Arthur Wedge
Well-known member
Yep
The quizzes are good are helpful and that’s what most club golfers should have a look at
The exam and using the Rules Academy is more for those who would be looking to be an official in some capacity
Not knowing the very basics of rules in comps.
- Thread starter Jigger
- Start date
Yep
The quizzes are good are helpful and that’s what most club golfers should have a look at
The exam and using the Rules Academy is more for those who would be looking to be an official in some capacity
HomerJSimpson
Hall of Famer
Surely the rules exam at level 1 could be tweaked as a basic entry requirement for joining although I'd love to see it introduced for all members. However what happens if established members - certain they know the rules and play to them - then fail is too much of a bigger concern for a club to deal with
Does anyone really think that in the current climate a club can afford to turn away a years membership fee because they scored 80% not 85% on a rules test? Also, backing up @HomerJSimpson point. What if existing members fail? Do you kick them out? Golf clubs don't have that luxury on the whole.
Slab
Occasional Tour Caddy
That sounds like it would be a fun committee meeting to be in
Anyway the quiz on the app has limited questions and will cycle round plus you can take it as many times as needed to get a ‘pass’ and level 1 exam is open book, so if you’re only getting 85% then
(sorry @Imurg just joshing)
IanM
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Anyone playing for a few years will pass.... well almost!
Anyone failing will have their knowledge gaps highlighted for them and will pass a retake quickly.
Any new player will find it helpful. It's not Tournament Ref standard, level 1 is really basic. But has the key things every player "should know."
No one would get turned away, that's daft. But I am trying to think of another competitive sport where not knowing basic rules is ok cos you've paid your subs??
Anyone failing will have their knowledge gaps highlighted for them and will pass a retake quickly. Any new player will find it helpful. It's not Tournament Ref standard, level 1 is really basic. But has the key things every player "should know."
No one would get turned away, that's daft. But I am trying to think of another competitive sport where not knowing basic rules is ok cos you've paid your subs??
D-S
Well-known member
Level 1 is more of a general test of rules knowledge. It isn’t aimed at officials specifically. It is really for players. It also involves some education which makes excellent as something that most golfers should do. As the R&A say
“ Knowing the Rules of Golf can help you on the course
Knowing the Rules can help you avoid unnecessary penalties, ensure you understand all the options available to you and help to speed up play.”
HomerJSimpson
Hall of Famer
It is an interesting question. I do think a form of test for new golfers as part of an academy programme or as part of an initial meeting would be good for club and player. It can only help pace of play if people have an idea what do and when and also it can touch on the finer points of etiquetted and calling grpups through if there is a rules discussion or you are slower than groups in front.
D-S
Well-known member
Especially a sport where you are playing for other players money.Anyone playing for a few years will pass.... well almost!
Any new player will find it helpful. It's not Tournament Ref standard, level 1 is really basic. But has the key things every player "should know."
No one would get turned away, that's daft. But I am trying to think of another competitive sport where not knowing basic rules is ok cos you've paid your subs??
Arthur Wedge
Well-known member
Anyone playing for a few years will pass.... well almost!
Any new player will find it helpful. It's not Tournament Ref standard, level 1 is really basic. But has the key things every player "should know."
No one would get turned away, that's daft. But I am trying to think of another competitive sport where not knowing basic rules is ok cos you've paid your subs??
Think there is a difference between not knowing and having to take a quiz or exam etc
I think the level of people not knowing the basic rules is actually very low and it’s really only a small percentage
Any new people I have played with or seen on the course seem to have a basic grasp of the rules
And if there are any issues then they just ask
I don’t see it as such a wide spread issue that causes any alarm
When we have a new members meeting , they are given access to IG and shown where all the comp rules are and WHS rules , the R&A App is also part of it and then we treat them like adults and away they go
Arthur Wedge
Well-known member
That sounds like it would be a fun committee meeting to be in
Anyway the quiz on the app has limited questions and will cycle round plus you can take it as many times as needed to get a ‘pass’ and level 1 exam is open book, so if you’re only getting 85% then
For ages people complained about barriers being put in front of people to join clubs and take up the sport
Clubs get rid of interviews etc
But will make them all take a test instead
People would either just go and join another club or not bother with comps
IanM
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Level 1 test is on an App, you can wizz through it in front of the telly!
It's not 4 hours in the school gym in rows of desks!
It's not 4 hours in the school gym in rows of desks!
There are football pundits every week, former pro's, who show a complete lack of knowledge almost every week on radio or tv. Whether offside, handball, take your pick. They are the pro's, never mind amateurs.No one would get turned away, that's daft. But I am trying to think of another competitive sport where not knowing basic rules is ok cos you've paid your subs??
What are the 'basic' rules in golf? What some people think are basics may be more detailed to others. I suspect most know the basic basics but many will not know the nitty gritty, I know I don't. The issue with golf is that the rules have lots of grey areas. Rules people may think they are not grey but anyone reading the rules section for the first time would definitely say otherwise. This over complication puts people off so they largely don't bother.
YandaB
Newbie
We seem to have gone from discussing if knowing the rules before entering a competition is a good idea, to not allowing people to join a club without knowing the rules. Two different things surely?
At one time, there was a rule in volleyball that you had to know the rules before playing. It was never enforced and I think has now been rescinded.
I like the idea of having to pass level 1 as a criteria of competition entry. That might be limited to "board" competitions. And, yes, I have passed mine.
At one time, there was a rule in volleyball that you had to know the rules before playing. It was never enforced and I think has now been rescinded.
I like the idea of having to pass level 1 as a criteria of competition entry. That might be limited to "board" competitions. And, yes, I have passed mine.
HomerJSimpson
Hall of Famer
We have had a lot of new members playing in club competitions which is good to see. However some of the basic rules have been seen to be lacking, from dropping in wrong places, picking up a ball to identify without a word to any PP's and grounding a club in a bunker.
wjemather
Well-known member
Almost all of them, but then most don't rely on the players to enforce the rules themselves.Anyone playing for a few years will pass.... well almost!
Any new player will find it helpful. It's not Tournament Ref standard, level 1 is really basic. But has the key things every player "should know."
No one would get turned away, that's daft. But I am trying to think of another competitive sport where not knowing basic rules is ok cos you've paid your subs??
The only essential rules to know before playing most sports are related to safety.
And in some sports, integrity is not particularly important and being able to get away with breaking the rules is admired as a skill in itself.
IanM
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You make a good point.... but you have to start somewhere. If you haven't got a grasp of "stakes," lost balls and unplayables etc, you're going to run into trouble.
Most rounds of golf are uneventful rules wise. (I hope)
Arthur Wedge
Well-known member
I don’t think I have come across that many that don’t have that grasp of the rules
When we are talking about new members joining clubs most of them are people that have been playing the game in some shape or form
I don’t think we see many joining a club having just taken up the game for the first time
So most do have that basic knowledge of the essentials needed to get players round without causing too many drama’s
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HomerJSimpson
Hall of Famer
We had a lot of post covid joiners and ave done well in recruiting membership and so we have a lot of golfers that haven't played before and are now playing comps and have a limited understanding of the basics. I can't beleive we are an outlier in terms of tis
wjemather
Well-known member
You're not.
Slab
Occasional Tour Caddy
Am I misunderstanding you here? No need to talk to 'PPs' when identifying a ball. Just mark it before, don't clean it & replace/lift marker
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