Is not knowing the rules the same as cheating??

[bladeplayer]

As per the heading are they the same or does lack of knowledge give forgivenes... what im geting at is say taking a drop... player A puts down a tee lays down the club, second tee & takes the drop etc ..player B stands extends arm & drops the ball (not necessiarly gaining an advantage) .. is player b cheating ??? Just seeing different answers to different rules querys on here im wondering where lack of knowledge starts to become cheating?? Opinions Please

 

[forefortheday]

Cheating is knowing the rule and breaking it.

By not knowing a rule how can you break it?

It is however everyones responsibility to have a good understanding of the rules.

 

[CMAC]

Cheating is knowing the rule and breaking it.

By not knowing a rule how can you break it?

It is however everyones responsibility to have a good understanding of the rules.

ignorance is no excuse, its YOUR responsibility to KNOW the rules, plain and simple

 

[trevor]

So you know every single rule then!

 

[Imurg]

Not knowing the Rules isn't cheating as such, it's simply breaking the rules. As long as you learn from it and get penalised properly then I don't see a problem.
Knowing a Rule and deliberatly breaking it is cheating.
As has been said, it's your resposibility to have at least a decent grounding in the Rules and carry a Rule Book to use in the event that you don't know.
The problem is that the Rules can be so complicated when you take the Decisions into account as well...

 

[Ethan]

So long as the ball is dropped within the requisite distance and from shoulder height, there is no requirement in the rules to mark out the dropping zone with tees like you see the pros do.

 

[fundy]

huge huge difference between wilfully cheating and not knowing a rule

whilst we all think everyone should know every rule, very few do as is proved when we put any rule quizzes or questions up

everyone should try and be as aware as possible but comparing it to deliberately cheating way off the mark imo

 

[CMAC]

So you know every single rule then!

that's a very silly and naive comment
just like I dont know every law in this country and I dont think you will either, if I'm doing something and I'm not sure of the law I'll find out before I do it, as anyone with common sense will.

 

[bladeplayer]

Ok most of you are answering the same as me . i said there a massive difference .. so i was asked if you win taking a drop you thought was right but wasnt, is that not cheating the other competitors .. if you rake or ground you club in a bunker & because you didnt know & didnt take the penalty is that cheating the ones who did ? you may not be intentionaly cheating but as you are playing to incorrect rules are you not cheating fellow competitors.. if your ball is in the rough & you constantly ground your club behind it therefore improving the lie ..is that not cheating?? thats what i want opinions on where does it become cheating..

 

[RGDave]

I've read the replies and I'm a little confused. Ignorance of the rules isn't really an excuse at the end of the day....but cheating "unconsciously" is better than cheating on purpose i.m.o. If I break a rule unconsciously, I'm not going to feel bad about getting DQ'd, I do my best to know the rules and play by them.

 

[sweatysock41]

Breaking the rules inadvertantly i.e. because you don't know them or they are confusing is just that - a breach of the rules. This will have a penalty attached - loss of hole, 2 shots or DQ depending on what rule has been broken and when it was discovered.

Cheating is a deliberate act to try and gain advantage by ignoring or breaking the rules and in my humble opinion should result in a minimum of puinishment of castration for male golfers.

 

[forefortheday]

Cheating is knowing the rule and breaking it.

By not knowing a rule how can you break it?

It is however everyones responsibility to have a good understanding of the rules.

ignorance is no excuse, its YOUR responsibility to KNOW the rules, plain and simple

So you are playing with a mate who plays golf a few times a year, he takes a drop in the incorrect position do you call him a cheat?

I would guess after a a few rounds you would play a lot of solo golf.

 

[viscount17]

Ok most of you are answering the same as me . i said there a massive difference .. so i was asked if you win taking a drop you thought was right but wasnt, is that not cheating the other competitors .. if you rake or ground you club in a bunker & because you didnt know & didnt take the penalty is that cheating the ones who did ? you may not be intentionaly cheating but as you are playing to incorrect rules are you not cheating fellow competitors.. if your ball is in the rough & you constantly ground your club behind it therefore improving the lie ..is that not cheating?? thats what i want opinions on where does it become cheating..

you won't be playing a comp on your own and it's part of your partner's responsibilities to protect the rest of the field from cheating. just as it is part of yours. all with the caveat of 'if in doubt take it to the committee'.
so short answer is should you be able to enter a comp when you are incapable of fulfilling your duties?

 

[chrisd]

I suppose it's a case of "ignorance is bliss" in that a player may break the rules because he doesn't know them and presumably his playing partners either don't see or don't know either.

That is not the same as deliberately cheating as most players dont know most of the rules, and that is true even at pro level. I firmly believe that is why competitions should be drawn at clubs as its too easy for a player and his mates never to learn enough of the rules to play a fair round compared to others.


Chris

 

[Mungoscorner]

If somebody decides to enter a competition,i'd expect them to have a basic understanding of the rules,and if they were unsure about anything,to ask others in there group before proceeding.

 

[RGDave]

Cheating is knowing the rule and breaking it.

By not knowing a rule how can you break it?

It is however everyones responsibility to have a good understanding of the rules.

ignorance is no excuse, its YOUR responsibility to KNOW the rules, plain and simple

So you are playing with a mate who plays golf a few times a year, he takes a drop in the incorrect position do you call him a cheat?

Nice. Good example.

I believe the prosecution team has just asked for a time out...

 

[AuburnWarrior]

Cheating is knowing the rule and breaking it.

By not knowing a rule how can you break it?

It is however everyones responsibility to have a good understanding of the rules.

ignorance is no excuse, its YOUR responsibility to KNOW the rules, plain and simple

So, you know EVERY rule, it's interpretation and it's execution?

That'd make you a tournament referee.

Congratulations.

I've been playing for over 30 years and I'd never be arrogant enough to say that I knew every rule.

But, I do know what to do on the course in the event of a rules challenge and that's all that matters.

Cheating is a million miles away from simply not knowing the rules.

 

[palindromicbob]

No but you should have a grasp of basic rules before setting out on the course, especially in competition. It's understandable if you people don't understand procedure for more obscure procedures though.

In your example B is not doing anything outside the rules as long as he drops within one club length (doesn't need to be marked out), from shoulder height with an extended arm and the ball isn't closer to the hole. Even if he had done things incorrectly it is still not a breech until his stroke. R&A would advise that you do mark out for drops etc though.

As an ignorance of the rules would usually be an act that is not hidden. If you play regularly then someone will pick up on something making you aware of it.

Doing it again after finding out the rule? Then that's cheating.

Cheats usually know the rules and go out of their way to break them.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Am I missing something. If it was a penalty drop for unplayable then it is two club lengths from the position of the ball and if it is free relief then it is the nearest point of full relief. Surely in either case the position of where to drop needs to be marked.

 

[Mark_G]

Why on earth dont clubs have refresher courses for experienced players and introductory courses for new players. The rules are quite complicated, and a morning spent explaining the basics would for new players be invaluable. If my club did it or I heard of a neighboring club holding a intro course I would take it. I think a lot of rule breaches are due to not realising what you are doing, as an example, as mentioned earlier I hadn't even thought about improving my lie by addressing the ball two or three times in the rough, as far as I was concerned I was feeling how much "snagging" I was going to experience on my shot. A totally innocent action which (I understand now) would be an infringement. Thats also why I ask so many daft questions on here, because I have gained alot of information from this forum. I do carry a rule book, by the way.