Golf rules we let people break - what is one you know of?

[Eesat 90210]

Gosh I can't say any of this is a bother if someone has a different distance than me so what? Either I find the information useful and I check my distance or I ignore it either way no skin of my nose.
If I have a distance measuring device and I'm using it it's no problem to share the information.

Very happy for you

 

[doublebogey7]

common one broken is when a practice swing knocking some leaves down when in the trees - and no penalty shot is taken ?

In itself that is not a rules infringment, but there would be a penalty if as a result the conditions affecting the stroke had been improved.

 

[DeanoMK]

I see no rule infringment there, please can you quote me the rule number.

Alright, alright, I'm back in my box, you can all carry on now....

 

[rulie]

So how do you determine whether "Take your time" is meant as a throwaway comment or designed to influence how the stroke is made...?

Imo, it's usually a throwaway comment.

 

[Eesat 90210]

Imo, it's usually a throwaway comment.

As it happens I am a referee and this is the advice I was given when training and have worked to since.

If it is just a casual comment and was not designed to influence how the stroke was made, there’s not been a breach of the Rules.
However, had the comment been clearly intended to influence the player, then it would be a breach.

Edit:

Just noticed that I quoted 2 different people, apologies
Points still stand though.


So as you are saying it's open to interpretation, I completely disagree with your opinion that it should be taken as just a throwaway comment.

When someone goes to tap in from a missable distance, the comment "take your time" is said for one reason only, ie that the person putting doesn't rush the putt and miss due to being careless from short distance. There can only be one interpretation of this, and that is of giving "advice" , it is clearly intended to influence the player in the playing of his next shot, ie to make sure that he focuses on the execution of the stroke.

Having said that, although I'm not a fan of it, I'll hold my hands up and say I would and do ignore it as not being said with any malice or evil intention...

 

[3 jabber]

Players must not tee off before their tee time. Rule 5.3a

( A rule which goes against the grain of speeding up play and ready golf)

No it doesn't, it causes bunching on the course which then slows down play.

 

[rulie]

Edit:

Just noticed that I quoted 2 different people, apologies
Points still stand though.


So as you are saying it's open to interpretation, I completely disagree with your opinion that it should be taken as just a throwaway comment.

When someone goes to tap in from a missable distance, the comment "take your time" is said for one reason only, ie that the person putting doesn't rush the putt and miss due to being careless from short distance. There can only be one interpretation of this, and that is of giving "advice" , it is clearly intended to influence the player in the playing of his next shot, ie to make sure that he focuses on the execution of the stroke.

Having said that, although I'm not a fan of it, I'll hold my hands up and say I would and do ignore it as not being said with any malice or evil intention...

Your actions define your opinion to be the same as my opinion.

 

[Eesat 90210]

No it doesn't, it causes bunching on the course which then slows down play.

I can't get my head around this viewpoint.

If Group A tee off at 10am and walk off the course at 1.30pm, they've taken 3.5 hours.
If Group B tee off at 1007 because Group A are out of range on the first fairway, then keep their place, they will finish more or less on 1.37pm.
If Group C then tee off at 1014 because Group B are out of range on the first fairway, then keep up at the same speed, they will finish at 1.44pm.

The only thing that can be affected if groups tee off too early is that tee times get put back if groups are waiting on the first fairway, but once everyone is underway and moving how does teeing off earlier than the arbitrary 10 minutes slow things down?

 

[KenL]

As it happens I am a referee and this is the advice I was given when training and have worked to since.

If it is just a casual comment and was not designed to influence how the stroke was made, there’s not been a breach of the Rules.
However, had the comment been clearly intended to influence the player, then it would be a breach.

I don’t like when people say “take your time” to me and I would not say it to anyone else.
It might not be on the list, but I see it as advice or a lame attempt at gamesmanship.
I have my bullet proof vest at the ready for the incoming barrage of abuse.

 

[rulefan]

How do you tell the difference?

If you are present you can probably determine the intent of the player making the statement. Is the comment considered? Is it just off the cuff? IMO and IME most are simply throwaway comments.
If you are not present you will have to interview both players and make a judgement.
Your experience in the field helps a lot.

 

[Crazyface]

Distance is a known variable that can be shared

Asking what club is advice that’s not allowed

A daft rule if you ask me. Who cares if you gave advice when the player slices it over the trees out of bounds or something similar

 

[need_my_wedge]

I can't get my head around this viewpoint.

If Group A tee off at 10am and walk off the course at 1.30pm, they've taken 3.5 hours.
If Group B tee off at 1007 because Group A are out of range on the first fairway, then keep their place, they will finish more or less on 1.37pm.
If Group C then tee off at 1014 because Group B are out of range on the first fairway, then keep up at the same speed, they will finish at 1.44pm.

The only thing that can be affected if groups tee off too early is that tee times get put back if groups are waiting on the first fairway, but once everyone is underway and moving how does teeing off earlier than the arbitrary 10 minutes slow things down?

The key to your argument is “if they keep up at the same speed”. With all the good will in the world, that does not happen with every group. Lost ball’s, unready play, duffed shots, big hitters waiting on greens to clear for par 5’s in two or short part 4’s, people marking 2 foot putts and insisting on playing in turn etc. sticking to tee times allows a little wiggle room around that. However, if everyone is pushing off the tee, it becomes like a motorway jam and can take a while to separate out again.

 

[jim8flog]

No it doesn't, it causes bunching on the course which then slows down play.

so, as already said, you are on the 1st tee and there is nobody on the hole at all in front of you and you tee off before your tee time that will cause bunching!!!

 

[fenwayrich]

Nudging the ball, rather than placing it, when the preferred lies rule is in operation.

 

[Bazz]

On the advice thing, I've heard this before, but I can't remember... who gets the penalty?

If I ask for advice, I presumably get a 2-shot penalty or something? If someone answers me, do they get a penalty as well?

If they just turn round and say, "I hit 7 iron", unprompted, is that a penalty to them?

If it is, I'll be saying it a lot going forward.

 

[Skytot]

"Take your time" when someone asks to putt out.
Counts as advice and that's breaking a rules Stupid, yes, but it breaks a rule.

I say that all the time

 

[Eesat 90210]

The key to your argument is “if they keep up at the same speed”. With all the good will in the world, that does not happen with every group. Lost ball’s, unready play, duffed shots, big hitters waiting on greens to clear for par 5’s in two or short part 4’s, people marking 2 foot putts and insisting on playing in turn etc. sticking to tee times allows a little wiggle room around that. However, if everyone is pushing off the tee, it becomes like a motorway jam and can take a while to separate out again.

I'm honestly not arguing, I just don't get what difference it makes between teeing off exactly 10 minutes after the group in front or when they've cleared the fairway after, let's say 7 minutes.

Obviously I understand everything that you say happens, but bottom line is, it's also perfectly feasible and normal for Group B to be waiting on the 18th fairway when Group A are putting out, so how can anyone say that teeing off 3 minutes early caused a delay?

 

[3 jabber]

so, as already said, you are on the 1st tee and there is nobody on the hole at all in front of you and you tee off before your tee time that will cause bunching!!!

Where in your post does it say anything about a clear course in front of you?

 

[3 jabber]

I'm honestly not arguing, I just don't get what difference it makes between teeing off exactly 10 minutes after the group in front or when they've cleared the fairway after, let's say 7 minutes.

Obviously I understand everything that you say happens, but bottom line is, it's also perfectly feasible and normal for Group B to be waiting on the 18th fairway when Group A are putting out, so how can anyone say that teeing off 3 minutes early caused a delay?

There has been plenty of research done on this and it's been proved the game flows better. Bit like the 1st group of the day gets round much quicker than a mid afternoon group because they don't have to wait on groups in front.

 

[Eesat 90210]

There has been plenty of research done on this and it's been proved the game flows better. Bit like the 1st group of the day gets round much quicker than a mid afternoon group because they don't have to wait on groups in front.

Well it's obvious that a fast group going out with nobody in front of them is likely to get round quicker, the reason for that is that the afternoon group MIGHT be held up by a slow group that has teed off in front of them somewhere during the day. The slow group are slow because they are slow, nothing to do with when they teed off relative to the group in front.

That is completely different from saying that teeing off at 7 minute intervals definitively makes golf slower than 10 minute intervals.