Ridiculous Golf Rules

[MWM]

I can't figure out why the PGA, USGA, Royal & Ancient, etc... doesn't update their archaic rules. Brian Davis brushed some little piece of something in a hazard today during the playoff at the Verizon Heritage and was forced to take a 2 stroke penalty as a result. He probably loses anyway, but it would have forced Furyk to make a putt to win.

Watching all the replays I could not believe how asinine it is that this is an actual rule in golf.

Golf has plenty of these idiotic rules (signing an incorrect scorecard, for instance) and they need to be changed.

[Redhook]

I didn't see the playoff, but touching anything in a hazard is a big no-no in golf.

The scorecard signing rule is beyond ridiculous for PGA Tour events. Now, for other events without television, scorers, etc. I believe it's important, but not for Tour events.

The one rule I can't stand is O.B. It's way too penal. I just don't understand why it can't be treated like the "environmetally sensitive hazard rule". What that means is you treat it like a lateral water hazard, but don't have the option of playing it from O.B. You would take a one-shot penalty and drop it within 2 clubs of where the ball crossed O.B. This is more fair and would speed up play. On the course, there's nothing that frustrates me more than hitting a long drive a little crooked and finding it O.B. by a foot or two. Then you have to go all the way back to the tee. It's so ridiculous.

[RedFanAlways1966]

Don't know about the rule, but Michelle Wie should watch the video of Brian Davis admitting to the violation 300 or 400 times.

[SunDeck]

Plus one, Redhook. I have been in leagues where they just do it the way you described because it speeds up the rate of play.
I also think there ought to be some accommodation for striping a drive 270 yards down the middle of the fairway, only to find your ball in a divot.

[Hoosier Red]

Don't know about the rule, but Michelle Wie should watch the video of Brian Davis admitting to the violation 300 or 400 times.

To be fair, she didn't really do things any different than he did. She realized she might have broken the rule even though she may have rationalized it herself. She explained her side to the rules official. He explained it was a penalty. She argued but eventually accepted the penalty.

Davis realized he may have committed a penalty. Called over the rules official. Explained his side. The rules official and he went back and forth a few times. The official called the head official. Everyone went back and forth and a penalty was assessed.

Before we go all heroic on Brian Davis realize that because of the assinine rules regarding people calling in to assess a penalty, if he hadn't done that, he may have given up his whole paycheck for the event. (For a journeyman golfer that's probably a bigger deal.) That's essentially what happened to Wie in her first professional tournament. She gave herself a drop out of an unplayable lie but didn't drop it correctly(I think she was technically closer to the hole.) Someone caught it on the TV coverage that night, called into the LPGA offices and she was DQ'd because she signed an incorrect scorecard.

[Hoosier Red]

I didn't see the playoff, but touching anything in a hazard is a big no-no in golf.

The scorecard signing rule is beyond ridiculous for PGA Tour events. Now, for other events without television, scorers, etc. I believe it's important, but not for Tour events.

The one rule I can't stand is O.B. It's way too penal. I just don't understand why it can't be treated like the "environmetally sensitive hazard rule". What that means is you treat it like a lateral water hazard, but don't have the option of playing it from O.B. You would take a one-shot penalty and drop it within 2 clubs of where the ball crossed O.B. This is more fair and would speed up play. On the course, there's nothing that frustrates me more than hitting a long drive a little crooked and finding it O.B. by a foot or two. Then you have to go all the way back to the tee. It's so ridiculous.

I'm guessing most weekend golfers don't a)know the rule or b)don't care and just play it the way you suggest anyway.

[GIDP]

I'm guessing most weekend golfers don't a)know the rule or b)don't care and just play it the way you suggest anyway.

if there is some crap laying in my way and it wouldnt be there if they were taking care of the course i'm moving it.

[Caveat Emperor]

Golf has plenty of these idiotic rules (signing an incorrect scorecard, for instance) and they need to be changed.

It amuses me greatly that the same sport that remains quaintly antiquated about scorecard rules and bits of fluff on the course also lets people swing golf clubs with more engineering dollars poured into them than some home electronics. If the USGA was really concerned about preserving the "integrity" of the sport, we'd all be hitting persimmon wood drivers and swinging muscleback irons.

[bucksfan2]

I pretty much play by the rules with one exception. If I can do harm to myself or break a club I will move my ball. Most of this occurs if one of my balls comes to rest on a root I will not hit it there. I don't want to jam my wrist or break my club and don't feel its worth it.

[Bumstead]

I'm guessing most weekend golfers don't a)know the rule or b)don't care and just play it the way you suggest anyway.

Yeah, I'm not slowing down play on a public course on a weekend to take a stroke and distance penalty that is irrelevant to my goals for that day anyway.

Goal is: relax, enjoy the time spent with friends.

Bum

[Redhook]

I'm guessing most weekend golfers don't a)know the rule or b)don't care and just play it the way you suggest anyway.

I agree. Most don't give a rat's about this rule. However, I play in 30+ tournaments a year, and run a lot tournaments a year a Sharon Woods and this does affect the pace. For me, it's not so much about the pace, but more the severity of the error. It just doesn't make sense.

Today, for example, I played The Lakes in Columbus. O.B. everywhere. I don't mind O.B. that much when it surrounds the course, but O.B. inside the boundaries of the course, for houses of course, is not how golf was meant to be played. The penalty should be lessened to make the game more fun, more fair, and faster. I really can't think of one reason why O.B. should remain the way it is.

[Redhook]

Plus one, Redhook. I have been in leagues where they just do it the way you described because it speeds up the rate of play.

Very cool.



I also think there ought to be some accommodation for striping a drive 270 yards down the middle of the fairway, only to find your ball in a divot.

What about 300 in the middle? :p: I agree with you. You shouldn't be penalized for someone else's negligence. Back when the rule of playing the ball where it lies was created there were few golfers, firm conditions, and virtually no divots.

[bucksfan2]

I agree. Most don't give a rat's about this rule. However, I play in 30+ tournaments a year, and run a lot tournaments a year a Sharon Woods and this does affect the pace. For me, it's not so much about the pace, but more the severity of the error. It just doesn't make sense.

Played at Sharon yesterday. I don't play there much but there is a lot of local knowledge that you need to play there. I can't tell you how many times I hit a good drive to see it run through the fairway and nestle itself right behind a tree.

[Redhook]

Played at Sharon yesterday. I don't play there much but there is a lot of local knowledge that you need to play there. I can't tell you how many times I hit a good drive to see it run through the fairway and nestle itself right behind a tree.

Yep, the doglegs play short when the ground is firm. Next time, even though I wasn't there yesterday, say hello. I enjoy meeting fellow Redzoners.

[Yachtzee]

I'm guessing most weekend golfers don't a)know the rule or b)don't care and just play it the way you suggest anyway.

Part of the problem arises because of the way courses squeeze in as many players into the course as possible. Taking a stroke and distance penalty is just not practical because, by the time you find you're out of bounds, there is often another foursome driving up to the tee. So if you don't want to run afoul of the course rangers for slow play, I find you need to try to find the ball as quickly as you can, take a drop and play on. At some of the more challenging courses, my friends and I have taken to playing "ready golf." Just play your ball as soon as you find it, regardless of who is "away," unless you would be standing in front of someone else's shot.

[GIDP]

Part of the problem arises because of the way courses squeeze in as many players into the course as possible. Taking a stroke and distance penalty is just not practical because, by the time you find you're out of bounds, there is often another foursome driving up to the tee. So if you don't want to run afoul of the course rangers for slow play, I find you need to try to find the ball as quickly as you can, take a drop and play on. At some of the more challenging courses, my friends and I have taken to playing "ready golf." Just play your ball as soon as you find it, regardless of who is "away," unless you would be standing in front of someone else's shot.
When I play like that I make divots on the green when they arent looking.

Not really.

[SunDeck]

Very cool.



What about 300 in the middle? :p:

If I hit it 300 yards, it might be in the middle of a fairway, but probably the wrong one.

[RFS62]

Hit a provisional if you think you're close to being out of bounds.

Play it as you find it.

And get off my lawn.

[Chip R]

Hit a provisional if you think you're close to being out of bounds.

Play it as you find it.

And get off my lawn.

RFS would know. He was around when they drew up the original Rules of Golf.

[paintmered]

RFS would know. He was around when they drew up the original Rules of Golf.

Old Tom Morris is the Royal, RFS is the Ancient. ;)

[Kingspoint]

Touching a blade of grass near your ball.

I hate that one.