New Rules

by McLaren Wed 01 Mar 2017, 12:31 pm

First topic message reminder :

Full story on the proposed changes to the rules.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/39120332

The summary of the proposed changes which will be subject to a period of consultation are;

Remove any penalty for accidentally moving your ball.

Relax the protocols for taking free or penalty drops, with the ball dropped from only an inch above the ground, rather than shoulder height.

Use fixed distances (20 or 80 inches) rather than club lengths to measure areas where a ball should be dropped.

Reduce the time allowed to search for a lost ball from five to three minutes.

Allow putting on the green with the flagstick left in the hole.

Allow players to repair spike marks and animal damage on greens.

Automatically allow the use of distance measuring devices.

Ban caddies from lining up players as they prepare to hit.

Recommend no player takes more than 40 seconds to hit a shot.

Encourage players in strokeplay to implement "ready golf" rather than waiting until it is their turn to hit.

Empower committees to set a maximum score for a hole (such as double par or triple bogey) to allow a player to pick up and move to the next hole.

The claim is that the rules are to be simplified but it looks as if the main aim is to improve the pace of play.

What are your thoughts on the proposals above?

What else would you like to see changed in the rules of golf?

by super_realist Tue 07 Mar 2017, 2:30 pm

raycastleunited wrote:Cricket bringing in some revisions as well: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/39194258

No stopping for cucumber sandwiches?

by dynamark Tue 07 Mar 2017, 5:38 pm

Maybe the spike mark repair rule with the agreement of a playing partner would be a goer.
Super.
Reminds me we don't get a lot of wormcast these days.Thank goodness.Still feel they are thinking about numbers ,keeping course busy,quick golf,all a bit of a panic on a financial basis but times are a changing.Sad but true My course is busy as hell but mainly because three courses locally have closed owners looking for 1000 members on 18 holes

by super_realist Wed 08 Mar 2017, 8:01 am

Good point about wormcasts. I don't know whether they've been killed off with chemicals, occasionally get them in Autumn though, but I think you can just treat it like any other debris.

by **navyblueshorts** Wed 08 Mar 2017, 8:25 am

beninho wrote:I honestly dont get that people get so riled about something not being "policed". Dont we all just play golf for fun? I cant see whats wrong with moving it out of a divert, or even a lump of mud. If people are worried that others will take advantage, then so what, why does it bother you?

If someone is the sort of person that will move his ball to a better lie when not in a divot, then he is probably the sort of person who will kick it into a better lie in the rough or from behind a tree people likely to cheat no more than they would do anyway.

Because I like to play both stroke and matchplay competition golf. That's why.

by pedro Wed 08 Mar 2017, 10:33 am

In matchplay you're supposed to police your opponent anyway. So how could he take advantage?
Obviously you need a definition of a divot (size, depth), but otherwise it's not that different from how you go about in a tennis match.
And if it still won't work then you can limit it to stroke play.

by super_realist Wed 08 Mar 2017, 10:35 am

The point of a divot is if you have to ask if it's a divot or not, it probably isn't and the lie you have probably isn't worth moaning about.

We could do with a uniform rule as to where bunker rakes are placed, i.e. not left at the side so you get a crappy lie.

by pedro Wed 08 Mar 2017, 10:40 am

People will always moan. So in case of doubt you can call in a ref? It may slow down pace of play but IMO that's less important than allowing relief from a divot.

by **navyblueshorts** Wed 08 Mar 2017, 11:00 am

pedro wrote:In matchplay you're supposed to police your opponent anyway. So how could he take advantage?
Obviously you need a definition of a divot (size, depth), but otherwise it's not that different from how you go about in a tennis match.
And if it still won't work then you can limit it to stroke play.

He/she could take advantage if I'm, not looking. Then again, he/she can now.
I don't want to get into an argument on course about what is/isn't a divot. Play it as it lies is by far the easiest way.

by **navyblueshorts** Wed 08 Mar 2017, 11:01 am

pedro wrote:People will always moan. So in case of doubt you can call in a ref? It may slow down pace of play but IMO that's less important than allowing relief from a divot.

Hmm. Yes. That'll work in my next club KO singles first round won't it....

by super_realist Wed 08 Mar 2017, 11:17 am

Come on Navy, you police it yourself. Just like club tennis players don't have an umpire or lines judges.

by George1507 Thu 09 Mar 2017, 12:58 pm

pedro wrote:In matchplay you're supposed to police your opponent anyway.

In every form of golf you police your opponent. The reason you mark your playing partner's card in medal golf is so you attest that the score he or she puts own is the score taken. You sign the card at the end to say that is the case.

by Roller_Coaster Thu 09 Mar 2017, 2:16 pm

George1507 wrote:
pedro wrote:In matchplay you're supposed to police your opponent anyway.

In every form of golf you police your opponent. The reason you mark your playing partner's card in medal golf is so you attest that the score he or she puts own is the score taken. You sign the card at the end to say that is the case.

Indeed

by **navyblueshorts** Fri 10 Mar 2017, 2:19 pm

super_realist wrote:Come on Navy, you police it yourself. Just like club tennis players don't have an umpire or lines judges.

:sigh: That's my point. I don't want to have to and I don't want an argument when I refuse someone relief from an obvious divot in a match or other comp.

by super_realist Mon 13 Mar 2017, 8:54 am

Why would you even care though Navy? I wouldn't want to beat someone just because they got a "bad lie" on the fairway.

A divot hole is pretty clear cut. You can't really mistake it for anything else.

by MontysMerkin Mon 13 Mar 2017, 8:59 am

Just play it as it lies ya Cat.

by pedro Mon 13 Mar 2017, 7:23 pm

Then why not on the green?

by **navyblueshorts** Tue 14 Mar 2017, 9:35 am

super_realist wrote:Why would you even care though Navy? I wouldn't want to beat someone just because they got a "bad lie" on the fairway.

A divot hole is pretty clear cut. You can't really mistake it for anything else.

No, it's not always clear cut and that's the point. As George said somewhere earlier, a really fresh divot is obvious but this would have to include those that were ancient and could actually have been down to anything. The rule as it is now is fine.

by super_realist Tue 14 Mar 2017, 9:43 am

If it's not clear cut, then the lie can't be that bad and you should just play it.

I played an Open last year and was in 3 divots off the first three drives. Horrendous.

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