Is this within the rules?

evahakool

evahakool

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Member at our club often puts the club he is going to use across his chest when he's hitting his shot into the green,I assume he does this so he gets his shoulders square to the target.

It's not allowed for you to put a club on the ground for alignment so I was just wondering if he should be allowed to do this.
 
I would say yes as the club isn't left across his chest during the act of swinging the club. Once the club is taken away and he is aligned he makes the swing with no other reference points to his alignment.


I'm probably wrong though :thup:
 
I think Gareth is right.

I also think it's ok to put a club across your feet for alignment, provided it's removed before the shot is played.
 
You can actually put a club on the ground to align yourself so long as the club is removed before your stroke (rule 8-2a?).

As it's the club he's using then it will have been removed from helping to align his shoulders as it'll be in his hands ready to hit the ball.
 
evahakool said:
Surprised with that didn't think that would be allowed.
Click to expand...

I'm not going to look up the rules and just answer as if I was on the course and was asked, I'd be very doubtful that using an outside agency to align yourself is within the rules..........if it turns out to be ok I'd query that it's within the spirit of the game.
 
As Duckster said, decision 8-2a/1

Q. A player places a club on the ground parallel to the line of play to assist him in aligning his feet properly. Is this permissible?

A. Yes, provided the player removes the club before playing his stroke. Otherwise, a breach of Rule 8-2a would occur.
 
CMAC said:
I'm not going to look up the rules and just answer as if I was on the course and was asked, I'd be very doubtful that using an outside agency to align yourself is within the rules..........if it turns out to be ok I'd query that it's within the spirit of the game.
Click to expand...

What is this spirit of the game nonsense?
 
Sounds like if something doesn't meet your own "rules" then it must be breaking the spirit of the game instead.

The rules are quite specific in this respect so it would be pretty difficult for somebody to be upset about the spite of golf when the rules state it's perfectly acceptable .... maybe the spirit of the game needs an update next time ;)
 
Since the "spirit of the game" is defined amongst other things as playing within the rules, it is impossible for any action that is within the rules to be contrary to the spirit of the game.

Discuss ;)
 
Murph is quite correct.

If the rules don't forbid it, and a decision on the rules has clarified that it ok to do it then to cite "spirit" is nonsense. What's the penalty for breaking the spirit?
 
BTatHome said:
Sounds like if something doesn't meet your own "rules" then it must be breaking the spirit of the game instead.

The rules are quite specific in this respect so it would be pretty difficult for somebody to be upset about the spite of golf when the rules state it's perfectly acceptable .... maybe the spirit of the game needs an update next time ;)
Click to expand...

dont see how you made that light year leap?:mmm:


upset I am far from I assure you, there are many instances of playing within the rules, which is by definition within the spirit of the game, but you wouldnt catch me or anyone I've even known do them.



why does the slightest comment on here these days get a lynch mob retort, have a word with yourselves!
 
CMAC said:
dont see how you made that light year leap?:mmm:


upset I am far from I assure you, there are many instances of playing within the rules, which is by definition within the spirit of the game, but you wouldnt catch me or anyone I've even known do them.



why does the slightest comment on here these days get a lynch mob retort, have a word with yourselves!
Click to expand...

Apologies for continuing to take this further away from the original question, but I think that's been answered anyway.

CMAC, can you give an example of the highlighted part?
 
Colin L said:
Since the "spirit of the game" is defined amongst other things as playing within the rules, it is impossible for any action that is within the rules to be contrary to the spirit of the game.

Discuss ;)
Click to expand...

Hmm good one.

There are a couple of things I have noticed in Decisions that it would seem are ostensibly within (or at least not contrary to) the Rules but deemed to be contrary to the "spirit of the Rules".

8-1/26 Player Briefly Changes Caddies for Exchange of Advice

20-2a/8 Player Drops Ball to Determine Where Original Ball May Roll if Dropped

They are therefore penalised under Rule 1-4 (equity). So, they are in fact contrary to the Rules!

;)
 
chrisd said:
What about the blade of grass, twig or pile of foxes poo that I use to align my irons to? :whistle:
Click to expand...

You may use and leave in place anything that is already there but if you place anything to help with alignment then it must be removed before you make a stroke.
 
CMAC said:
dont see how you made that light year leap?:mmm:


upset I am far from I assure you, there are many instances of playing within the rules, which is by definition within the spirit of the game, but you wouldnt catch me or anyone I've even known do them.



why does the slightest comment on here these days get a lynch mob retort, have a word with yourselves!
Click to expand...

Such as?

If I can take advantage of a rule then I certainly will and I wouldn't take issue with anyone else who would either.
 
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