Scouser
Tour Winner
I understand that putting against the grain makes the put slower and faster if putting with.... but cant I just tell the direction by looking at the pretty lines.... do i need to know if its N by NW or am i missing something
New rules
- Thread starter bobmac
- Start date
doublebogey7
Head Pro
I think the R&A feel that it is makes more sense to ban all artificial devices that could give an advantage rather than have two lists (banned and allowed). Makes some sense since inventions would not appear on any list until its too late. But it does make the game look out of touch with the modern world, though that's maybe not a bad thing.
palindromicbob
Tour Winner
I suppose when looking at grain if you knew that the grain was running south and you were playing to a green running N-S with a central flag then you could aim to put the ball in an area where the grain suited you more. Either beyond of before the flag etc.
Scouser
Tour Winner
U could see the grain run the opposite direction to the slope though..... still dont need to know the direction do u?
I couldn't believe my eyes when I read that under the new rules a ball that moves after it's addressed is played from it's new position without penalty.
I read this to mean that,potentially, a player could play his approach onto the green, mark, lift and clean his ball, replace it, read the putt and finally when he addresses the ball a gust of wind can blow it into the hole meaning that he's deemed to have holed out with his previous shot.
That would go down well with his opponents.!!
I may of course be interpreting the rule wrongly.
I read this to mean that,potentially, a player could play his approach onto the green, mark, lift and clean his ball, replace it, read the putt and finally when he addresses the ball a gust of wind can blow it into the hole meaning that he's deemed to have holed out with his previous shot.
That would go down well with his opponents.!!
I may of course be interpreting the rule wrongly.
Doc
Head Pro
According to the RandA rules quiz you're interpretation is correct.
They had the very same scenario as a question on the quiz when I did it last night.
Cheers
Steve...
They had the very same scenario as a question on the quiz when I did it last night.
Cheers
Steve...
MashieNiblick
Tour Winner
Indeed and that would be the case under the current rule if the wind blew the ball just before the player addressed it, whether while lining it up or a fraction of a second before he grounded his club. Sadly I have never been the lucky recipient of such a break and I guess it is pretty rare.
I know some people think the ball should be replaced but where do you draw the line? Supposing the ball moves as you are walking up to the green? Replace? You could say that the ball should be replaced once lifted and marked but that would give such a ball a different staus to a ball not lifted and marked. I think that would simply be artificial; either the ball is in play or it isn't.
Remember it has to be known or virtually certain it was the wind that moved it.
I still think it should be replace without penalty!!
Fyldewhite
Tour Winner
OK, understand what they say about the compass app.
The thing that I really don't get and have never seen a satisfactory response to (including having written to the R&A myself) is this.......
Any player could play with a real compass in their bag but not use it, or with an iphone in their bag that they are not using as a distance measuring device and they would be in breach of no rules by having them on their person so long as they were not used. If a committee were uncertain, then they would ask the player if he had used the compass or compass app to obtain any information during the round. If the player said no then in the absence of other information (perhaps an accusation that someone saw them) the players word would be taken as after all golf is a game of integrity where people don't cheat etc etc.
However, with the iPhone that integrity is apparently meaningless as a player cannot seemingly be trusted to use only the distance measuring functionality during the round. It is double standards, a pathetic ruling and one which they have had the chance to put right and singularly failed to do so.
G1BB0
Money List Winner
obviously there isnt enough iphone users complaining about the rules therfore they think its a small minority and not worth changing the rules or considering changing them just to please a small few 
Pants
Challenge Tour Pro
Isn't it just common courtesy NOT to have a mobile phone switched on during a round of golf, whether or not it's in silent mode?
If it's on so you can use a DMD app, you are going to check for messages, emails, football results or whatever. From what I've seen, people can't stop themselves from doing it. Bad form in my book.
One of the reasons I play this great game is to get away from instant communication so I leave my phone in the car when playing so I'm not tempted. If I feel the need for a DMD, then I will buy a dedicated unit.
If it's on so you can use a DMD app, you are going to check for messages, emails, football results or whatever. From what I've seen, people can't stop themselves from doing it. Bad form in my book.
One of the reasons I play this great game is to get away from instant communication so I leave my phone in the car when playing so I'm not tempted. If I feel the need for a DMD, then I will buy a dedicated unit.
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Pants
Challenge Tour Pro
obviously there isnt enough iphone users complaining about the rules therfore they think its a small minority and not worth changing the rules or considering changing them just to please a small few
They obviously don't read this forum then (smiley smiley)
palindromicbob
Tour Winner
Totally agree with it being common courtesy not to have the phone on during a round but I have to admit I do take mine onto the course. Switch it to airplane mode to save battery and avoid calls etc but will happily pull it out to consult the rules app. Much quicker to search a query than flick through the book.
G1BB0
Money List Winner
exactly 
In all honesty I aint really bothered as I dont use it every shot and am quite happy using markers
if I really needed to use one all the time I would just buy a standalone also
In all honesty I aint really bothered as I dont use it every shot and am quite happy using markers
if I really needed to use one all the time I would just buy a standalone also
Tommo21
Tour Winner
Has anyone ever used a compass on the golf course...............If someone said the wind is comming due north at 12.5 mph, I then get out my compass to find out true north, not magnetic north, I then look at my ready reconner that tels me what club to use. I then have to measure the slope and height of the green with my slope scope, then return to my ready reconner to punch in the readings. I then check my portable wind sock to make sure my mate is not giving me bum information. I then use my turbulence meter that caIculates the wind swirling round the trees. I then use my thermo meter to measure the humidity and temperature. I then use the probe exstensiobn to measure the ground temperture. Only then do I get the club selection, then proceed to miss the ball because it is dark.
MashieNiblick
Tour Winner
I agree Tommo that I can't see any real advantage from using a compass (other than the grain thing) and I think it is funny that binoculars (without a rangefinder function) are OK but a compass isn't.
However, I guess it stems from a basic desire to keep the game pure and simple. Hence a catch all rule about artificial devices. You can bet your life that without it someone would market the devices you are referring to and someone would buy them and one day you'd end up playing with them or behind them. Result = 6 hour round.
However, I guess it stems from a basic desire to keep the game pure and simple. Hence a catch all rule about artificial devices. You can bet your life that without it someone would market the devices you are referring to and someone would buy them and one day you'd end up playing with them or behind them. Result = 6 hour round.
palindromicbob
Tour Winner
It's quite funny. Basically it all comes down to the use of an artificial device for the purpose of gauging or measuring distance or conditions that might affect his play. If think the main word there is "might".
This is a rule that didn't appear until 1960 and has remained pretty much unchanged since. At no point in the history of the rules is the compass mentioned specifically except in decisions. Even then no real reason is given as to why it can't be used it's just a black and white NO.
For those of us that want to use DMD's in competition we should just be thankful that the rules provide for this at the discretion of the course. This was all the result of lobbying by companies such as Skycaddy. The compromise made seems to be that the devices measures distance only. Would it really be fair for the dedicated GPS companies to suddenly lose out thanks to low cost apps on smart phones when they spent such large amount of money on lobbying for acceptance and R&D to develop the GPS rangefinders we see today?
This is a rule that didn't appear until 1960 and has remained pretty much unchanged since. At no point in the history of the rules is the compass mentioned specifically except in decisions. Even then no real reason is given as to why it can't be used it's just a black and white NO.
For those of us that want to use DMD's in competition we should just be thankful that the rules provide for this at the discretion of the course. This was all the result of lobbying by companies such as Skycaddy. The compromise made seems to be that the devices measures distance only. Would it really be fair for the dedicated GPS companies to suddenly lose out thanks to low cost apps on smart phones when they spent such large amount of money on lobbying for acceptance and R&D to develop the GPS rangefinders we see today?
Imurg
The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)
Golf is not as full of integrity as you think - after all we are not trusted to mark our own cards........
People should just accept this and move on - right or wrong, logical or stupid. We lost a forum member earlier in the year(or last) because of arguing about this DMD/iPhone ruling - it's not worth it. The rule is there. If you're going to play to the rules then you have to accept it. Why it's a rule or whether it makes sense isn't up to us. If we want to complain then I'm sure there are channels to go through and it may be looked at.
End of.
bladeplayer
Money List Winner
Exactly Tommo well said , you can give someone all that info & they still might not knock it 20feet .. I think & its only my opinion that you make iphone legal with all their aps (as they are available to everyone if you want them )or just make them illegal , stops any confusion as to what can or cant be used or did he /didnt he have or use a compass app etc ... mayb the golf rules world need to catch up with the technology world .. but just my opinion , i dont use one (yet anyhow) if im playing you in a match do i care if you use it or not ? Nope.. cause you still have to play the shots to beat me .. sometimes too much info is worse than not enough.
Airlie_Andy
Challenge Tour Pro
Totally agree with this as well. I have an app on my IPhone that I use in practice rounds to gauge how far I'm hitting the ball and to help with club selection, however I've usually already mentally "guessed" what club to use and 9 times out of 10 it's right. Do I care that in competition I can't use it but someone else can use a range finder? Not at all.
Out of interest is it against the rules for someone to use the range finder on the tee and then tell their playing partners what the yardage is?
