Changing adjustable driver during round

[cliveb]

Recently played a round with a mate who has an adjustable driver. After several "extreme draws", another in our group jokingly suggested that he should get his wrench out.

Although it wasn't a serious suggestion, I briefly commented that you're not allowed to adjust a club during a round. My mate then said he thought you were allowed to provided the number of adjustments doesn't take you beyond the 14 club limit (eg. if you have 12 clubs, you're permitted two adjustments in the round).

I was sure this is wrong, and rule 4-2a seems pretty unambiguous. But before I correct him about it, just wanted to double-check with the gurus here.

 

[WinBase]

you definitely can't adjust a club during a round - you cant even put a piece of sticky tape on the top if the glare is distracting you

 

[Colin L]

Your mate is certainly inventive ..... but wrong. As you say, 4-2a doesn't leave much room for doubt!

 

[Baldy Bouncer]

That has to be one of the best new myths ever!!!!:rofl::thup:

 

[ColchesterFC]

While the above answers are correct to a degree it really depends on what sort of round you're playing. If you're having a knock about with mates/not playing for cash/having a practise round then go right ahead and adjust that driver to your hearts content. If you're playing in a comp then it's a definite no-no.

 

[rulefan]

While the above answers are correct to a degree it really depends on what sort of round you're playing. If you're having a knock about with mates/not playing for cash/having a practise round then go right ahead and adjust that driver to your hearts content. If you're playing in a comp then it's a definite no-no.

I thought this was a forum about the 'Rules of Golf' not let's play Habwas.

 

[ColchesterFC]

I thought this was a forum about the 'Rules of Golf' not let's play Habwas.

No idea what you mean by "Habwas". I was just pointing out to the OP that during a practise round there is nothing to stop him or his mate from making adjustments to his driver. If you can point out to me in the 'Rules of Golf' where it says he cannot do this then I will bow down to your superior knowledge.

And I suppose for completeness it needs to be answered as to whether an adjustable driver can be altered between rounds in a two round comp or between general play and a playoff. No idea on these two and haven't been able to find an answer yet in the rules of golf.

 

[ColchesterFC]

Looking at the rules it says that a club cannot be changed during a stipulated round which is defined as

"playing the holes of the course in their correct sequence, unless otherwise authorized by the Committee. The number of holes in a stipulated round is 18 unless a smaller number is authorized by the Committee."

so it looks as though it can be changed between rounds of a two round comp or before a play off but still looking for a definitive answer.

 

[Colin L]

While the above answers are correct to a degree it really depends on what sort of round you're playing. If you're having a knock about with mates/not playing for cash/having a practise round then go right ahead and adjust that driver to your hearts content. If you're playing in a comp then it's a definite no-no.

That above answers were completely correct, not just to a degree. What you choose to do in practice is one thing but but it does not alter the rule which applies any time you play a game of golf. If you ignore it in a bounce game, so be it, but it doesn't change the rule or modify the correctness of the answers. Not trying to be stuffy, but inevitably when answering questions here, we answer on the basis that the Rules of Golf apply to the game of golf

And for completeness, yes, you can make the adjustments between rounds of a 36, 54 or 72 hole competition. It's no different from chucking a driver in the bin and choosing a different one for the next round. (See D4-4a/2 for confirmation of that.)
http://www.usga.org/rules/rules-and-decisions.html#!decision-04,d4-4a-2

I don't know what Habwas means either. But Google suggests it is a computer game.

 

[ColchesterFC]

But surely during a practise round you are still playing a game of golf, thinking about a round where one ball is in play and a normal round is being played. Not arguing over the original answers as they were correct for a competition round of golf but more letting the OP know that in a practise round it wasn't banned. Much like lasers/DMD's being banned during pro golf but nothing to stop them being used during practise rounds.

Any idea if an adjustment can be made between the finish of the comp or stipulated round and before a play off?

 

[Region3]

Re the play off I'd guess yes, since Streb was allowed to put a putter in the bag for the play off a few weeks ago after breaking his during his round.

As for the other thing, the rules of golf mention nothing about practice rounds. You either play to the rules or don't.
A mate bought a new driver a couple of weeks ago, and we let him mess around with it during our Sunday knockabout. Sometimes we play preferred lies if it's a bit boggy. We give gimmies playing stableford. Doesn't necessarily mean we're going to start kicking our ball from behind a tree or taking mulligans.

 

[CheltenhamHacker]

But surely during a practise round you are still playing a game of golf, thinking about a round where one ball is in play and a normal round is being played. Not arguing over the original answers as they were correct for a competition round of golf but more letting the OP know that in a practise round it wasn't banned. Much like lasers/DMD's being banned during pro golf but nothing to stop them being used during practise rounds.

Any idea if an adjustment can be made between the finish of the comp or stipulated round and before a play off?

I don't get what your point is here? If, in a practice round, he is playing to the rules of golf completely, then he can't adjust it. If he isn't, then he can adjust it. Just like in a practice round he can throw a new ball down, or kick it out of the rough without an issue. You wouldn't expect to see those as an answer in this part of the forum though.....

The point about the lasers/DMD's doesn't work either, because again it's a practise round, they can do whatever they like, they're not being scored.

 

[rulefan]

But surely during a practise round you are still playing a game of golf, thinking about a round where one ball is in play and a normal round is being played. Not arguing over the original answers as they were correct for a competition round of golf but more letting the OP know that in a practise round it wasn't banned.

The rules don't recognise practice rounds as such. They are only concerned with competition golf played in one of the formats specified in the definitions and work on the principle that there is some form of committee responsible.

Much like lasers/DMD's being banned during pro golf but nothing to stop them being used during practise rounds.

The use of DMDs is only permitted when the relevant Local Rule is in force. Most pro events do not use the rule but some do. It is the same with golf clubs. Some do some don't. It is not an amateur/pro thing.

Any idea if an adjustment can be made between the finish of the comp or stipulated round and before a play off?

Yes. A play off is considered to be a new stipulated round.

 

[backwoodsman]

But surely during a practise round you are still playing a game of golf, thinking about a round where one ball is in play and a normal round is being played. Not arguing over the original answers as they were correct for a competition round of golf but more letting the OP know that in a practise round it wasn't banned. Much like lasers/DMD's being banned during pro golf but nothing to stop them being used during practise rounds.

Any idea if an adjustment can be made between the finish of the comp or stipulated round and before a play off?

Just to echo some of the foregoing posts - there is no "to some extent" about it. You either play to the rules, or you don't. If playing to the rules no adjustment is permitted during a round. If you are not playing to the rules you can do whatever you like.