Most Broken Rules in Golf ?

[XtremeCruiser]

What are the Most Broken Rules in Golf ?

[chtw]

Playing the ball as it lies has to be the #1 broken rule without a doubt

[RulesHandicapGuru]

What are the Most Broken Rules in Golf ?

GolfOnline.com (Golf Magazine) did a survey of it's readers a while back, and here is what they came up with:

http://www.golfonline.com/golfonline/rules/features/article/0,17742,469317,00.html

Dropping a ball near where your original ball was lost or out of bounds (Rule 27). We suspect a combination of ignorance of the Rule, failure to hit a provisional ball when warranted, and downright defiance of the stroke-and-distance penalty (see "Least Popular Rules").

Giving or receiving advice (club selection, swing tips, etc.; Rule 8-1). For many, sharing information on club selection is part of the game -- and they might not even know it's against the Rules.

Improving lie in the fairway (Rule 13-1). Violates the game's most basic Rule -- play the ball as it lies.

Not calling a penalty if ball moves at address (Rule 18-2). No harm, no foul?

Taking Mulligans (Rule 15-1). We can somewhat understand taking one on the first hole if you didn't warm up -- a better option is to get there early and hit balls -- but some take it much further than that.

Bending branches from trees or bushes that are in the way of a swing (Rule 13- 2). We're guessing this is equal parts ignorance and willful Rule breaking.



I'd say another one to add is players not holing out when playing stroke play.... 

[DaveTheDuffer]

We have a local rule about lost balls (at least for our league).  We do take a drop near where the opponent agrees it is lost. 

It is really just a speed of play issue.  Another popular tourney rule is a TWO stroke penalty for OB just to speed play.

[bl8d]

What are the Most Broken Rules in Golf ?

GolfOnline.com (Golf Magazine) did a survey of it's readers a while back, and here is what they came up with:

http://www.golfonline.com/golfonline/rules/features/article/0,17742,469317,00.html

Dropping a ball near where your original ball was lost or out of bounds (Rule 27). We suspect a combination of ignorance of the Rule, failure to hit a provisional ball when warranted, and downright defiance of the stroke-and-distance penalty (see "Least Popular Rules").

Giving or receiving advice (club selection, swing tips, etc.; Rule 8-1). For many, sharing information on club selection is part of the game -- and they might not even know it's against the Rules.

Improving lie in the fairway (Rule 13-1). Violates the game's most basic Rule -- play the ball as it lies.

Not calling a penalty if ball moves at address (Rule 18-2). No harm, no foul?

Taking Mulligans (Rule 15-1). We can somewhat understand taking one on the first hole if you didn't warm up -- a better option is to get there early and hit balls -- but some take it much further than that.

Bending branches from trees or bushes that are in the way of a swing (Rule 13- 2). We're guessing this is equal parts ignorance and willful Rule breaking.



I'd say another one to add is players not holing out when playing stroke play.... 

 The Gimme,unless of course that is what you mean by not holing out.
I've got a guy in my group who won't play a provisional.He'll insist he will find his ball playable and  after using up his time (and ours)he calls 1 stroke on himself(but not the distance) In casual play it is difficult to go back to the tee(when the next group is waiting) and replay the shot.In fact I have never seen it done.This 1/2 penalty can be exasperating if it happens 2-3 times a round.

July9
We just ammended OB to a full 2 penalty strokes this weekend, within our group,with some minor biatchin by the person concerned but he agreed it was fairer than calling it a 3 from the point of entry.He didn't want the walk back, which would only have held up play further.

[app4dstn]

there's no better way to ostracize oneself from the everyday man than by reading the rules.  in one bunch i play with, arriving early and warming up seems to have become passe.  here's a list of weekly occurrences:

- taking practice putts in stroke play

(nobody walks to their bag and onto the next tee for the first few holes.  everyone's testing the green like it's the Ryder Cup)

- grounding the club in a hazard

- touching/picking up an unmarked ball on the green (let alone replacing the ball a few inches from the marker)

- clearing leaves, debris, etc and not caring if the ball moves

- un-Kosher dropping of the ball.  you can't roll it into the vicinity then use your foot to move it to the best spot!

- walking into someone's yard (ie past the white stakes) for the next shot.

- using your bag as an alignment aid when chipping up a slope and you can't see the flag

- declaring a divot "ground that needs to be repaired" and

- my favorite:  "the 6 inch rule".

the 6 inch rule is pretty standard in leagues around here wherein you get to lift, clean, and place anywhere within 6 inches.... all year long.


in a Fraser Crane ("Cheers") sort of way, these cretinous transgressions against the lovely game are the price one pays for companionship.  these dudes are straight from Hank Hill's back alley (one is a dead ringer for Dale).  ah, the budweiser suitcase gang... what a swell bunch.

[Dr.Green]

Drops from cart paths ............ "what do you mean by closest relief, if I did that it would put me behind that tree"

[texasgolfdude]

If you made the average golfer read a rules book I think they would be shocked at the amount of strokes they would have to add to their scores.

[kiwi]

Giving or recieving advice I'd say

[rcain1us]

Playing the ball as it lies has to be the #1 broken rule without a doubt

I totally agree but I also believe this rule has a few caveats of sorts.

For a pro on tour who can just send his caddie to the van for a replacement, hitting a wedge or iron out of the rocks or roots of a tree is no big deal.

In a casual round, for us poor souls that actually spend way too much of our own money for good equipment - I have no problem moving a ball away from the hole a little if it keeps me from ruining one of my clubs or injuring myself. (And I am not talking about the old Judge Smails kick-yourself out of the trees until you have a good lie routine - just getting it out of the rocks/gravel/roots)

If it's a tournament it is a different story - but I don't play in too many.

The other side of this is the fairway divot, nothing burns you more than to stripe a drive only to find it in some other careless players divot.

Again, in casual rounds most of the guys I play with will agree to a roll out on the fairway.

I know this happens on the tour as well but I have to think it happens more to us guys playing on the beaten down local muni than it does to the tour player hitting from the manicured carpets they usually play on.

[beekaybee555]

Play the ball where it lands.......if it's in a divot, behind a tree, under a rock, on a root, in a hole...you have to hit it or take the penalty and drop...I am so sick of playing with guys who "fix" the lie so they "don't ruin a club" but when asked what they got on the hole and they say "birdie".....it just burns me up......why do they do this? so they can tell their friends they shot a 79 at a local course??

[aec4]

Play the ball where it lands.......if it's in a divot, behind a tree, under a rock, on a root, in a hole...you have to hit it or take the penalty and drop...I am so sick of playing with guys who "fix" the lie so they "don't ruin a club" but when asked what they got on the hole and they say "birdie".....it just burns me up......why do they do this? so they can tell their friends they shot a 79 at a local course??

I can see both sides of this...

I agree, 100% play the ball as it is.  I did it when I played with the guys last week, and scraped up a 6 iron pretty good.  (on the side of the path).  However, clubs are expensive, and I can see guys not wanting to ruin the club (they're friggen expensive).  Now some people leverage that into moving the ball where they have a shot.  While illegal is illegal, that's REALLY illegal.  I mean, in a match, play it where it is, but if you are just playing for fun or practice, if you move it leaving the shot to be identically the same, it doesn't bother me too much. 

[beekaybee555]

My thoughts exactly...i can see moving a ball on a rock or off a tree root BUT you still have to be behind a the tree or rock that was probably in the way.....we are just friends here, but to move a ball out in the OPEN off the tree root is a little different than protecting your clubs AND getting a straight shot at the hole.....you still have to penalize yourself for getting into that position in the FIRST place...besides it will only make a better golfer out of us all by playing shots where they were hit...hit them straighter next time I always say

[ArrowStraight]

I would agree that playing your shots where they lie only make you a better golfer.  It also helps to work on your creative shot making.

The other most broken rule
Giving or receiving advice (club selection, swing tips, etc.; Rule 8-1). 
I think that this rule is not really applicable for the average golfer, as most times this is how we improve our game.  I advice that I have received on the course while playing with others have helped me to refine my shots.
If we were going to take this rule to the extreme we should close our eyes when other golfers are hitting or putting,  as in reality we are using their shots to assit with our clubs selection or line on the green

[pd22]

I guess I am more forgiving than most.  I really could care less what the bunch I am playing with does, or scores (unless we are in friendly competion or competition otherwise)  Since I like to play using the rules, I do.  If the other 3 in my group choose not to, so be it.  All I ask is that they are courteous, don't slow the group down, and show proper etiquette.  Otherwise, big deal.  Its a game of individuals anyway.  me against the course....out to improve MY game.  If the guy doesn't want to hit provisional, or rolls it out of a divot, so be it.  If that is what makes the game fun for him, I am all for it.  You just won't catch me doing that.  This game is about fun.

For example, for anyone who plays pick-up basketball, we modify the rules all the time to fit our needs....no back-court, no five-second calls, no charges, winner takes ball, etc.  Noone complains about that. 

All of us need to just lighten up and play golf for the reasons that we started.....we LOVE this game and enjoy the crap out of it when we are playing (and talking about it) 

my humble $.02

[imsocrabby]

I agree with what was said above.....

....until Sunday morning rolls around and the team I am going up against is a group of players who give themselves relief from everything.  Stacking your team with a bunch of cheating punks isn't my idea of fun.



This morning I hit a drive that didn't make the fairway.  My playing partner told me to hit another one.  So I tee'd it up and sailed it straight down the pipe.  When I stepped up to play my first ball, he was more than confused.  "But you hit your second ball way down there....why penalize yourself??"


Because that's golf, I say.

[THERAWEDGE]

My handicap hovers between 6-8 and I play with some guys from work quite often.  None of them have handicaps at all.  If I had to guess, I would say they were between 20 and 40 stroke cappers.  Is it REALLY against the rules for me to help them with swing  and course management advice?  I can see where that would be a rule in competition, but if on my next round all of a sudden STOPPED assisting them with yardages and advise.....I would be looking for a new group.  Golf is about fun, not competition for me.  The competition is between me and the course, and I dont see how ME HELPING my buddies is degradating that competition.  I consider myself a pretty honest golfer, but if this is really breaking the rules, I guess I have been a cheater all along. 

This is just my opinion, but I think the USGA needs to separate the "Rules of Play" from the "Rules of Competiton."  There are already a few rules that apply differently in match play compared to stroke play.  They need to have a set of "Casual Round Rules" that allow us to be "Honest" about our game while not being "ANAL."

[Desmond]

I agree with what was said above.....

....until Sunday morning rolls around and the team I am going up against is a group of players who give themselves relief from everything.  Stacking your team with a bunch of cheating punks isn't my idea of fun.



This morning I hit a drive that didn't make the fairway.  My playing partner told me to hit another one.  So I tee'd it up and sailed it straight down the pipe.  When I stepped up to play my first ball, he was more than confused.  "But you hit your second ball way down there....why penalize yourself??"


Because that's golf, I say.

Similar story - I was teeing it up on 18 - water on left, easy OB on right - i.e.,narrow fairway, par 5, 530 yards. I thought that I'd ease up on a new club - an AGT Fairway Driver (17 deg and 250 cc or so). Well, easing up, kept me on my backfoot and I fired a hook into or across the creek. I put down a provisional and don't ease up - 296 in the right middle of the fairway. That's a heckuva club with a little wind - no?

At the end of the hole, guy says "par?" I laugh and say "No - it's a 7 - it's golf. Ya gotta take the good with the bad."

Besides, I'm just a middle aged golfing codger who plays for enjoyment - I play for a score for my ego - that's it - not competition - but your scorecard is your scorecard - and I'm just fooling myself about my game if I am not honest. I may make honest mistakes because I don't know all the rules, but I am learning after 20 years or so away from the game and then taking it back up 10 years ago.

[Indacup]

I would say issuing/accepting "Gimmees" in stroke play.

Or if you wanna get REAL technical, using a cart in USGA play/scorekeeping.

[RickB]

They're ALL broken frequently, usually intentionally. If I had to venture a guess it would be playing the ball as it lies. It's rare to see anyone play the ball down in any situation. Number two would be gimmes.

What really amuses me is how people will follow a few rules as long as they're not inconvenient and when they do adhere to them they'll make it as noticable as possible. When given a free drop they'll mark out their club-length and drop from shoulder height making sure that everyone sees them doing it. Then, once the show it over they'll move the ball to a better lie. I think the funniest guys are the ones who will mark their ball by placing the coin between the ball and the hole and then replacing the ball in front of the coin. I actually saw a guy who did that 3 or 4 times every green. He tried covering it by faking being unable to line up the alignment mark on the ball with his intended putting line. So he'd mark and inch it forward, look at it while shaking his head, remark and inch it forward again, etc etc. He'd usually 3-putt anyway. I wonder how he managed to convince himself that he was fooling people. It was torture playing with the guy for 18 holes, but it was still funny enough to be worth it.

[jaylasvegas]

They're ALL broken frequently, usually intentionally. If I had to venture a guess it would be playing the ball as it lies. It's rare to see anyone play the ball down in any situation. Number two would be gimmes.

What really amuses me is how people will follow a few rules as long as they're not inconvenient and when they do adhere to them they'll make it as noticable as possible. When given a free drop they'll mark out their club-length and drop from shoulder height making sure that everyone sees them doing it. Then, once the show it over they'll move the ball to a better lie. I think the funniest guys are the ones who will mark their ball by placing the coin between the ball and the hole and then replacing the ball in front of the coin. I actually saw a guy who did that 3 or 4 times every green. He tried covering it by faking being unable to line up the alignment mark on the ball with his intended putting line. So he'd mark and inch it forward, look at it while shaking his head, remark and inch it forward again, etc etc. He'd usually 3-putt anyway. I wonder how he managed to convince himself that he was fooling people. It was torture playing with the guy for 18 holes, but it was still funny enough to be worth it.

Ive played with guys that do that with there ball marker, never for money or else there would be words. but its funny to see someone so desperate for a few more inches

[1Thunder]

Definitely marking the ball on the green and also i think taking a ball out of play and replacing it!

[thecoldeye]

1- Hitting off of towels
2- Posting phony scores to prop up your fake handicap

[DaveTheDuffer]

1- Hitting off of towels
2- Posting phony scores to prop up your fake handicap

What the HELL?

[luckysevens777]

1- Hitting off of towels
2- Posting phony scores to prop up your fake handicap

What the HELL?

Pretty much exactly what I was thinking...

-Lucky7