Golf Licence

[abjectplop]

Would you like me to inquire for you?

Yes, if you don't mind.

 

[Hobbit]

I’d be very surprised if the vast majority of golfers know all the basic rules. But, equally, is anarchy rife in the game? Expecting perfection, even from long established golfers, is naive. There’ll be mistakes, accidental omissions every week in every club. If something needs to change, what can clubs realistically do that will create that change?

There’s a number of initiatives that a club can put in place that could improve things. For all sorts of reasons, some will work at some clubs but not at others.

The following are what I’ve experienced down the years at different clubs.

• ‘Grandfathering’ - the proposer and/or seconder plays with the new member for the first few times they’re out on the course. New members learn more than just rules from this, e.g. the best place to leave their trolley.
• Give the new member a rule book when they pay their fees.
• Have a pile of rule books in the pro shop to be taken by all who want one, and use the pro to prompt people to take one - it’s an easy ask by the pro, “have you got a rule book?”
• Run rules nights. The take up isn’t usually big but done properly they usually see a decent attendance. Most counties have rules officials who’ll run one. Done properly they’re usually not as boring as you might expect. The Q&A at the end is pretty good. Throw the doors open to the club up the road too - and you might even pinch the odd member too… free first pint gets people in.

The above isn’t definitive, nor practical for every club but doing nothing doesn’t change anything either.

 

[timd77]

A mate of mine has recently taken up golf. He started off just tagging along with his son who wanted to play, but is now into it himself and they generally play together, his son is 14/15.

I’ve played with him a couple of times and every round, in fact, most holes, I’m finding I’m either having to pull him up about something or turn a blind eye when I’ve had enough pulling up! Standing on my line, not marking his ball, not repairing pitch marks, not being ready to play, leaving his bag in random places, and then also rules such as ground the club in the bunker, what to do when the ball is lost etc etc. I have to remind myself that we all had to learn and he’s not had the benefit of an experienced player/pro teaching him.

So I would love it if there was a very short 10-15 bullet point leaflet or laminate at each club, listing some of the main rules and etiquette for new players. Having a licence feels a bit too off putting.

Saying that, he’s just joined a golf club, and hasn’t had any sort of induction, you’d think it would be a standard thing for them to run through some basics or check understanding.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

But if they are correct...where is the problem?

The rules are there to help a golfer as much as they are to penalise them.

Well done highlighting a line and not the whole context of what was written to try and make your point.

The problem isn’t people knowing the rules and using them to their advantage in say a strokplay event it’s manipulation of rules when others are unaware and cheating them. There’s a big difference, examples on here recently of someone in match play claiming 6 holes of someone for having 15 clubs as they’d noticed 6 holes before and not highlighted it! That’s actually not allowed under the rules and is not what the penalty would be but because the other person was unsure they were cheated out of a match but a rules cheat!!

There’s a big difference so there is a problem Yes!!!

 

[Hobbit]

Well done highlighting a line and not the whole context of what was written to try and make your point.

The problem isn’t people knowing the rules and using them to their advantage in say a strokplay event it’s manipulation of rules when others are unaware and cheating them. There’s a big difference, examples on here recently of someone in match play claiming 6 holes of someone for having 15 clubs as they’d noticed 6 holes before and not highlighted it! That’s actually not allowed under the rules and is not what the penalty would be but because the other person was unsure they were cheated out of a match but a rules cheat!!

There’s a big difference so there is a problem Yes!!!

Cheats cheat irrespective of whether or not they know the rules, although it would be a bit harsh calling someone a cheat for unknowingly getting a rule wrong.

I used to have a rule book in a ziplock bag in my bag. It probably only came out a few times a year when someone queried something. I didn’t weaponise it like some job’s worth pulling people up on stuff. It was more for making sure I didn’t screw up when I’d gone into a hazard etc.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

Cheats cheat irrespective of whether or not they know the rules, although it would be a bit harsh calling someone a cheat for unknowingly getting a rule wrong.

I used to have a rule book in a ziplock bag in my bag. It probably only came out a few times a year when someone queried something. I didn’t weaponise it like some job’s worth pulling people up on stuff. It was more for making sure I didn’t screw up when I’d gone into a hazard etc.

I never said unknowingly getting it wrong that’s simply a mistake. The example I gave that was used on here a while back was purposely used wrongly to gain advantage at least that’s how it was explained.

I have the app on my phone so if anything ever comes up a quick search in the app and I have the answer straight away. Trying to navigate the book is like trying to read the old testament written in Aramaic script.

 

[Hobbit]

I never said unknowingly getting it wrong that’s simply a mistake. The example I gave that was used on here a while back was purposely used wrongly to gain advantage at least that’s how it was explained.

I have the app on my phone so if anything ever comes up a quick search in the app and I have the answer straight away. Trying to navigate the book is like trying to read the old testament written in Aramaic script.

I’m old… what’s an app Joking apart, I’d never thought of using my phone like that. Like I said, I’m old.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

I’m old… what’s an app Joking apart, I’d never thought of using my phone like that. Like I said, I’m old.

Your only as old as you feel my friend

Download it, you’ll be surprised how much easier it is to use and my god quicker as well. Once download you can have your phone on do not disturb so I ringing on course just the rule book. It has little quick quizzes in there as well if you’re ever bored and want to learn more.

 

[backwoodsman]

I never said unknowingly getting it wrong that’s simply a mistake. The example I gave that was used on here a while back was purposely used wrongly to gain advantage at least that’s how it was explained.

I have the app on my phone so if anything ever comes up a quick search in the app and I have the answer straight away. Trying to navigate the book is like trying to read the old testament written in Aramaic script.

The official rules book was never very difficult to navigate. Only real difficulty these days is actually finding one.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

The official rules book was never very difficult to navigate. Only real difficulty these days is actually finding one.

Try telling that to someone with Dyslexia

 

[backwoodsman]

Try telling that to someone with Dyslexia

I dare say it's no more difficult than any other close written and detailed text.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

I dare say it's no more difficult than any other close written and detailed text.

You'd be surprised! Especially with the colour of paper and text size. Might not seem a big deal to many, but to people that struggle with it, its an absolute nightmare to navigate any document like that. The app makes things so much easier

 

[IanM]

The App and Videos are really good, but they have one flaw...

....folk bothering to use them!

Hence, no level 1 pass, no comp laddie! (If it was up to me)

 

[irip]

Try telling that to someone with Dyslexia

I think you can get it in different languages

 

[IanM]

I dare say it's no more difficult than any other close written and detailed text.

Could be, but if you struggle with printed matter its all the same. Hard to use.

Clubs can find ways to help folk round this...

 

[D-S]

The App and Videos are really good, but they have one flaw...

....folk bothering to use them!

Hence, no level 1 pass, no comp laddie!

Agreed, play as much golf in ignorance as you like - however if and when you play for other people’s money then some knowledge of the rules should be mandatory.