Yet, we don't find it all that curious or odd that the vast majority of participants here bend, break, or ignore the rules of the game they set out to play.
Rules which are relatively simple and are typically explicitly stated under conduct guidelines for the course, which to me at least implies a de facto agreement for paying the green fee and using the course in the first place.
Many of spectator sports have a variants that are participation sports. Few play baseball, for example. But variants like stickball, wiffleball, softball, etc. all exist and are well known. Nobody confuses these with baseball, however. They are baseball-like, however. Certain variants are also prohibited from play on certain fields intended solely for Baseball.
Yet, when I suggest that those who adapt the rules are playing a Golf-like game....
*sigh*
Kyle,
First, I don't think anyone objects to your distinction that playing the game without following the rules is playing a "golf-like" game, just like softball is a "baseball-like" game. I object to your implication, or outright assertion that most golf course operators should view violations of any rule, as a "de facto" violation of the contract to play the course and escort them off the property, or force modification of behavior.
From a quick look at your blog, it appears you're lucky enough to be involved with one of the few public courses in the country that will attract a retail golfer that is likely to consistently understand and follow the rules. Even with that said, I suspect the powers that be at Streamsong would prefer a group that has many lost balls would not go back to the tee multiple times in a round, or decide they should deny play to someone who didn't call a penalty on themselves for a ball that moved during address.
I also think it's wrong to assert that the vast majority of participants here bend, break, or ignore rules, unless you are taking an overly legalistic view, which I suspect you do. I suspect most of the participants on this board, like me, know and follow the rules in all cases where there is some form of competition or match.
That said, I suspect most participants, like me bend, break or ignore certain rules, for the purpose of saving time or practice, in some occasions on the golf course. For example, this morning I walked 18 holes at dawn prior to work, which I do as often as I can in the summer. This morning, I failed to follow the rules three times. On the second hole, while there was still a very thick fog, I couldn't find my drive in the area I suspected I hit it just off the right side of the fairway. If it was "friendly" match play, I would forfeit the hole and be within the rules as opposed to walk back to re-tee, but since it wasn't, in this case I simply dropped a ball and took my maximum allowable score for the hole, as I need to be off the course by 7:30 to get to the office by 8:00. On the 10th hole, my ball was barely on the right side of the green, about 30 feet from the cup ... for times sake, I just parked my bag next to my ball and putted, with the pin in, the ball went in, however I didn't assess myself a penalty, because I feel like that would be more dishonest for handicap purposes than taking the made put. On the 15th hole, I chipped to about 6 inches and picked up the ball (and no one was there to conceed it). These are all technically rules of golf, and maybe my club should revoke my membership as a result, but I think that would be silly.
I enjoyed my morning, got exercise, spent time in nature and practiced the game ... if you find harm in that, so be it.