as the way I was taught.
It isn’t a short introduction, its a both a classroom exam and a playing exam. It would have stopped me and I am an absolute fanatic for repairing pitch ,marks etc (not happy unless I do mine and one other on every green). Golf has a reputation for being stuffy and elitist, this adds to that imo. Teaching someone what to do and them actually doing it are not the same thing. If they were you’d never see anyone written up for speeding, DUI etc.
Asian culture is more respectful anyway but those ladies probably didn’t have to sit an exam to be decent people.
I agree, if you are willing to ignore some rules, why not others? At some point you have to draw a line and the most sensible place is where the official line is drawn…
Stuffy?
The game is built on these premise.
If anyone view the rules and etiquette as stuffy, then it is not a good match for them. Let’s face the fact that golf is not for everyone.
The beer and topflight might suit a certain crowd. But it’s not golf .
Again, my Saturday group… we’ve been playing together for 18 years now. It’s a fun, fairly casual round. Our Saturday rounds are shall we say played within the “Spirit of the Rules”… especially this time of year. Hitting a ball into a leaf pile, hitting a ball onto a tree root etc… Like I said one of our guys wasn’t playing with us, was playing with another group, hit a shot because, IMO, he was stupid and was playing “By the Rules”… where we would have said “drop the ball no penalty you dope, before you hurt yourself” he still would have had to play an incredibly difficult shot either way… just the shot that he played was actually dangerous… falls backwards and breaks his leg… I don’t want to hear Rub of the Green either… that’s plain stupid! So now he’s out for at least 4 months not including rehab! Now, when we play in our "Association Sanctioned events… yea we play by the letter! Simple as that!.
I don’t have an issue with anyone wanting to just have fun and ignore some of the rules. Just don’t slow the course down and make sure you keep the course in good shape. And if you do start playing in tournaments, make sure you start following the rules.
Piling onto this, I really like the comment upthread that said something like, “If you’re playing a game with people, it’s really helpful if you all agree on what the rules are.”
Me, i might play with people on the course, but I’m not playing against them. It’s basically just a stroll with occasionally whacking at a ball with a stick. Ergo, I’m going to keep things moving, and pick up at +3 for the hole. Or pick up, drop on the green and take a putt or two.
Nobody wants to see me take 11 on a par 4, and barring a stroke play event, I don’t see a reason to do so.
To be fair, he chose to hit that shot because he wasn’t willing to take a penalty stroke, not because the rules required him to take it. I don’t know the stakes, whether the risk was worth the payoff, but there’s always relief available within the rules.
In my experience, its a whole lot easier to play by the rules in a competition if you play by the rules every time you play.
And I feel the need to say again, I don’t really care what another guy does as long as he’s not competing with me. Golf is intended to be fun, and if you enjoy it best by taking some liberties, have at it!
Yes. Totally agree with this.
Dave, to be fair…he was stupid, he told us he was stupid, his wife and grandkids told him he was stupid, Our pro just shook his head! When you’re just playing, no stakes! He fell backwards 40 something feet down an embankment into a creek bed! He broke his leg! He could have broken his neck. So tell me, (and I know you don’t know the circumstance except he was just playing a round with a group not us) you would do something that stupid, so we could write on you slab, here lies Dave, he fell down a very steep hill swinging a golf club like a fool, at least he died knowing he didn’t break a rule! It’s a game, for most people it’s a fun game! For what we pay today in greens fees, and I don’t see money coming my way, I just tool around. I’ve played with some pros and I will tell you, just tooling around, they’ll practice the flop, the chip and run, the spinner and stop all on the same hole from the same spot! One favor, if your ball falls on the edge of the hazard, and its not in, but your stance is balancing on the edge, break the rule…it’s not worth having your old lady have to buy a casket with that engraving on it!
Here’s a question, and I mean this in the nicest way, I’m pretty certain I know the rules about 90%. I’ve been in and seen in Tournaments I played in rules referees have some differing interpretations, not of the rule, but more so of the ground condition. Most guys in a tourney are looking to save a stroke because of what they deem abnormal condition. Most people I’ve played with, not in our GA, don’t know the rules… they play ready golf, they don’t count penalties, they ground their club in the bunker…etc! not my place to bust their bubble, I just tool around along with them as long as we aren’t holding anyone up! Oh yea forgot the question, do we really care what anyone else is doing on the course so why, if no one is holding you up. Is a golf shot worth life or death in a casual round? Simple question, i sometimes get the feeling that it really bothers people who are purists. Does it really matter ? I’d rather see people have fun
What was the question?
I don’t care what others do with their golf game. Unless we’re having a small wager, other than that I could careless.
Once played with a guy who wants to play dollar, some of them lose the excitement when they don’t place a bet on the game; most of them are 15-20 handicappers, This guy will get into the bunker and takes several practice swings, with sand blasting out. Then he got out and made the putt to what he thought was a par. I straightened him out right there and then, and told him that I won’t be playing money game with him in the future, not even for two bits.
The stake was not high but the competition was real. I’d known affluent people fought tooth and nail for $2 Nassau. They’d tip more than that at the 19th hole on one round of drink.
People make wrong decision and not the best decision all day long. What they do is not my business. I would stick my neck out for a friend but not everyone and especially if I’m not asked.
I had learned, not to “help” if not asked to help. This goes with a simple advice for golf swing or simple golf club repair works. I don’t have time to give free advice and free repair works when it’s not appreciated.
I think you are misunderstanding me.
Golf in the UK has been seen as a rich white guys sport where others aren’t welcome. Especially if you are a women or from a diverse background. It puts people off. Thankfully its changing but almost any clubs gallery of past captains…old white guys in club blazers and ties.
The sport realized that to survive it needed to adapt and things are much better now. But you DO NOT need a course to learn how to act. I know and didn’t take one, you know and didn’t take one. I would not be a golfer if the Swedish system existed in the UK and I don’t drink, play music, go around bare chested or wear a stringer on the course. I can now wear a hoody and, surprisingly the world hasn’t ended with a bit of modernisation.
I really disagree that the game was built on the premise of being stuffy. It was run and taken over by the landed gentry who created that air (in fact the first professionals were looked down upon and often not allowed in club houses etc.) It developed the racist and sexist overtones through a small elite taking control and thankfully that control has been wrestled from their grasp. All a new player needs is a brief 5 minute into on how to repair a pitchmark and a divot and then let them learn the joy of the game.
I’ll say it one more time, as you missed it the first time. You do NOT have to play the ball from that “dangerous spot”, not ever, not under the strictest interpretation of the rules. You are ALWAYS allowed to take relief, at any time, under the Unplayable Ball Rule, Rule 19. Is it stupid to take a silly risk to avoid taking that one penalty stroke? Of course it is, in hindsight. So I agree with you, move it, don’t play it from a dangerous spot. And if you’re playing by the Rules, move it and add that penalty stroke.
And I suppose I am a rules purist, the rules are a big part of what makes the game of golf so great. At the same time, I realize that there are many ways to play, not all golfers care enough to want to follow all the rules. I’ll quote what I said earlier:
Back in my times, the young were willing to learn and the elders were generous to teach.
This is not the atmosphere these days.
The young are too smart to learn and the elders don’t have the time nor the patience to teach.
As I said about myself. I stopped being “helpful” unless I was asked to help. I’d like to help the new golfers, to give back what I had received. However, I can’t give if none was wanted.
Now, One of my kid’s friend is a new golfer and he is eager to learn this game, We have been including him when we go driving range and short executive golf courses, he will be a good golfer as he is athletic and willing to learn; very rare for the kid from generation Z.
Well, If I look back, my generation was also rebellious, luckily as we grew older, we morphed to be a more reasonable and respectable human being.
As for the prejudice treatment for women and minority in golf, it is written in history. Prejudice is built in the human history no matter where one look. There are the race distinction and now more common is the class distinction. Instead of racial discrimination, the economic barrier is being used to select the preferred companies.
Not many private golf and country clubs in this country is “affordable”. There are some family friendly GCC, few and far in between.
My father’s generation saw the membership of a GCC as a status symbol, my generation will look at it from an economic angle. Not many of my friends are members of a private GCC, a few had been and quit.
I had never been a member of any GCC since older than 17, when the privilege of using my father’s membership expired with age.
I enjoy golfing at different location, meeting different type of people. If you never travel and golf then you won’t understand it.
I can lay off golf for a few weeks when the weather is not suitable and save the money for maybe a new golf club, instead of the mandatory monthly due for golf and food/beverage. If I’m busy at work, I’ll not see a golf course in weeks without paying for it.
Public golf venue has its draw back. As some times the company are not ideal. But most of the time, I would meet great people who I would never have met. In fact, a couple of my close friends were first acquainted on the golf course as strangers being paired up by the starter.
Oh, there is a golf course near by, which states, no change of golf shoes in the parking lot ( they don’t provide a locker room for golfers as a public golf course ), no jeans on the driving range, no this and no that. I saved my pennies and drive farther to golf.