Theory Test - is it time?

[Monty_Brown]

This is a rather wittier version of my views, as clumsily expressed in my post above.

http://golfstinks.blogspot.com/2011/03/attention-public-golf-courses-make-room.html

 

[bladeplayer]

Does it really matter if people inadvertantly cheat?

Probably 95% of the time, the person breaking the rule gains no advantage what so ever.

Take free drops. Most people don't mark their ball, find the nearest point of relief, mark it, mark out 1 club length, drop between, let it roll up to two club lengths etc.
What they will do is pick it up, have a rough look, and say 'is here ok?' and drop it.
Have they gained much? Probably not. Is there any real difference between doing that and doing it properly?

Society/charity/corporate golf no it doesnt bother me .. club golf yes it does . it bugs the you know what out of me seeing people take wrong drops etc. mainly coz if they dont know or adhere to basic rules , what happens in the rest of the round ? two or more people playing in the one comp playing to different rules , inadvertantly or not cant be right ,, can it ? would the rules have been set down so rigourasly if it didnt matter. dont get me wrong some of the rules are wayyyy to out there for anybody to understand but basics .. ?

 

[sev112]

Take free drops. Most people don't mark their ball, find the nearest point of relief, mark it, mark out 1 club length, drop between, let it roll up to two club lengths etc.
What they will do is pick it up, have a rough look, and say 'is here ok?' and drop it.

I dont remember reading anything in the "Rules" that says anything of the sort that this is what you have to do to comply with teh rule - all that process is, is a way of demonstrating you have dropped in accordance with the rules. If the player and partner (and any other observers) deem that the "is it ok here" drop was in accordance with the rules, then it was.

 

[johnboywalton]

I am just starting out, and i must say rules/etiquette are a lot more complicated than i first thought, even what you write on here can be a bit of a challenge. I am planning on joining a club and hopefully progress with a handicap!! I agree that there should be something in place that helps newbies etc, to make the right start and go forward from there?