Chris - isn't it simple enough to just trust that Bobby Jones was correct (there are two different types of golf - tournament and otherwise); and just leave it at that? That is, strict rules adherence for competitive play, do what you want outside of that. Of course this gets into handicap legitimacy issues... but I'd leave that to the honor of the player... even though JV is right, the handicap rules even allow for this, as he described a few posts back.
I'd say equipment is a separate issue though - I'm not sure I want bifurcation - emulating the pros is a huge part about what makes this game fun for a whole lot of people.
Thus I'd say leave the rules as they are... they're fine... just don't sweat how they are applied.
TH
I agree that we have de facto bifurcation of the rules--unless it's a tournament almost no one really and truly plays "by the book".
You mention that emulating the pros is a big part of the game but I just think the horse has long since left the barn regarding the "average" golfer coming anywhere close to emulating the pros. I would let average players use whatever equipment they wanted to but for tournament play I would go farther than just restricting the ball. I'd go back to steel shafts, wood woods and traditional v-grooves.
Not to belabor the point, but just what part of the game, any part, do average golfers emulate the pros in? Putting--no--average guy would 3 and 4 putt most any green set up with "tour speeds"; chipping--no way--most never see real rough or firm greens or undulations that the pros do; iron play--some terrific scratch golfers come close as the 4 ioron through 8 iron of the tour pro is actually doable for some--maybe 2%?; wedge play and recovery shots--not even close; driving accuracey and length--not even close.
I see the expense of trying to keep up with the latest technology as a huge impediment to the game and I also believe that the old clubs and balls would be cheaper to make and produce. If avid golfers wanted to emulate the pros, they could save money by buying the less expensive "traditional" equipment versus the latest titanium whatever.
As you know golf courses have responded to the game FUNDAMENTALLY changing by dramatucally increasing length, rough, green speeds, water hazards etc... all making the game more expensive and less fun and accessible.
Again, baseball seems to have done a decent job of preserving a game so that what we watch is similar to what our grandfathers watch. Why couldn't golf have done the same? Has it really been for "the good of the game" to get where we are today in the game? Stagnant growth, more expensive equipment, huge (for most) financial barriers to enjoying a great game.
I know I'm dreaming but I'd love to wake up and see "metal woods" used by the guy just out whacking some balls with a rental club at a driving range!