[glgene]

Watching the Masters on Saturday, it brings into (smiling) question, what are the Rules of Procedure for golf play at TV:

1) Do you play "winter rules" in July on fluffing up your ball lies?

2) Are foot wedges ever allowed when you're stuck behind a tree?

3) If you play in a foursome with Jimbo, are you allowed to plug your electric cart into his solar-powered 4-wheeler in order to electrify your cart so you won't run "out of juice" while traveling back from the Lopez course to south of 466A?

Inquiring minds want to know <g>.

Gene

[Golfingnut]

Here you play the rules of: WHAT EVER YOU WANT, WERE RETIRED.

[rubicon]

To answeryour question it depends on who you are playing with. I prefer to play by the USGA rules but find that some players have no idea what the rules are, let alone follow them.

[jebartle]

I have a tendency to have a loose interpretation of the rules....Can not post scores...Just do what gives you a "warm fuzzy (or fluffy)"

[graciegirl]

I don't hole out most holes. I skip holes if it is hot. I haven't written down a score for several years.I frequently use a hand wedge out of sand, but always rake. I quit early and go to lunch if I am not playing well.....but I always take stroke and distance if I am out of bounds.


AND I do all this while keeping the pace of play and thank heavens I play with other like minded souls.

I know HOW to do it IF I HAVE TO...


But all of this is on executive courses. Sweetie plays on championship courses with several different groups and they all have different levels of adhering to USGA rules.

[l2ridehd]

I play with a couple different groups. One is very by the book and follow the USGA rules. However the other, ....., well. Lets see. A mulligan off the first and tenth tee. A traveling mulligan on each nine that can be used anywhere. Roll the ball anywhere to get a good lie. Up to a club length. Gimmie putts of putter length. Not to the grip, but putter length. Even a belly putter length. And liberal use of the foot wedge. Never need to worry about a ball on the very edge of a trap because you just move it. Or in a bush, just move it.

And the reality is, both are fun.

[OnTrack]

I play by the rules, but have played with many who think they are just "suggestions."

Typically, they are the same ones who only turn in their low scores so they can maintain a "vanity handicap."

If I'm in a tournament that's playing by the rules, or a money match (typically a small dollar Nassau)...... I prefer playing against those types.

[jimbo2012]

Originally Posted by glgene

3) If you play in a foursome with Jimbo, are you allowed to plug your electric cart into his solar-powered 4-wheeler in order to electrify your cart so you won't run "out of juice" while traveling back from the Lopez course to south of 466A?

Well rule #4 bring a long extension cord, or I can tow ya!!!!

[ajbrown]

1. I guess for me I do not know any other way to play than by the rules. Mostly because I maintain a handicap and need that to be accurate. It does not bother me at all how others play as long as we do not have a beverage on the line . Even on the executives, I play the ball as it lies, mostly for practice. The only exception there is when I am in an idiot print in a bunker, I give myself a drop.
   
2. Only if I am already at double bogey, the max I can take on a hole. Sadly, this happens too often
   
3. I do not believe this cart really exists. Much like a unicorn

[blueash]

Originally Posted by ajbrown

1. I guess for me I do not know any other way to play than by the rules. Mostly because I maintain a handicap and need that to be accurate.
2. Only if I am already at double bogey, the max I can take on a hole. Sadly, this happens too often
   

3-2. Failure to Hole Out
If a competitor fails to hole out at any hole and does not correct his mistake before he makes a stroke on the next teeing ground or, in the case of the last hole of the round, before he leaves the putting green, he is disqualified.

I would think your "accurate" handicap might be more than a bit inaccurate if it happens that you are too often worse than a double bogie. I only mention this because I sense a bit of holier than thou in your golf purity which is not consistent with your own rule modification to help your handicap. I like to score my round based on the fewest golf balls lost per outing. I trust you are not one of those golfers who feels the need to just occasionally mention to me that of course what I'm doing is not by the rules, but it's ok as we're not at the Masters.
My rules
1. Keep the game moving along.
2. Have fun. This means don't take my score seriously and quit at double-par
3. Leave the golf course cleaner and putting green smoother than I found it.

[ajbrown]

Originally Posted by blueash

3-2. Failure to Hole Out
If a competitor fails to hole out at any hole and does not correct his mistake before he makes a stroke on the next teeing ground or, in the case of the last hole of the round, before he leaves the putting green, he is disqualified.

I would think your "accurate" handicap might be more than a bit inaccurate if it happens that you are too often worse than a double bogie. I only mention this because I sense a bit of holier than thou in your golf purity which is not consistent with your own rule modification to help your handicap. I like to score my round based on the fewest golf balls lost per outing. I trust you are not one of those golfers who feels the need to just occasionally mention to me that of course what I'm doing is not by the rules, but it's ok as we're not at the Masters.
My rules
1. Keep the game moving along.
2. Have fun. This means don't take my score seriously and quit at double-par
3. Leave the golf course cleaner and putting green smoother than I found it.

I only have two comments. I did not intend to sound holier than anyone. sorry if I came across that way. Unless you and I are competing in a tournament (I must protect the field) or for a $1 Nassau (I must protect my dollar) I would never mention to you how you should play. It is your game and handicap.

The second comment is with regard to double bogey. Read here if interested in Equitable Stroke Control.

USGA: Handicap Publications

PS. I sure hope jimbo knows I was joking.

[BogeyBoy]

Originally Posted by ajbrown

I only have two comments. I did not intend to sound holier than anyone. sorry if I came across that way. Unless you and I are competing in a tournament (I must protect the field) or for a $1 Nassau (I must protect my dollar) I would never mention to you how you should play. It is your game and handicap.

The second comment is with regard to double bogey. Read here if interested in Equitable Stroke Control.

USGA: Handicap Publications

PS. I sure hope jimbo knows I was joking.

I guess your original post about too many double bogeys may have confused some. For some if you get one double bogey that's too many. Some accept the fact that they may get three or four double bogeys a round, in which case they would not be a 9 or less handicap player - the magic number that allows you to adjust to a double bogey on any hole. I think technically you finish the hole, record your score, then adjust it back to the double bogey after your round is complete and before you post your score.

[BarryRX]

Here's the one rule that everyone ignores. When you hit a ball out of bounds, the penalty is stroke AND distance. In other words, one should go back to the spot where you originally hit the ball and take a stroke penalty. On most golf courses, that would result in very slow play if you had to go back to the tee to rehit, and the folks waiting to tee off wouldn't be very happy either. So almost everyone just takes the stroke penalty, not the distance penalty. I actually believe the usga should change this rule.

[BogeyBoy]

Originally Posted by BarryRX

Here's the one rule that everyone ignores. When you hit a ball out of bounds, the penalty is stroke AND distance. In other words, one should go back to the spot where you originally hit the ball and take a stroke penalty. On most golf courses, that would result in very slow play if you had to go back to the tee to rehit, and the folks waiting to tee off wouldn't be very happy either. So almost everyone just takes the stroke penalty, not the distance penalty. I actually believe the usga should change this rule.

If you even think your ball is OB you should hit a provisional ball, that way you will not have to go back to the tee.

[Trayderjoe]

I think about my play and only "keep alert" when playing in an outing or in league play. I have a buddy who seems to "forget" a stroke or two, but when we play in a league/outing I gently "remind" him of the lost stroke. I don't fluff, or use hand or foot wedges as ultimately I am cheating myself. I am not the best golfer, so I like to go out, play by the rules and have fun. If my partner or someone else in the foursome is creative, as long as there is nothing on the line (and I do not play for money-I'd rather use it to live in the Villages), why worry about it? If they want to report a lower score or handicap-they are only hurting themselves if they have to live up to that handicap when it counts.......