Minimum Rules Knowledge?

[HRC99]

Just had a slightly frustrating experience today playing in a 3rd Division Open which I thought I'd share. I was playing with two very nice guys who had been playing for 4 years.

During the course of the round, it became clear that they didn't know:

1: The penalty for out of bounds
2: How to drop from a hazard
3: How to mark a ball
4: How to mark a ball to one side
5: When to remove the flag
6: When not to remove the flag
7: The penalty for dropping from a hazard
8: That there is a penalty for striking another player's ball when both are on the green
9: How to drop from an unplayable lie
10: You can't walk along the entire line of your putt tapping everything down.

I played like a drain but this just sucked all the fun out of the day as I felt like a total killjoy having to point out everything all the way round.

I tried to explain that it was for their benefit that I was pointing these things out - like you can't just walk up the fairway and drop one down when you've blasted one OOB - but I couldn't help but feel that I was irritating them and they thought I was being pedantic.

I have to admit that after one had hit the other's ball when putting, I just didn't have the heart to call two shots on him. I know I should have done but, they were scoring very poorly, and I just couldn't do it.

I just spent the round trying to explain as many rules as I could to them for the future - and I would never claim to be a rules expert either.

I was just staggered that they could enter an open competition with such limited rules knowledge. I fear for what might have gone on if they'd been scoring well and playing with a regular playing partner. All from ignorance, nothing untoward.

On top of playing crap, it was a tough day.

 

[Putting_Green_Pro]

9: How to drop from an unplayable lie

I don't know either. But i don't put my ball into those positions

 

[HRC99]

Meant to put a question on the end!

Don't you think people should have to pass some kind of test before gaining an official handicap?

 

[Sneds]

No, I don't think that people should pass a test. I think the barriers of entry into golf are high enough and a test would just add to that.

I understand where you're coming from, to play a game I think you should know the rules. However, when you have a huge rule book, it puts people off. Many individuals are happy to hit a golf ball around the course and not know each nuance in the rule book. x

 

[Yerman]

But they should have decent idea of the rules before entering a comp (or getting a handicap), it ain't rocket science just read the ##### rule book

 

[Imurg]

If you're talking High-brow, old school clubs then there are barriers to playing. But with umpteen muni's and even more pay'n'play courses that'll let anyone on the only barrier is kit. And you can kit yourself out for less than a hundred if you want to.

A short test to make sure the fundamental rules are understood should be mandatory. You wouldn't be able to play in a Sunday pub footy team if you didn't know the rules so why should you be able to go round a golf course?

I know clubs are struggling in these financially torrid times but if you're going to play any game or take part in any pastime or hobby you have to know the rules of what you are doing before you start.

 

[DCB]

So then HRC99, how did you respond to these points ?

What did you tell them ?

 

[HRC99]

So then HRC99, how did you respond to these points ?

What did you tell them ?

OK, here goes.

1: The penalty for out of bounds

Stroke and distance

2: How to drop from a hazard

Drop backwards on the line from the hole to where it went in or replay the shot that put it in there in the first place.

3: How to mark a ball

Place your marker directly behind the ball not casually slightly to one side.

4: How to mark a ball to one side

Mark, lift, take a line to something off the green for alignment, lift marker and mark again. Reverse it for putting the ball back.

5: When to remove the flag

This was more about not having to be asked repeatedly to do so rather than wandering off and staring into space when I'm stood over a putt.

6: When not to remove the flag

Not when you've putted and missed by miles and I've got a chip and I can't see the hole.

7: The penalty for dropping from a hazard

One shot

8: That there is a penalty for striking another player's ball when both are on the green

Two shots to the person putting. I thought it might be the other way round but checked.

9: How to drop from an unplayable lie

Penalty stroke and drop within two club lengths, replay it or drop backwards on line from the hole to the ball.

10: You can't walk along the entire line of your putt tapping everything down.

Pitch marks, yes. Any litte spike mark, no.

How was that? I'm worried now!

 

[jammydodger]

2: How to drop from a hazard

Drop backwards on the line from the hole to where it went in or replay the shot that put it in there in the first place.

It depends what sort of hazard it is though. Red stake , yellow stake , bunker etc

 

[bobmac]

The most common mistake I see is how to drop from a staked tree. What side, nearest point, which club length etc etc

 

[drawboy]

I was just staggered that they could enter an open competition with such limited rules knowledge.

Then of course there are always the guys in open comps who know the rules perfectly well but who try to take advantage hoping you do not know enough to pull them, or are too embarrassed to do so. Watch out for them.

 

[Imurg]

Don't forget - sometimes the rules work in your favour, not against you.

 

[HRC99]

I was just staggered that they could enter an open competition with such limited rules knowledge.

Then of course there are always the guys in open comps who know the rules perfectly well but who try to take advantage hoping you do not know enough to pull them, or are too embarrassed to do so. Watch out for them.

There was nothing untoward about it. Just a genuine ignorance of the rules.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I think it was a shame that it took some of the fun out for you. It does beg the question about what they do in their monthly medals and what sort of lax rules policy their club must operate. Does everyone there just bend the rules accordingly or do none of them know how to proceed

 

[TXL]

I believe that in Europe some countries require you to pass some form of test before you are allowed on a golf course - have a feeling it was either Belgium or The Netherlands.
I think this is a bit much for social golf, but if you are going to enter Open comps, or any formal comp, you should have a basic knowledge of the rules and etiquette. After all, as has been said above, the rules can help you.

 

[JustOne]

9: How to drop from an unplayable lie

Penalty stroke and drop within two club lengths, replay it or drop backwards on line from the hole to the ball.

I hope that you explained that the drop has to be 'within' 2 clublengths but the ball can roll up to a further 2 clublengths provided it doesn't go nearer the hole?

 

[Leftie]

Had one crop up (twice) today at Hever where I disagreed with both my playing partners.

There are two holes, 11th approach to green and 13th tee shot, where the water hazard in front of you is marked with yellow posts but along the side(s) with red.

On both holes I hit almost the best shots of the day (ahem!) and just failed to carry the far side. On the 1st one I walked up and dropped and played a ball on a line of point of entry and hole, only for one partner to tell me I could have dropped to the side of the hazard level to where the ball had gone in the water. The other player just said one word - knob!

There was at first some discussion when I explained my reasoning for the drop I took .

I've played the course many times in club friendlies, societies, and charity days and have seen many, many balls go over the yellow markers and into these hazards and the drop being taken to the side with the usual comment (even from members) being something like "it went level with that post/bunch of reeds/bush/etc" so I'll just drop one there....

Only very rarely have I seen a "legal" drop like that where the shot has had so much slice/hook on it that it has cleared some water, gone over some ground and then curved back into the water.

Am I wrong or one of the few in step?


11th
Note that on 11th the yellow extends fully across to the left.

13th
Note that on 13th, the front of the hazard is actually marked in yellow on the course and not red as piccie.

 

[HRC99]

9: How to drop from an unplayable lie

Penalty stroke and drop within two club lengths, replay it or drop backwards on line from the hole to the ball.

I hope that you explained that the drop has to be 'within' 2 clublengths but the ball can roll up to a further 2 clublengths provided it doesn't go nearer the hole?

I didn't. I do know that but I was feeling like they thought I was a complete *** by that point for being such a stickler for the rules so I kept it to a minimum.

 

[HRC99]

The other player just said one word - knob!

There was at first some discussion when I explained my reasoning for the drop I took .

Why did he call you a knob?

 

[Smiffy]

Why did he call you a knob?

Leftie was playing with me.
I think he was calling me the knob


I've mentioned this one before.
How on earth can a player get an offical 12 handicap without knowing that a drop from a lateral water hazard incurs the same penalty (as in stroke dropped) as a yellow staked hazard???
I'm not referring to Leftie by the way, who has a very good grasp of the rules