What would you change?

Following on from my question about standing on the putting line, I thought I would open out the debate into a more general pet hates.

If you had a power to rewrite just one rule in the golf handbook, what would it be?

Is there one thing (most probably more than one but limit it to the worst!) that really gets your blood boiling and you cannot see the point of?

Lets hear your thoughts.

15holes instead of 18!

Id make the hole a lot bigger.

I'm with Hend! The number of rounds I've had ruined by the last 3 holes. I'd be a comfortable Cat 1 over 15 holes.....

Reduce the possibility of the players hand touching the ball.

Or Roll back the technology.

Tiler76 wrote:I'm with Hend! The number of rounds I've had ruined by the last 3 holes. I'd be a comfortable Cat 1 over 15 holes.....

I usually get going after about 3 holes and fall apart after 14. Can we get rid of all holes 1,2,3,15,16,17,18!

Not sure I'd change a thing in the amateur game, though I might make a few tweaks in the pro sport.

For both I'd more rigorously enforce pace of play - not a rule, I know.

And for the pros I'd modify the out of bounds rules so that pros can't hit into spectator areas with impunity, grandstands, the area to the right of the RStG's 18th fairway at last year's Open, yet have extraordinarily punitive ob at other parts of the same course (e.g. where Dustin's second shot went ob at the back nine par-5 at the same Open).

Then I'd ban long putters and long-shafted, large-headed drivers, but not one and not the other.

But when you look at FIFA and the FA, I'd say we're quite fortunate with Golf, its rules and its management.

Remove dress codes.

Maximum of 5 clubs in the bag, that'd be fun

Execute Doak and outlaw Redneck names like Bubba, Keegan, Tiger etc and introduce capital punishment for spitting and club throwing.
Plough the old course and build a proper course.

I'd make putts from on the green count as half shots. Does my brain in using two shots to get 400+ yards and then another three for the final 10'.

I reckon the "Worksop Chop" would be in favour too.

Topless girl caddies at every course.

Diggers wrote:Topless girl caddies at every course.

Night golf at Pinhurst near Bangkok is not too far from that, so i've heard

The thing I'd change at my club is single tee starts for comps,and make them 2 tee starts as that would speed play up and get everyone out quicker.

Other than that there are no real general play rules I have an issue with

Diggers wrote:Topless girl caddies at every course.

Wouldn't that depend on what shape and how old the caddies were? Would you really want to see Fanny Sunesson topless?

I would have free drops if you land in a divot.

lorus59 wrote:

Diggers wrote:Topless girl caddies at every course.

Wouldn't that depend on what shape and how old the caddies were? Would you really want to see Fanny Sunesson topless?

I would have free drops if you land in a divot.

It too me a while to realise that the free drops in a divot was a seperate subject to having Fanny as a topless caddie.

Make it either sudden death or an 18 hole playoff for all the majors, scrap the 3/4 hole stuff. (Would prefer 18 holes)

I remember the play off for the Open Championship was 36 holes in the 1950s and 1960s. It was considered too much, so reduced to 18 holes by 1970.

The logistical problems caused by having a playoff the following day were considered too great, so it was reduced again in the 1990s, to allow all the spectators to see the finish.

That's why it's now 4 holes, and it's not going to change I'm afraid.

I think the 4 hole format is the best one. 18holes is too long and let's be honest as we all work on Mondays were likely to miss a large percentage of the play. Sudden death seems a bit to much of a lotto at least with the 4 holes genuinely you should get the guy playing the best golf.

Re the Divot rule why are so many people so for changing this rule its something I hear often at my club and I just think its the same for everyone and just another part of the skill of the game and I'm all for it remaining as is!

The divot rule penalises a good shot into a fairway.

lorus59 wrote:The divot rule penalises a good shot into a fairway.

Still imo same for everyone and if played correctly isn't really that penal. So I still see no reason for change but again just my opinion

All golf courses to be 12 holes
Maximum time for a round two hours thirty minutes.
No fourballs until 2pm
Maximum number of clubs 10
Golf carts only for people who cannot walk.
Free golf at reasonable times for under 16's.
Equal rights for men and women.
No Pringle sweaters or jeans.

What constitutes a divot?

Easy enough if it your ball is lying in a six inch crater, but what if it's just a little indentation on the fairway?

That's the crux of that one. There would be a good few disagreements.

When my daughter was 15 she played the previous years British Champion in the last eight of the SW England Championships.
She was four down with four to play and won the next three with two birdies and a par.
On 18 she ripped one down the middle about 4 iron distance from the green. She had to take a wedge for her next shot as her ball was lying in a deep divot. Ended up with a bogey to lose.
Everyone including her opponent thought it was a totally unfair situation.

new handicaps to be given after more scrutiny than 3 bounce gamss with the lads.
mens max handicap limit dropped to 18
no practice swings allowed (well - each swing counts as a stroke)

Good shout on practice swings. Why do you need them. I stopped a couple of years ago and played better ever since.