How many 'Acceptable scores for H/cap' have you played this past season'?

No it doesn't.
You've played 1 off the tee and it's lost.
So using this LR, you drop another ball on the edge of the fairway equidistant from the hole to where you think the lost ball probably is located, with a 2 stroke penalty.
So you're now playing 4, not 5. Same as if you'd played a provisional that ended up in the same place.
But of course you haven't actually played a provisional - which may well have also been lost, or ended up in a horrible spot.
This LR gives you a "risk-free provisional".

See I thought it was this originally but was told it was 5 so should just play a provisional when we do our society we just do the new rule to speed up play and if my tee shot is questionable just play from there. Someone convinced me your then there for 4 not 3 but ill happily recorrect him 👍
 
No it doesn't.
You've played 1 off the tee and it's lost.
So using this LR, you drop another ball on the edge of the fairway equidistant from the hole to where you think the lost ball probably is located, with a 2 stroke penalty.
So you're now playing 4, not 5. Same as if you'd played a provisional that ended up in the same place.
But of course you haven't actually played a provisional - which may well have also been lost, or ended up in a horrible spot.
This LR gives you a "risk-free provisional".
I'm not sure what the rule says about where you drop it though. Isn't it supposed to be as near as possible to where you think your lost ball was? Can you just put it on the 'edge of the fairway' as you said? There must be some limit as to where you drop it.
 
I'm not sure what the rule says about where you drop it though. Isn't it supposed to be as near as possible to where you think your lost ball was? Can you just put it on the 'edge of the fairway' as you said? There must be some limit as to where you drop it.
If it is in effect, for two penalty strokes, you can estimate the spot where your ball is lost or went out of bounds and then find the nearest fairway edge that is not nearer the hole than the estimated spot.

Google says
 
If it is in effect, for two penalty strokes, you can estimate the spot where your ball is lost or went out of bounds and then find the nearest fairway edge that is not nearer the hole than the estimated spot.

Google says
Oh. Clive is right then. That's much better than having to hit a provisional. (Ignoring the fact that provisionals always go straight down the middle of the fairway).
 
No it doesn't.
You've played 1 off the tee and it's lost.
So using this LR, you drop another ball on the edge of the fairway equidistant from the hole to where you think the lost ball probably is located, with a 2 stroke penalty.
So you're now playing 4, not 5. Same as if you'd played a provisional that ended up in the same place.
But of course you haven't actually played a provisional - which may well have also been lost, or ended up in a horrible spot.
This LR gives you a "risk-free provisional".
Also on a dog-leg hole all sorts of 'nice' results could have been possible with a ball going OB on the corner.
 
Am not sure that the term acceptable is well acceptable. Our fuddle plays off the whites on comp days. I refuse to enter club comps off the whites. It is not acceptable to me. all I am doing is donating five quid to someone’s kitty. I at least want a chance to compete. Next year am off yellows come what may.That is acceptable to me.
 
One of the stupidest rules I've ever heard. Bring in a rule to speed up play but don't authorise it to be used in majority of play

The majority of play?

We are talking about competition and general Play scores for handicap. What you do in knockabout rounds is completely irrelevant.
 
The majority of play?

We are talking about competition and general Play scores for handicap. What you do in knockabout rounds is completely irrelevant.

How many rounds are knockabout since the introduction of whs? I know every round I play with my pp he puts in for handicap think he's up to 200 for the year now
 
How many rounds are knockabout since the introduction of whs? I know every round I play with my pp he puts in for handicap think he's up to 200 for the year now

And you have to be aware that you are submitting scores into the handicap system and that requires you to play according to those rules. If you want to make your own rules up, just play a knockabout round.
 
And you have to be aware that you are submitting scores into the handicap system and that requires you to play according to those rules. If you want to make your own rules up, just play a knockabout round.

Interestingly the guy I play with is on the handicap committee and has no issues using the 2 shot rule for handicaps
 
It was a poor rule and it didn’t speed up play

Did it not? How so?

If you can't find your ball you don't have to either walk back or walk say the other side of the fairway to your provisional (or even have to get it if you do find it)

Where as you can't find your ball you simple apply 2 shot pen and play on, very quick and simple
 
Did it not? How so?

If you can't find your ball you don't have to either walk back or walk say the other side of the fairway to your provisional (or even have to get it if you do find it)

Where as you can't find your ball you simple apply 2 shot pen and play on, very quick and simple
Or if there is a chance of any ball being lost or OB then just hit a provisional

once your 3 mins is up then hit that - job done

It even says it in the rule


“If you think that your ball might be out bounds or that you might not find it, you can play a provisional ball to save time. “

It’s also not recommended for social play and not comps

Hence why you can’t use the rule in a GP score

“This Local Rule is recommended for casual play and not for competitions “
 
Or if there is a chance of any ball being lost or OB then just hit a provisional

once your 3 mins is up then hit that - job done

It even says it in the rule


“If you think that your ball might be out bounds or that you might not find it, you can play a provisional ball to save time. “

It’s also not recommended for social play and not comps

Hence why you can’t use the rule in a GP score

“This Local Rule is recommended for casual play and not for competitions “

That doesn't answer what I asked though.

How is it not quicker?

You hit a provisional, you still need to then walk to it, find it (if it's not obvious) and if you do find the first you need to go get the second

Where as if you didn't find it you just put one down apply 2 shots

Faster .
 
Interestingly the guy I play with is on the handicap committee and has no issues using the 2 shot rule for handicaps

I despair. If what you say is true, your friend should not be allowed anywhere near a Handicap Committee - or any committee for that matter. Being on a committee needs a basic grasp of the rules.

Alternative to Stroke and Distance for Lost Ball or Ball Out of Bounds

The Local Rule is appropriate for general play where golfers are playing casual rounds or playing their own competitions.
 
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That doesn't answer what I asked though.

How is it not quicker?

You hit a provisional, you still need to then walk to it, find it (if it's not obvious) and if you do find the first you need to go get the second

Where as if you didn't find it you just put one down apply 2 shots

Faster .

how long do you think it takes to walk and then hit a provisional compared to measuring out a drop ? Or do you just have a guess

And if the provisional is not obvious then would expect another to be put in play and that’s a perfect example of how the rule allows people an easy way out - hence why it’s a poor rule
 
I despair. If what you say is true, your friend should not be allowed anywhere near a Handicap Committee - or any committee for that matter. Being on a committee needs a basic grasp of the rules.

Genuinely interested in how it's not part of the "rules of golf" which would allow it to be in handicap rounds

It's a local rule , which is included in the rules of golf

Could you provide a link where it states it can't be used for handicap? I can see where it can't be used for comps
 
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