The Spirit of the rules

[CrapHacker]

There have been threads in the past accusing people of cheating because they got the rules wrong.

There are now threads accusing people of cheating because they got the rules spot on.

The difference is 'the spirit of the rules'

I've always thought that the spirit of the game is to hit the ball, find the ball, and hit it as it lies. The rules are there to take any and every disagreement out of the game.

In any round, in any situation there is a right and a wrong thing to do. If you still don't know what to do, you do both, and the commitee will decide later.

Eventually there is an answer.

This is what the rules say - live with it.

So which is it?

Should the game be played to the letter of the rules?

Or should it be played to the spirit of the rules, even though the rules say something different?

 

[Robobum]

The two are only seperable in some form of "friendly" game.

Anytime that there are other competitors involved it can only be to the "letter of the rules". You are, after all, trusting that the other competitors aren't ignoring the rules on their way round.

 

[Imurg]

Play the ball as it lies
If you can't do that you must do what's fair
To know what's fair you must know the rules

What is the Spirit of the Rules?

If you play by the rules then you must be playing by the Spirit. I don't see a difference.

 

[madandra]

When the rule was made to ban square grooves, it was made with the spirit of the game in mind. The R&A did not invisage lawyers and scientists finding a loophole in what was a rule introduced by gentlemen and not the highest paid soliitors on the planet.

I think we are in dangerous waters because if they can tout the integrity of our game solely for money then we are on the same slippery slope football has found itself on in regards to lack of integrity.

Whats next? A player not calling a penalty on himself because nobody saw him touch or move the ball?

 

[Atticus_Finch]

You can get yourself into a lot of trouble playing by the spirit. Better off playing by the letter, then you can't go wrong and no fingers can be pointed.

 

[bobmac]

A good question
The spirit of the game or spirit of the rules?
There may be instances where a player doesnt break any rules but is not playing within the spirit of the game.
For example
Player A sees player B has 15 clubs in his bag on the first tee. He doesn't mention it until the 5th hole.
Has he broken any rules?
Or he waits until player B finishes his round and hands in a signed scorecard
Has player A broken any rules?

 

[muttleee]

I would say there's a difference between the spirit of the rules and the spirit of the game. Player A hasn't broken any rules but I would say he hasn't necessarily acted in the spirit of the game.

What about the player who uses his broomhandle putter to measure free relief from a staked tree and then decides to hit his next shot with a wedge? Perfectly acceptable (afaik) under the rules...but is it in the spirit of them?

 

[edgey]

Hi

Simple for me. The Rules of the game embody the spirit of the game. Therefore by playing by the rules you play by the spirit of the game and you cannot be playing outside the spirit of the game by playing within the rules.

Always remember, The Rules are there to help, not hinder.

Regards

 

[bobmac]

you cannot be playing outside the spirit of the game by playing within the rules.

Sorry, cant agree.
When Tiger had half the gallery move a huge boulder, was that in the spirit of the game?
Or
If someone sees that someone has broken a rule but doesn't inform him until he hits his tee shot on the next hole, (DQ) is that playing within the spirit of the game?

 

[brendy]

Im slightly different in my thinking.
The rules of golf are the instructions to playing golf legally for both the advantage and disadvantage.

The spirit of golf is only in effect in matchplay, there and only there, someone has the rite of God to give a putt or add leniency where otherwise the rules of golf would have you over a barrel with no arguments.

 

[Twire]

What about the player who uses his broomhandle putter to measure free relief from a staked tree and then decides to hit his next shot with a wedge? Perfectly acceptable (afaik) under the rules...but is it in the spirit of them?

I thought for FREE relief you had to use the club your intending to hit the shot with...but with penalty (2 club lengths) relief you can use your longest club.

 

[bobmac]

I thought for FREE relief you had to use the club your intending to hit the shot with...but with penalty (2 club lengths) relief you can use your longest club.

Sorry, nope.

You use the club you are going to hit the shot with to work out when you are clear of the staked tree or whatever it is. Then you mark that spot. THEN you measure 1 clublength with your longest club (2 if its a penalty drop) then drop.

 

[Twire]

I thought for FREE relief you had to use the club your intending to hit the shot with...but with penalty (2 club lengths) relief you can use your longest club.

Sorry, nope.

You use the club you are going to hit the shot with to work out when you are clear of the staked tree or whatever it is. Then you mark that spot. THEN you measure 1 clublength with your longest club (2 if its a penalty drop) then drop.

Blimey, I've been cheating myself out of a few extra inches.

 

[Robobum]

Blimey, I've been cheating myself out of a few extra inches.

It has been very cold lately

 

[edgey]

you cannot be playing outside the spirit of the game by playing within the rules.

Sorry, cant agree.
When Tiger had half the gallery move a huge boulder, was that in the spirit of the game?
Or
If someone sees that someone has broken a rule but doesn't inform him until he hits his tee shot on the next hole, (DQ) is that playing within the spirit of the game?

Yes Tiger was playing within the spirit of the game when the loose impediment was moved as the rules allowed it (at that time).

The next question is slightly misleading as the rules of golf make no requirement for you to inform your playing partner, instead placing the onus on you to correct your own error. This therefore falls under gentlemanly behaviour/goodwill as opposed to the spirit of golf.

Sorry if that isnt the answer you were looking for but i think we will have to agree to differ on what constitutes the spirit of golf

Regards

 

[doc17]

A good question
The spirit of the game or spirit of the rules?
There may be instances where a player doesnt break any rules but is not playing within the spirit of the game.
For example
Player A sees player B has 15 clubs in his bag on the first tee. He doesn't mention it until the 5th hole.
Has he broken any rules?
Or he waits until player B finishes his round and hands in a signed scorecard
Has player A broken any rules?

I had a similar situation Bob a couple of years ago in a winter league knockout. 1 of the 2 opponents i noticed after 3/4 the way round had 15 clubs in his bag. The match was close and i knew if i'd mentioned it they would be disqualified, but in the spirit of the match which was still really friendly i didn't say anything at the time. However if we had lost, i would have brought it up. I was determined to win by play and not default and fortunately we sunk a birdie on the last to win 1 up. I then approached the player and said i was glad we won fair and square as i believed he had 15 clubs. He protested his innocence but when he checked he realised that he had a 3 iron which he never uses and it was put in when his wife was clearing his garage and unbeknown to him left there. He was so thankful i didn't mention it on the course but also i could tell he was embarassed that he made a genuine mistake. His partner just looked like he had suffered a double defeat!!

 

[JustOne]

The match was close and i knew if i'd mentioned it they would be disqualified, but in the spirit of the match which was still really friendly i didn't say anything at the time. However if we had lost, i would have brought it up. I was determined to win by play and not default and fortunately we sunk a birdie on the last to win 1 up.

LMAO! It's a lot easier to win by play if you KNOW you're already going to win!

 

[JustOne]

The two are only seperable in some form of "friendly" game.

Anytime that there are other competitors involved it can only be to the "letter of the rules". You are, after all, trusting that the other competitors aren't ignoring the rules on their way round.

Couldn't agree more. I'd put it exactly like that.

As long as you are within the letter of the rules you don't need to worry about whether or not the other groups are playing within the spirit of the game or pulling funny faces at each other during tee shots

Rules comes waaaaay before spirit.

Some examples...

you don't need to watch your opponent tee off, you could turn your back and when he says "did you see that?" you can honestly reply "Nope, you know your swing puts me off"

You don't have to go help your mate find his ball.

When your mate asks you to tend the flag you say "Who...me?" whilst looking around inquisitively

There's loads.

Rules is the rules.. the rest is down to you.

Phil is within the rules, he's just highlighting the fact that the PGA has a problem.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I think there is definitely a distinction between playing to the rules which in my mind is non-negotiable (i.e you should do so even in roll ups etc) and playing to the spirit. If you do the first part, you will go a long way to achieving the second especially within the realms we play. However I do think as you go up the ladder and the stakes get higher, there is a chance that the spirit comes way after achieving the end result as in the case with Mickleson, Woods and his boulder etc.

At the end of the day the question of playing within the spirit comes down to individuals. As long as the rules are adhered to its down the golfing soul of each player how much they want to preserve the spirit of the game.

 

[doc17]

The match was close and i knew if i'd mentioned it they would be disqualified, but in the spirit of the match which was still really friendly i didn't say anything at the time. However if we had lost, i would have brought it up. I was determined to win by play and not default and fortunately we sunk a birdie on the last to win 1 up.

LMAO! It's a lot easier to win by play if you KNOW you're already going to win!

The thing is it affected my game as i was under more pressure to win as i didn't want to use the how many clubs have you got card!! LOL