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rules you'd like to see changed

Have to agree that the playing out of all mother of divots is an absolute farce.

I also don't like not being able to tap down a massive spike mark in front of your ball. Spike marks are too common especially when its wet.
 
While I agree with the sentiment and don't understand why a rabbit scraping is relief but a divot isn't, I honestly don't remember the last time I landed in a divot on the fairway. I guess it has probably happened to me 3 or 4 times in my life
 
Make the penalties in matchplay the same as in stroke play where possible.

For example, one of many, hit a wrong ball in strokeplay = 2 shot penalty but its loss of hole in matchplay - why? you could still win the hole if there was a 2 shot penalty added so why is a penalty so draconian?
 
Make the penalties in matchplay the same as in stroke play where possible.

For example, one of many, hit a wrong ball in strokeplay = 2 shot penalty but its loss of hole in matchplay - why? you could still win the hole if there was a 2 shot penalty added so why is a penalty so draconian?


Oooooooft - I like!


:thup:
 
it's been go through with all the ruling bodies for over 100 years - the issue remains that what constitutes 'a divot', and if you take the above approach you might just as well play preferred lies on the fairways at all times because every imperfection will basically be a repaired divot from some time for some people.

don't even start on the impact it would have on slow play either!

I disagree - it would be fairly easy to define what is a divot and what exactly you can get relief from exactly with a little thought and ingenuity. Similarly as you can get a ruling from rabbit scrappings and the like and these tend to be in the rough! Its got to be one of the most ridiculous rules or lack of out there. A guy hits a great drive on the 18th after a splendid round and lands right smack in some man made hole in the fairway....:( thats not on and it needs changing. Saying simply "oh well thats golf" isnt really an answer or a solution. If golf is to evolve further over the years and become more appealing to a new generation then these sort of rubbish rules need to be updated imo.
 
I disagree - it would be fairly easy to define what is a divot and what exactly you can get relief from exactly with a little thought and ingenuity. Similarly as you can get a ruling from rabbit scrappings and the like and these tend to be in the rough! Its got to be one of the most ridiculous rules or lack of out there. A guy hits a great drive on the 18th after a splendid round and lands right smack in some man made hole in the fairway....:( thats not on and it needs changing. Saying simply "oh well thats golf" isnt really an answer or a solution. If golf is to evolve further over the years and become more appealing to a new generation then these sort of rubbish rules need to be updated imo.

You go for it Mr! ;)
 
All players to carry a 1kg bag of sand/seed mix to fill their own divot holes in with (refilled at halfway point) :D

:thup:

(although some courses are already doing this on a hole by hole basis, and it works really well - 2 peg boards and a load of bags, leave the tee with a full bag and hang it up when you get to the green. boards moved every few hours and the course gets fully refreshed in a week. restart cycle)

you will of course get people on here suggesting this isn't a valid solution because they now have to play of a patch of sandy soil and seed instead of grass.........:)
 
:thup:

(although some courses are already doing this on a hole by hole basis, and it works really well - 2 peg boards and a load of bags, leave the tee with a full bag and hang it up when you get to the green. boards moved every few hours and the course gets fully refreshed in a week. restart cycle)

you will of course get people on here suggesting this isn't a valid solution because they now have to play of a patch of sandy soil and seed instead of grass.........:)

Yeah out here it would be the exception not to get a plastic dispenser of sand/seed mix (admittedly we've carts to get round in so its carried on there) but no reason why its not preferable to play off an inch of sand rather than out of a 1 inch divot... and the birds can do their worst with the actual divot
 
I agree with the OP, surely hitting out of a divot is only going to make the damage even worse

Maybe, but it will be damage in the same place. If you got relief from the divot, you will create another divot and make twice the damage. That's a reason why relief from a seeded divot was withdrawn.
 
Any rule that needs some 'TV referee' to call in 4 hours after the alleged infringement has happened and change the outcome of a tournament. If a rule is so obscure or open to interpretation that the pros playing and the referee with the match did not pick it up at the time, it should not be there.
 
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