Minimum Rules Knowledge?

[JustOne]

I was feeling like they thought I was a complete *** by that point for being such a stickler for the rules

I think you did the right thing by picking them up on as many things as possible, and should continue to do so. I tip my hat to you....

 

[level5s]

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???

They have played all their golf on courses without water hazards.

I have picked up some my knowledge from something happening on the course and then checking it out later.

 

[Smiffy]

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???

They have played all their golf on courses without water hazards.

And in the process of getting down from a 28 handicap to 12 never (ever) played on a course that DOES have water hazards??? I find that very difficult to believe.
If I had a £ for every course I've played over the years I could afford a fairly decent holiday

 

[HRC99]

I have picked up some my knowledge from something happening on the course and then checking it out later.

As have I but it was incredible that they had not hit a ball out of bounds during 4 years of playing!!!

 

[HawkeyeMS]

It wouldn't hurt for a club to get you to fill out a quick questionnaire when joining. Just a few of the more common rules like how to drop from hazards, what to do if you hit OB. I play with too many people who don't know this and will admit I didn't know a lot when I started. I personally don't see how it can be a bad thing.

 

[HRC99]

Perhaps, a combination of some "training" with a quiz for new members or just take the quiz for experienced golfers.

There is a lot of rules ignorance out there and I know more could be done to help/force people into improving their knowledge. I've been guilty of this until ignorance of a rule and dq cost me a great round and a cut once and I've been making a real effort to improve my rules knowledge ever since.

I do have to say that the frequent rules question posts on here are great help too.

 

[GB72]

Certainly would have thought that a short quetionnaire should be completed before you are allowed to sign someone else's card in a comp. After all, how can you sign for someone else's score if you do not know the rules and so do not know it is correct.

 

[Smiffy]

After all, how can you sign for someone else's score if you do not know the rules and so do not know it is correct.

That's the point I was trying to make. A guy gets down to 12 without knowing that going into a lateral water hazard incurs a penalty (if you elect to drop). His card has been marked by a large number of players over the years to attain his current handicap and no doubt he would have been marking other peoples cards.
He was a middle aged guy not a junior. So one would assume that he had been playing quite a number of years to get from 28 to 12. And he still didn't know or had not picked it up from playing with somebody else?

 

[HRC99]

Only if your course doesn't have lateral water hazards and if you don't travel often or just play in friendly bounce games away from your home course.

But it is amazing that someone off 12 didn't know that.