Rules - What would you change?

[Mike Wagner]

I played the last two weekends here in Scottsdale with one of my favorite groups.  Two of my buddies are influential in the golf business.  We had great discussions about the state of the game, etc. and one topic stood out:


Everyone felt there were numerous rules that needed changing / eliminating. 


The first thing one of my friends suggested was pretty simple.  Quit waiting 2 years for new "decisions" and 4 rules for rule changes.  If something needs changing - CHANGE IT.




I've got 2 to start:


1.  Ball stopped by a rake in the bunker ... if a rake is improperly placed in the lip of a bunker and a ball is wedged , it must be replaced.  This is absurd when it would have rolled to the bottom.  I say CHANGE IT - let the player drop.


2.  The Double Hit.  Now let this one sink in a bit ... why is a double hit a penalty?  Have you ever seen it help?  Not only does the extra strike count, but a penalty is tacked on?? Absurd.  I actually think it should only one stroke total, but only for shots OFF the green.  The change:  If it's a continual stroke, the double, triple, whatever hit is all good.




In an effort to make the game more enjoyable, cite any rules you think need changing or that the game could do without.

[Rob Marshall]

OB should be treated the same as a ball in a lateral hazard. That would speed up the game if nothing else.

[Joe Hellrung]

Lift and place out of divots in the fairway. 


Allow solo rounds to be recorded for handicap purposes.

[Will MacEwen]

I thought the double hit is two - one for the stroke and a penalty for the hit. I recall reading that a triple hit would only count as two strokes - it is still only a one stroke penalty.

[Pete_Pittock]

Mike,
If you double (or more) hit the ball, the stroke counts and you add one penalty stroke, no matter how many contacts.

The USGA and R&A are currently rewriting the entire rule book. They will be making substantive changes. The revision date is unknown. Because the rules are all interconnected, changes have a ripple effect and could necessitate changes throughout. The two year and four year terms of the rules and decisions books ensures that there is a standardized text worldwide. 

They already make rules changes outside the 2yr/4yr cycle. A few years ago, when close-up TV shots revealed rules infringement unknowable to the player, they disemminated a  new decision.

[Tom Bacsanyi]

Allow a golfer to play a provisional ball (if one has been played) in the case of an unplayable lie.  For example, let's say a golfer hits a ball into some thick native grasses or forest or something.  He then hits a provisional as a lost ball is very possible.  Then he happens to find the ball in the crap, but the ball is unplayable with no drop options two club lengths to the side or inline behind.  Under the current rules he is not allowed to play the provisional, he must go all the way back to the tee to play again.  I feel the golfer should be allowed to play the provisional having been sufficiently punished (he is now hitting his 4th shot), and to help pace of play.  Furthermore, it helps with the question of "MUST a golfer look for a ball that could be in a bad position?"  This is a definite gray area.  If my first shot is in the crap with a provisional out in the fairway, am I required to look for my first?  When it is clear that I probably don't want to find my ball?  With this rules change there is no disincentive to look for the ball.

[Joe Bausch]

I'd like to make max number of clubs in the bag to be 10.

[Thomas Dai]

Equipment related - limit the height of the tee peg, restrict the number of clubs that can be carried to 9, restrict clubs to having no more than 50 degrees of loft, and......roll back the bloody ball (a lot).


Game related - permit dropping out of bunker with a 1 shot (maybe 2) penalty, treat both OB and appropriate areas of gunch as drop to the side under penalty of 1 shot (maybe 2).


Atb

[Charles Lund]

Rule 14-4  Striking the ball more than once 

If  a player’s club strikes the ball more than once in the course of a stroke, the player must count the stroke and add a penalty stroke, making two strokes in all.

Hate to say this but I am overly familiar with this rule.

I really hate it when rakes stop a ball on the downslope when they are placed near the front edges of bunkers.  But I don't think changes in rules of golf can offer much help.  Ditto for deep footprints left from careless or no raking.

Charles Lund

[Pete_Pittock]

T. Dai,
The tee is already limited to 4" maximum.

[Thomas Dai]

T. Dai,
The tee is already limited to 4" maximum.

I know, and that's far to long.

Atb

[RJ_Daley]

All of the above, plus all the rest of the figgety little stuff like ocillating ball, soling club, touching a twig or blade of high grass in hazards on backswin,  Too many things that don't effectively alter the reality of a particular stroke result that are made by a tiny little harmless movement or touch. 

[Ian Mackenzie]

Lift and place out of divots in the fairway. 

What..??...!!


ONLY, and I mean ONLY, if the divot has been filled by sand and could then be considered "ground under repair".

[Ian Mackenzie]

All of the above, plus all the rest of the figgety little stuff like ocillating ball, soling club, touching a twig or blade of high grass in hazards on backswin,  Too many things that don't effectively alter the reality of a particular stroke result that are made by a tiny little harmless movement or touch.

+1 here!

[Jim Hoak]

1)  No drops.  Place everything.
2)  Once a ball is marked on the green, once it is replaced, if moves for any reason other than from a stroke with the intent to hit it, replace it with no penalty.

[Andrew Buck]

Lift and place out of divots in the fairway. 

What..??...!!


ONLY, and I mean ONLY, if the divot has been filled by sand and could then be considered "ground under repair".

I tend to think "play it where it lies" is the among the most simple and basic rules of golf that should never be amended. 

[Joe Hellrung]

Lift and place out of divots in the fairway. 

What..??...!!


ONLY, and I mean ONLY, if the divot has been filled by sand and could then be considered "ground under repair".

I tend to think "play it where it lies" is the among the most simple and basic rules of golf that should never be amended.

There is certainly room for disagreement here.  One of the things I like about golf is the way nature and chance can impact the scoring - for better and worse - so I get what you are saying. 


That said, if a dog leaves a turd in the middle of the landing zone, the golfer shouldn't be expected to hit out of it.  The same goes for the ball that lands in the hole left by the golfer that failed to fill his/her divot.  Good shots shouldn't be punished. 

[Ian Mackenzie]

Lift and place out of divots in the fairway. 

What..??...!!


ONLY, and I mean ONLY, if the divot has been filled by sand and could then be considered "ground under repair".

I tend to think "play it where it lies" is the among the most simple and basic rules of golf that should never be amended.

There is certainly room for disagreement here.  One of the things I like about golf is the way nature and chance can impact the scoring - for better and worse - so I get what you are saying. 


That said, if a dog leaves a turd in the middle of the landing zone, the golfer shouldn't be expected to hit out of it.  The same goes for the ball that lands in the hole left by the golfer that failed to fill his/her divot.  Good shots shouldn't be punished.

I hear you, but there is a HUGE difference between "external impediments" and good 'ole "rub of the green".
Plus, there is no rule that says "Good shots shouldn't be punished" just as there exists the old shot called "the sister in law"....

....which is called when you strike a totally crap shot and, for example, it bounces onto the green in good position...hence a "sister in law"....which means:

......You're on it, but you know you shouldn't be....

[JLahrman]

That said, if a dog leaves a turd in the middle of the landing zone, the golfer shouldn't be expected to hit out of it.  The same goes for the ball that lands in the hole left by the golfer that failed to fill his/her divot.  Good shots shouldn't be punished.

How do you define 'divot'? It would get very subjective.

Play it as it lies.

[Sam Andrews]

Penalty for having to drop out of a flooded bunker and the one for having trodden on your ball while looking for it in the rough.
Sam

[Tom Bacsanyi]

That said, if a dog leaves a turd in the middle of the landing zone, the golfer shouldn't be expected to hit out of it.  The same goes for the ball that lands in the hole left by the golfer that failed to fill his/her divot.  Good shots shouldn't be punished.

How do you define 'divot'? It would get very subjective.

Play it as it lies.

I agree, I could see this being exhausting in tournament play, especially on tour.  What if it's a two week old divot? Replaced divot?  On the edge of a divot? On a fairway ballmark in soft conditions?  Etc. etc. etc.  The last thing we need is rules officials constantly getting called out to the fairway to make rulings on this stuff.  It sucks, but play it as it lies.

[Sean_A]

8 clubs max


loft degree between 15 and 50 except for the putter



All hazards and OOB treated the same.  One stroke penalty for relief, point of entry as the playing line, no closer to the hole drop or go back on your entry line as far back as you like


If playing another ball for a possible lost ball, it is assumed that it is a provo. 


A ball can be declared lost after hitting a provo


No rakes in bunkers, can smooth out sand with foot and/or club


speed of play rule...not sure how, but something must be done


Ciao

[David_Tepper]

Allow anchored putting! (and I haven't done it.......yet )

[BHoover]

Tap down spike marks

No need to drop twice, then place a ball

Play OB as a lateral water hazard

Divots in fairways treated as ground under repair

[Dave Doxey]

 The fewer rules, the better.  This results in fewer disputes on how to interpret them.
 
Play the ball where you find it - everywhere.  Don't touch your ball anywhere, including on the green, unless your opponent asks you to mark it. You're not "entitled" to anything with regards to a lie or playing conditions.  A bad break is exactly that. (Poker players love to tell "bad beat" stories - golfers should have that same opportunity)
 
Keep current hazard, ground under repair, and unplayable lie rules as they are.  Play OB as a hazard.
 
If the ball moves without you touching it or trying to hit it, replace it where it was - no penalty.
 
No consulting yardage books, notes, or range finders. If a course has yardage markers, use them.
 
The more rules added for special circumstances, the worse things get.  Keep rules simple.
 
We seem to have strayed s long way from the origins of the game as players feel more and more "entitled".
 
It's just a game. Learn to hit out of the dog crap – or take an unplayable.