Is practicing on your course allowed?

[Blue in Munich]

From the club's bye-laws;

Section 4: Matters relating to the Course

(a) The R&A Rules of Golf are the playing rules of the Club. The etiquette of golf forming part of the R&A Rules of Golf, together with special regulations the General Committee may make, must be strictly observed by Members, Guests & Visitors on all occasions, in particular:...

(ix) A player practising on the course may play a maximum of two balls from tee to green.

Nice & simple, clearly laid out so everyone knows where they stand.

 

[patricks148]

Not allowed at mine, but plenty do it none the less. Talking to some of the greenstaff yesterday who we doing divot fill mentioned the amount of multiple divots in the same place where people had hit multiple shots into greens from the fairway.

 

[nickjdavis]

Not sure there is any publicised policy at our place though I guess it would generally be in the negative.

Playing in the evening you occasionally come across someone who has dropped half a dozen balls around a green and is doing some gentle chipping as part of their "round" but that's as far as I've ever seen it go....certainly never seen anyone unload a bag of balls and use a green for "target practice" or similar.

 

[Backsticks]

Have never heard a good reason against multiple balls as long as you are moving along. Practicing with 40 balls and using the course as a range, or settling at a green is not on.
But my normal habit for 6 holes on my own is 4 balls from the tee, then play two balls onwards to finish that hole. Fewer shots and moving faster than the average three ball, let alone fourball. Causes no issue whatsoever.

 

[Old Colner]

Here's something I'm confused about... (Open Q to all)

If a single playing two balls is practicing, isn't a single playing one ball also practicing

That is how I describe it whenever I play alone, but seems it is not classed as such by most golf clubs.

 

[RichA]

Here's something I'm confused about... (Open Q to all)

If a single playing two balls is practicing, isn't a single playing one ball also practicing

I think so.
A round on my own is practice. A round with 1 pp is just social and practice. We don't usually score and often retake a shot.
There's no rule at our place, but I wouldn't do it if it was busy.
It's certainly more enjoyable and better value for money than an hour of tedious drills at the driving range.

 

[peld]

playing two balls as single if you werent holding anyone up is fine.

camping out by a proper green and practicing chipping etc would not be, though we do have two chipping greens and a covered driving range as practice facilities so shouldnt need to

 

[Bdill93]

No real rules on it at my place

I "practice" when out by myself or with another pp when playing a casual 9 holes. If I hit a terrible shot/ chip ill drop a ball and hit another. Ill pick up the second ball at the approriate time to do so and will continue with my first.

Often get plenty of time on the greens to have a second stab at any terrible putt too - but as above, Id never do anything to slow the pace of play.

 

[mister v]

one evening we witnessed someone at our club with 20-30 balls chipping onto a green, it was on our 10th , we could see them from our 14th tee box so walked over to ask what were they thinking , they really couldnt see what the problem was and were taken aback that we'd spoken to them.

 

[Jimaroid]

Interesting, I’m sure it’s not permitted but I haven’t seen and can’t find any explicit local rule or written guidance saying so. Nearest implied wording is pace of play ensuring you keep up with the group in front.

 

[Imurg]

There is nothing in our rule book that says i can't so....Tally-Ho
I always replace any divots, repair all pitchmarks and rake all bunkers.
And it's always early, if I'm playing solo I'm away by 6 these days.
Nobody would know I'd been there.

 

[Bdill93]

There is nothing in our rule book that says i can't so....Tally-Ho
I always replace any divots, repair all pitchmarks and rake all bunkers.
And it's always early, if I'm playing solo I'm away by 6 these days.
Nobody would know I'd been there.

What time are you starting?!

 

[Jamesbrown]

Been at four clubs, not known this rule anywhere but aware of it elsewhere.
I see no issue if done sensibly.

 

[jim8flog]

It is not allowed where I play but it does not stop a lot of players from doing so.

A single player is allowed to play two balls but must play the course as laid out.

 

[Imurg]

What time are you starting?!

Starting at 6...could have worded it better..?

 

[AmandaJR]

Practising on any part of the course is prohibited as is the playing of more than one ball, except within the Rules of Golf.

According to our bye-laws. Depends who you are though. Saw Charley Hull hitting a dozen balls from the same spot of rough on the 8th. Divot after divot taken and simply moved on once she'd hit enough (with her coach/Dad). I doubt she'd have been asked to stop!

 

[Bdill93]

Starting at 6...could have worded it better..?

I was going to say - very keen if you’re finishing at 6am ?

 

[KenL]

Here's something I'm confused about... (Open Q to all)

If a single playing two balls is practicing, isn't a single playing one ball also practicing

No.

 

[clubchamp98]

Here's something I'm confused about... (Open Q to all)

If a single playing two balls is practicing, isn't a single playing one ball also practicing

A single playing two balls is playing a provisional

 

[Golfnut1957]

I've just checked the handbook and the club have removed the rule about no practice on the course, which is just as well as on those occasions I venture out on my own I am practising. I don't do 18, if it is quiet enough I might just go around the same few holes, and I definitely don't keep a score.

On the range I can get into a groove and kid myself that I am good, on the course I go into the trees and remind myself that I'm not.