Worst Rule? If you could change one rule of Golf, what would it be?

[imanhacker]

Personally, having to hit out of a divot from the middle of a fairway is the 'worst rule in golf'. Rule 13 Ball Played as It Lies. Rule 13-1. The ball must be played as it lies, except as otherwise provided in the Rules.

Although there are others - including Lee Westwood's recent remarks on repairing spike marks.

 

[rgs]

I agree about the above Rule playing a ball from a divot-it should be a free drop.

Second silly rule-bunkers in play but waterlogged-penalty drop outside the bunker if you cannot find a spot inside the bunker no nearer the hole.

 

[MikeH]

Re: Worst Rule? If you could change one rule of Golf, what would it be

roads being integral parts of the course if they cross a hole or run directly adjacent to one - gone are the days of your clubs being able to withstand striking something hard without causing serious damage

 

[Golfer2112]

Re: Worst Rule? If you could change one rule of Golf, what would it be

Let us look at this from the point of view of the R and A: they make and revise the rules every X years (X=4?) and their objective is to make the rules of the game fair and as simple to understand as possible. At no point are they trying to confuse us or introduce rules designed to annoy.

Now, let's switch to the posters above: most people would agree that having to play from a divot is annoying and somewhat unfair. Why is there no rule for relief here? Is it because it is too difficult to define what a divot is ? You could argue that it would be difficult to define a what a divot is. A divot to you might be a mere indentation to another thus leading to on-course disagreement over the rules....

Objection #2 - roads being treated as an integral part of the course: this is delegated to the clubs via local rules. Again, a general definition of a "road or path" may prove tricky. In this case I actually disagree with my argument and suggest that a road or path is defined as anything not made of grass. Simple, huh ?

The one area where I think the rules are very weak at present is the GPS situation whereby there is no overall guidance as to whether a player can use GPS technology on course: the rules currently devolve this to club level which is a total cop-out. Surely in '08 when the rules are revised the R&A will standardise their policy in this regard.

The above may be total bollocks: please read and digest it with an open mind and one hand on the ejector seat button.

E&OE. Author dismounts soapbox.

 

[julsk10]

If I was able to change one rule it would be to allow an embedded/plugged ball to be a free drop through the green not just on the fairway. If the players on the European Tour are allowed to, why can't we? There is nothing as annoying as hitting a great drive about two yards of the fairway only for it to be plugged, particularly likely with the super summer we are enjoying!!!

 

[Marko77]

If I was able to change one rule it would be to allow an embedded/plugged ball to be a free drop through the green not just on the fairway. If the players on the European Tour are allowed to, why can't we? There is nothing as annoying as hitting a great drive about two yards of the fairway only for it to be plugged, particularly likely with the super summer we are enjoying!!!

I believe from next season this is indeed to be the case - you (and many others) will be glad to hear!

The rule I'd change would be to allow repair of spike marks on the green. Nothing worse than negotiating them whilst putting...

 

[USER1999]

I would change the ruling on 'lost' balls, as going all the way back to the tee in a medal is ridiculous. Yes, you should play a provisional, but when the rough is lush, you can loose a ball 6 inches off the fairway, so you had expected to find it. You can't play a provisional off every tee, it would take too long.

There should be a penalty of 2 shots, and a drop as near where you and your partners think it was lost. Then you would be playing your 4th shot from a similar distance to the green as your provisional would have been.

This would speed up play, as you wouldn't have to look for the provisional as well. It would not really effect handicaps, since anything over a double is counted as a double anyway, and for most of us, a double is the least we expect once a provisional is in play.

The rule as it stands is fine for professionals, but for club purposes it is stupid as the main thing is to get round in a sensible time.

 

[Dave3498]

I would only allow a free drop from burrowing animal damage on the fairway or green, not in the rough.

 

[Golfer2112]

Good point murph, anything that would speed up the game would be most welcome.

 

[MacMachattie]

I hate the penalty shot for going OOB. Standing on the tee you strike the ball brilliantly but it kicks severely right and trickles over the OB line 275 yards away. Now you're playing 3 from the same place. If you'd made a swing and completely missed the ball you'd only be playing 2.

 

[muttleee]

Re: Worst Rule? If you could change one rule of Golf, what would it be

roads being integral parts of the course if they cross a hole or run directly adjacent to one - gone are the days of your clubs being able to withstand striking something hard without causing serious damage

I remember once asking for relief from a path that was laid in stones on my home course and my playing partners (not people I usually played with) said no because stones were natural and therefore this didn't qualify an "artificial surface". I disagreed because the stones had been specifically put there to make a path and were therefore artificial. We asked other players on the next hole who agreed that that I wasn't entitled to a free drop. Back in the clubhouse I still wasn't happy and we asked a couple of guys on Committee who happened to be there at the time and they too said there was no relief. I pointed out that those stones had been deliberately laid there as a path but they said that the phrase "artificial surface" referred to tarmac such as the carpark etc. The fact that the car park is out of bounds didn't appear to concern them!

I still think I'm right. I'm not bitter though...honest!

 

[Teetotal]

Re: Worst Rule? If you could change one rule of Golf, what would it be

muttleee that's disgraceful of your mean playing partners. I once got into a row when my playing partner hit my ball which was about 2 inches from the pin and knocked it off the green and insisted that I play my ball from there.

I would change the rule in a bunker where if you don't actually touch the ball when you swing (ie miss totally) then you don't drop a shot which would save me loads of shots.

 

[madandra]

Re: Worst Rule? If you could change one rule of Golf, what would it be

I would limit the number of Mulligans to 5 per medal.

 

[furyk_or_unique]

Re: Worst Rule? If you could change one rule of Golf, what would it be

Interesting stuff here. Ref divots, this would clearly be impossible to control so best option is learn how to play the ball back in the stance and strike down on it hard, whilst simultaneously remembering all those times you've carted it into the clag only to find your ball perched perfectly on a tee-like tuft - if you're going to accept the good breaks then take the bad ones on the chin too!

Ref roads, in this day and age they should definitely be a free drop as no-one really wants to knacker up their expensive clubs for the sake of saving a shot. At the very least, the rule should be the same everywhere and not left to a Local Rule as that means we're not all effectively playing to the same rules.

The two I would change are 1) that you shouldn't be able to take a drop measuring the distance with a broomhandle or belly putter as that clearly gives you an unwarranted advantage over anyone not carrying one and 2) you should get a free drop from an unplayably flooded bunker rather than a penalty one as you could still have got it on the green were the bunker not flooded thus penalising you beyond that which might have been.

There - I've had my two pennies worth! I'll stop now

 

[madandra]

Re: Worst Rule? If you could change one rule of Golf, what would it be

Ref Furyk and the ball on road shot;

I carry an old Mac Burrows wedge incase I have to chip from a road, that is the only reason I lug the thing round for 6300 yards so maybe we should increase the number of clubs to 15 LOL.

 

[silliwilli]

Re: Worst Rule? If you could change one rule of Golf, what would it be

I must agree with the divot ruling. Surely you should not be penalised for someone elses poor repair, or non repairing of divots! Plugged balls is another area of concern for those of us who hit the ball very high.

 

[tpred]

Re: Worst Rule? If you could change one rule of Golf, what would it be

why is it that when your ball enters a bunker and its full of water you get penalised by a stroke.But if you can drop it inside you get a free drop.Obviously its a better lie outside but its also not your fault the bunker is full of water.

 

[clubchamp07]

Re: Worst Rule? If you could change one rule of Golf, what would it be

Could someone put some light on this for me, This happened a few weeks ago at my own course to my 4 ball. Our 10th hole is a par 5 with out of bounds running down the right hand side of it. There is a house on the other side of the frnce with large gardens. With a bad slice from the tee we can reach out of bounds. OK. Myself and my playing mate both hit out of bounds. Our other mate duffed his into the tree's on the left. While we where looking for his ball the lady who lives in the house came out abd threw our balls back in!!!OK. Can someone tell me what the rule is here. We only seen her thow 1 ball in not the both of them. Let me put it this way! if we hadn't seen her throwing the ball back in what is the rule? Do we play them as we find them. I know because we seen her throw 1 back in there was a good chance she threw both back in. I look forward to hearing your replys.

 

[John_Findlay]

Re: Worst Rule? If you could change one rule of Golf, what would it be

I'm guessing this is covered by Rule 18-1 (Ball at rest moved by outside agency)

"If a ball at rest is moved by an outside agency, there is no penalty and the ball must be replaced. "

In other words, you're still out of bounds if it is thrown back into play.

This certainly seems to be the equitable solution.