Practice chipping on or near the first teeing ground

[chrisd]

Like a lot of things, golf is one of those things that are 'picked up' as you go along.
I only know about four people that were playing golf when they were 12 or 13 years old, the rest of us started playing when we hit 30 or 40 and therefore never had the time to indoctrinate ourselves with the myriad of complex and sometimes seemingly illogical rules.
But we're (or I am) are quite happy to be corrected or educated about our lack of knowledge regarding the rules, it doesn't mean we're thick or lazy or anything. It's just that a lot of us have other things to focus on such as families and work. Golf rules come way down the list in comparison.
Most of us don't want to cheat and want to comply, but I'm stuffed if I'm going to study obscure rulings even if it is about the game I love

I certainly never suggested that anyone is cheating and I agree that, as proven on this forum, some rules are complicated and obscure, but, to play the game properly certain rules are basic and everyone playing in comps should be aware of them.

At what point in a comp with 100 people is it perfectly OK to accept that someone will win who possibly or probably broke several rules in doing so because he/she didn't have the time or inclination to study any of the rules. For your information though, I never even struck a ball until I was nearly 50 and lead a pretty hectic life style like you talk about.

 

[Fish]

A lot of problems and confusion is born from people trying to interpret the rules, the rules are not to be interpreted, they are simply the rules as written 😜

 

[Lazkir]

I certainly never suggested that anyone is cheating and I agree that, as proven on this forum, some rules are complicated and obscure, but, to play the game properly certain rules are basic and everyone playing in comps should be aware of them.

At what point in a comp with 100 people is it perfectly OK to accept that someone will win who possibly or probably broke several rules in doing so because he/she didn't have the time or inclination to study any of the rules. For your information though, I never even struck a ball until I was nearly 50 and lead a pretty hectic life style like you talk about.

Apologies if I gave the impression that you did. Poor wording on my part.
I came from a sport that strictly polices itself (snooker and pool), and we just accept that people will call fouls upon themselves, even when no one has seen the incident.
I try to learn as many rules as possible, but when you're told one rule by some old lags then you tend to believe it. Having read this forum though, that view is going out of the window pretty quickly.
I'll keep on reading and learning, like a lot of us on here.

 

[chrisd]

Apologies if I gave the impression that you did. Poor wording on my part.
I came from a sport that strictly polices itself (snooker and pool), and we just accept that people will call fouls upon themselves, even when no one has seen the incident.
I try to learn as many rules as possible, but when you're told one rule by some old lags then you tend to believe it. Having read this forum though, that view is going out of the window pretty quickly.
I'll keep on reading and learning, like a lot of us on here.

This is a good place to learn as every rule gets discussed in some detail. The worst thing is the guys, young and old, who perpetuate the "myths" of golf rules.

I started to take an interest in the rules as I wanted to do a rules course, and maybe do some refereeing, but soon found that the local area doesn't seem to want anyone to do this as refereeing is a "closed shop" it seems! However, I strongly suggest reading the basic stuff on drops, penalties, hazards etc and then, when a query comes up when playing, always check what you should/did do afterwards so you know next time

 

[woody69]

My apologies - looking back on the each post it would appear that chrisd's post threw in the element of 1st and first in this context, and that you and I have been in violent agreement.

Phew! I thought I was going slowly mad....

 

[North Mimms]

So a shotgun start, it's ok to practice chipping around the tee of Hole #6, assuming that's where you start.
But can you practice putting on the adjacent green of Hole #5 ?

 

[rulefan]

Phew! I thought I was going slowly mad....

It's much better to go mad quickly. You don't notice it then.

 

[Kellfire]

But can you practice putting on the adjacent green of Hole #5 ?

Surely not because you haven't played it yet and would be practicing on the course before play.

 

[Slab]

A lot of problems and confusion is born from people trying to interpret the rules, the rules are not to be interpreted, they are simply the rules as written 😜

Off topic but I've often wondered how easily the rules are translated around the world so that players in any country do exactly the same thing
Doesn't even have to be into a language other than English i.e in South Africa the word 'must' is used in conversation when in English we'd use 'should' (two pretty important words in the rules of golf)

 

[Colin L]

So a shotgun start, it's ok to practice chipping around the tee of Hole #6, assuming that's where you start.
But can you practice putting on the adjacent green of Hole #5 ?

No. There is nothing in the exception to practising on the course (R7-1) before a stroke play round that would allow putting on the last green of the stipulated round whether that is the 18th in the normal way of things or the last hole of a round with a shotgun start.

Exception: Practice putting or chipping on or near the first teeing ground or any practice area before starting a round or play-off is permitted.

 

[MashieNiblick]

Off topic but I've often wondered how easily the rules are translated around the world so that players in any country do exactly the same thing
Doesn't even have to be into a language other than English i.e in South Africa the word 'must' is used in conversation when in English we'd use 'should' (two pretty important words in the rules of golf)

"Must" and "Should" along with some other key words and terms are defined in the Rule book so there should be little misunderstanding that one is a recommendation but "must" is mandatory. It's right at the front in a section headed "How to Use the Rule Book", which oddly is a section that not many people look at, so perhaps these definitions could be specifically referred to or made clearer in the body of the Rules (e.g. italicised like other definitions are).

 

[North Mimms]

Thanks for clarification re putting