Opinions

[hors limite]

Played with two guys a couple of days ago - nothing riding on the round, just out to enjoy the golf. One player, single h\c is playing great stringing together par after par. The other starts well with 5 good opening holes but makes a complete mess of the 6th, twice in the water and racks up a 10. After that the wheels come off and it's clear that he's stopped trying and is constantly moaning.
We get to the 12th, a par 4 and I hit my 2nd into a greenside bunker. Recent thundery downpours have washed a channel in the sand exposing the bare subsoil which has loads of stones poking through it and my ball is in there. My understanding is that there is no relief available but point out the situation to my playing partners and seek their agreement that I drop a couple of feet away where the sand covering is intact - they agree.Had it been a comp I would have played it as it was but didn't want to damage my wedge just for the sake of it. Spend a couple of minutes with the rake filling in the channel then knock the ball to about 15 feet and go on to sink the sort of putt that I might make once in 20 attempts. At this point the dispirited playing partner starts making remarks about how much easier it is to make pars when you don't follow the rules. I don't rise to the bait and remind him that he had already agreed to the "informal relief". He hacks around the rest of the holes with the same couldn't care less attitude.
I suppose my question is should I have stuck to the letter of the law and played the ball from where it was?

 

[DaveM]

I would have done as you did. What's the point of damaging your wedge, on a fun round. Good on you for sorting the bunker. It's just sour grapes from your PP. Tell him to stick it.

 

[London mike 61]

He needs to be told to put up an argument for you to use the rules or shut up because he had already agreed that the informal relief was acceptable in the casual round.
I hate it when someone agrees with a decision and then moans that it isn't right...tough, if you havn't got the balls to say what you really think then just shut up.

 

[Fyldewhite]

Suppose what he said is quite true, I'd have just agreed with him and said yeah I was lucky it's just a knock about.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Have to agree that in the circumstances I'd have been moving the ball and not risking damage. The fact you asked before doing so and then made the up and down means it's nothing more than sour grapes and "woe is me" from the guy chopping it. Ignore it and move on

 

[nemicu]

Played with two guys a couple of days ago - nothing riding on the round, just out to enjoy the golf. One player, single h\c is playing great stringing together par after par. The other starts well with 5 good opening holes but makes a complete mess of the 6th, twice in the water and racks up a 10. After that the wheels come off and it's clear that he's stopped trying and is constantly moaning.
We get to the 12th, a par 4 and I hit my 2nd into a greenside bunker. Recent thundery downpours have washed a channel in the sand exposing the bare subsoil which has loads of stones poking through it and my ball is in there. My understanding is that there is no relief available but point out the situation to my playing partners and seek their agreement that I drop a couple of feet away where the sand covering is intact - they agree.Had it been a comp I would have played it as it was but didn't want to damage my wedge just for the sake of it. Spend a couple of minutes with the rake filling in the channel then knock the ball to about 15 feet and go on to sink the sort of putt that I might make once in 20 attempts. At this point the dispirited playing partner starts making remarks about how much easier it is to make pars when you don't follow the rules. I don't rise to the bait and remind him that he had already agreed to the "informal relief". He hacks around the rest of the holes with the same couldn't care less attitude.
I suppose my question is should I have stuck to the letter of the law and played the ball from where it was?

"Informal relief" ? To the letter of the law, you didn't have to play the ball as it lied at all. You could have taken a drop under penalty - consequently leaving them with no argument. Local rules may also have existed for removing stones from bunkers and possibly unusual damage to the course. Did you repair the bunker before playing too? Either way, you proceeded the wrong way. Sour grapes have little effect when you do the right thing.

 

[CliveW]

Under the new rules introduced in 2012,

"Rule 13-4 , Ball in Hazard; Prohibited Actions.
Exception 2 to Rule 13-4 is amended to permit a player to smooth sand or soil in a hazard at any time, including before playing from the hazard, provided it is for the sole purpose of caring for the course and Rule 13-2 is not breached."

 

[nemicu]

Under the new rules introduced in 2012,

"Rule 13-4 , Ball in Hazard; Prohibited Actions.
Exception 2 to Rule 13-4 is amended to permit a player to smooth sand or soil in a hazard at any time, including before playing from the hazard, provided it is for the sole purpose of caring for the course and Rule 13-2 is not breached."

It would seem in this instance that the sole purpose was to protect their wedge! Take the penalty - end of story.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Its a bounce game - a friendly game of golf with nothing riding on it hence why he asked if it was ok to take relief from the water damage in the bunker and also tried to repair that water damage.

Im 100% sure if it was a qualfying comp or a match he would have played the shot.

Believe in regards the OP - you did the right thing and the other person was just showing a bit of sour grapes.

 

[palindromicbob]

My response would have been "If we agree our own rules in a comp I'd be a scratch golfer now, just as well it's only a round for fun".

Worth being aware that in a comp though you could still have taken a drop.

Problem with not following rules to the letter is that some players apply what they might do in a bounce game to what they then go on and do in a comp. As long as someone is aware what they might do in a bounce game that they can't in a comp then grand job. If you can't have fun in a bounce game then when can you.

 

[Simbo]

"Informal relief" ? To the letter of the law, you didn't have to play the ball as it lied at all. You could have taken a drop under penalty - consequently leaving them with no argument. Local rules may also have existed for removing stones from bunkers and possibly unusual damage to the course. Did you repair the bunker before playing too? Either way, you proceeded the wrong way. Sour grapes have little effect when you do the right thing.

Jeez, did somebody steal the jam out of your doughnut!!!

It's only a knockabout for a bit of fun, it's not the masters!!

 

[pbrown7582]

Jeez, did somebody steal the jam out of your doughnut!!!

It's only a knockabout for a bit of fun, it's not the masters!!

exactly!

All in favour of the OP attitude why damage kit or the course (ie playing out of old divots) in a bounce game I'd of moved it off the stones too.

 

[sportsbob]

I wouldn't bother playing with Mr Sour Grapes again! Enjoy your golf first and foremost.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

On Saturday I did exactly what you did. Friendly knock with a couple of guys and nobody counting shots competitively - we were all just playing our own game. I stuffed a tee shot into a nightmare situation - found it - had a couple of goes at moving it - didn't succeed very well - leather wedged it onto fairway and pinged a cracker of a four wood 240yds or so to greenside. No 'easy when it doesn't matter' type comments - just 'cracking shot'.

But fact is - it is easier when it doesn't matter

 

[davidy233]

Bounce games don't matter at all - it's just mates hitting a ball around - stick to the rules in comps that's all that matters

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Bounce games don't matter at all - it's just mates hitting a ball around - stick to the rules in comps that's all that matters

^^^This :thup:

 

[FaldosJumper]

The guys not losing anything and he goes on like that... geez you need to pick better playing partners!

Having said that if I'd sunk a 15 footer I'd have been fist pumping Tiger style on the green, even if it was for a 10

 

[bladeplayer]

Jeez, did somebody steal the jam out of your doughnut!!!

It's only a knockabout for a bit of fun, it's not the masters!!

Love it :thup:

Bounce games don't matter at all - it's just mates hitting a ball around - stick to the rules in comps that's all that matters

I wouldnt even ask in a bounce game , id just a said lads im moving this because .... & moved it as for the snide comments id just have said , its a good job its not a serious comp or we'd all be DQ'd then eh ?

 

[bladeplayer]

"Informal relief" ? To the letter of the law, you didn't have to play the ball as it lied at all. You could have taken a drop under penalty - consequently leaving them with no argument. Local rules may also have existed for removing stones from bunkers and possibly unusual damage to the course. Did you repair the bunker before playing too? Either way, you proceeded the wrong way. Sour grapes have little effect when you do the right thing.

It would seem in this instance that the sole purpose was to protect their wedge! Take the penalty - end of story.

DUDE seriously you need to chill a fraction

 

[nemicu]

It's not possible to have a "fun" round and still play by the rules?