Comments on: Sand Trap Rules Quiz Number One http://thesandtrap.com/extras/rules/sand_trap_rules_quiz_number_one Golf News, Reviews, and Commentary Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:22:24 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Ray http://thesandtrap.com/extras/rules/sand_trap_rules_quiz_number_one#comment-14390 Ray Wed, 10 Dec 2008 09:46:09 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/?p=3127#comment-14390 Playing in a recent matchplay competition, I entered a sand trap with a SW and then decided to play a different shot from the sand with another club. I returned the SW to my bag and took the other club and played the shot from my same stance position in the sand. My opponent then said I had violated a rule (I can't find it) by entering the sand with one club and then leaving it and exchanging it for another club and reentering the sand. He said, "once you enter the sand with a club, you must play that club". I don't think that is right - anyone know for sure ? thanks, wannaberightRay Playing in a recent matchplay competition, I entered a sand trap with a SW and then decided to play a different shot from the sand with another club. I returned the SW to my bag and took the other club and played the shot from my same stance position in the sand. My opponent then said I had violated a rule (I can't find it) by entering the sand with one club and then leaving it and exchanging it for another club and reentering the sand. He said, "once you enter the sand with a club, you must play that club".

I don't think that is right - anyone know for sure ?

thanks, wannaberightRay

]]> By: Fourputt http://thesandtrap.com/extras/rules/sand_trap_rules_quiz_number_one#comment-13883 Fourputt Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:59:52 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/?p=3127#comment-13883 You don't have to be a Rules fuddy-duddy to play by the rules. All of the rules broken in those scenarios are basic to the game. Even if I'm not concerned with assessing penalties, I'll still mention such breaches to friends when I'm playing. And 99% of the time I'm thanked for it. One friend (who has only been playing for 3 years) is even now studying the rules, and planning to attend the local USGA Rules Workshop next spring. Face it, if you play in an organized club, or for money, or even for beer at the 19th hole, everyone has to be on the same page, playing the same game, or it isn't a fair match. The best possible way to do that is to play by the Rules of Golf. That lends one more benefit too. When playing with strangers, they are more likely to know what to expect from you if they see that you know what the game is about. You don't have to be a Rules fuddy-duddy to play by the rules. All of the rules broken in those scenarios are basic to the game. Even if I'm not concerned with assessing penalties, I'll still mention such breaches to friends when I'm playing. And 99% of the time I'm thanked for it. One friend (who has only been playing for 3 years) is even now studying the rules, and planning to attend the local USGA Rules Workshop next spring.

Face it, if you play in an organized club, or for money, or even for beer at the 19th hole, everyone has to be on the same page, playing the same game, or it isn't a fair match. The best possible way to do that is to play by the Rules of Golf. That lends one more benefit too. When playing with strangers, they are more likely to know what to expect from you if they see that you know what the game is about.

]]> By: Sand Trap Rules Quiz Number Two | The Sand Trap http://thesandtrap.com/extras/rules/sand_trap_rules_quiz_number_one#comment-13651 Sand Trap Rules Quiz Number Two | The Sand Trap Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:49:12 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/?p=3127#comment-13651 [...] Trap Rules Quiz. In the first quiz, I concentrated on some of the lesser known rules of golf, and we had some tricky rulings to say the [...] [...] Trap Rules Quiz. In the first quiz, I concentrated on some of the lesser known rules of golf, and we had some tricky rulings to say the [...]

]]> By: Spence http://thesandtrap.com/extras/rules/sand_trap_rules_quiz_number_one#comment-13459 Spence Thu, 25 Sep 2008 03:03:11 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/?p=3127#comment-13459 Great approach to teaching the rules Danny! If you play in tournaments it's hard to be competitive if everyone is making up their own rules or ignoring those that seem irrelevant -- while you're playing by the rules. Those of us who play in regular tournaments frequently see a flight won by one stroke. Then, when we see who won, we may wonder if that one stroke came at the expense of a rule that was ignore. I agree with Jason above ... the rules are complex because there are a lot of people who want to find a loophole and exploit it. Sergio, for example, seemed to be searching for a loophole on Sunday at the Ryder Cup when he had an unplayable lie next to the the concrete steps. His apparent attempt to exploit the rule tarnished his image as a professional for me. But, that's just me. I don't think RT Jones would've even considered exploiting a rule -- at least not after he got serious about playing. Besides, what's wrong with learning and playing by the rules? They're part of the game and while I don't know them all, I don't know anyone else who does either. The rules can get tricky, but they can be learned and that can be fun too. As you mentioned, rules are part of the game. If you play golf, you play by the rules or it's not golf. Again, great job Danny. Keep it up! Great approach to teaching the rules Danny!
If you play in tournaments it's hard to be competitive if everyone is making up their own rules or ignoring those that seem irrelevant -- while you're playing by the rules.
Those of us who play in regular tournaments frequently see a flight won by one stroke. Then, when we see who won, we may wonder if that one stroke came at the expense of a rule that was ignore.
I agree with Jason above ... the rules are complex because there are a lot of people who want to find a loophole and exploit it.
Sergio, for example, seemed to be searching for a loophole on Sunday at the Ryder Cup when he had an unplayable lie next to the the concrete steps. His apparent attempt to exploit the rule tarnished his image as a professional for me. But, that's just me.
I don't think RT Jones would've even considered exploiting a rule -- at least not after he got serious about playing.
Besides, what's wrong with learning and playing by the rules? They're part of the game and while I don't know them all, I don't know anyone else who does either.
The rules can get tricky, but they can be learned and that can be fun too.
As you mentioned, rules are part of the game. If you play golf, you play by the rules or it's not golf.
Again, great job Danny. Keep it up!

]]> By: martin http://thesandtrap.com/extras/rules/sand_trap_rules_quiz_number_one#comment-13423 martin Tue, 23 Sep 2008 07:00:50 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/?p=3127#comment-13423 Good stuff, one small point though - you headlined the players as "our foursome" when they are clearly not! Good stuff, one small point though - you headlined the players as "our foursome" when they are clearly not!

]]> By: Volume One Hundred Sixty One | The Sand Trap http://thesandtrap.com/extras/rules/sand_trap_rules_quiz_number_one#comment-13410 Volume One Hundred Sixty One | The Sand Trap Mon, 22 Sep 2008 15:33:36 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/?p=3127#comment-13410 [...] and welcome again to Hittin' the Links. HTL took a needed vacation last week to make room for the Rules Quiz, but is again back in action bringing you the best in golf off the world wide [...] [...] and welcome again to Hittin' the Links. HTL took a needed vacation last week to make room for the Rules Quiz, but is again back in action bringing you the best in golf off the world wide [...]

]]> By: Paul http://thesandtrap.com/extras/rules/sand_trap_rules_quiz_number_one#comment-13317 Paul Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:01:51 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/?p=3127#comment-13317 Danny, I neglected to say earlier that one thing that has introduced confusion on applying the rules correctly in some cases is that the rules of golf are intricately tied in with course markings. When hazards, out of bounds, drop zones and so on are poorly marked or local rules not listed properly on score cards, then the application of the rules becomes challenging. Courses must correctly identify what is what on the course and as golfers we should work together to see if this can be improved. Something else that I would like to see happen but am unsure how to go about it, is to see if golf courses can have some standardization on green speeds for amateurs. I think this is a big benefit to tour players in that from week to week green speeds are consistent, but this is not true for us and I know I struggle to putt consistently from week to week. Not that I am a good putter anyway! Danny, I neglected to say earlier that one thing that has introduced confusion on applying the rules correctly in some cases is that the rules of golf are intricately tied in with course markings.

When hazards, out of bounds, drop zones and so on are poorly marked or local rules not listed properly on score cards, then the application of the rules becomes challenging.

Courses must correctly identify what is what on the course and as golfers we should work together to see if this can be improved.

Something else that I would like to see happen but am unsure how to go about it, is to see if golf courses can have some standardization on green speeds for amateurs. I think this is a big benefit to tour players in that from week to week green speeds are consistent, but this is not true for us and I know I struggle to putt consistently from week to week. Not that I am a good putter anyway!

]]> By: Paul http://thesandtrap.com/extras/rules/sand_trap_rules_quiz_number_one#comment-13313 Paul Wed, 17 Sep 2008 13:31:43 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/?p=3127#comment-13313 Danny great article, I hope you will have others periodically. I am one of those guys that make every attempt to play by the rules. But I don't enforce the rules on others. Golf doesn't ask me to do that. But I think playing by the rules has forced me to become a better player. Now if I hit my drive OB, I am much more careful with my provisional or third shot off the tee and so on. But within our group we do play by the rules (as best as we can, sometimes we don't know what the ruling should be). Between those that have agreed to play by the rules, the general agreement is that the playing partner will make rulings that best represent the interest of the rules and not the playing partner. However people have got smarter and now know how to frame the question or offer possibilities to the playing partner to best take advantage or to minimize the effect of the rule that they must comply with. All in all, I have to say following the rules by general agreement in our group has been very positive and has helped to lower everyone's handicap. But anyone outside our core group that plays with us is not expected to follow the rules at all. We just enjoy playing with them and hopefully they enjoy playing with us. Danny great article, I hope you will have others periodically. I am one of those guys that make every attempt to play by the rules. But I don't enforce the rules on others. Golf doesn't ask me to do that.

But I think playing by the rules has forced me to become a better player. Now if I hit my drive OB, I am much more careful with my provisional or third shot off the tee and so on.

But within our group we do play by the rules (as best as we can, sometimes we don't know what the ruling should be). Between those that have agreed to play by the rules, the general agreement is that the playing partner will make rulings that best represent the interest of the rules and not the playing partner. However people have got smarter and now know how to frame the question or offer possibilities to the playing partner to best take advantage or to minimize the effect of the rule that they must comply with. All in all, I have to say following the rules by general agreement in our group has been very positive and has helped to lower everyone's handicap.

But anyone outside our core group that plays with us is not expected to follow the rules at all. We just enjoy playing with them and hopefully they enjoy playing with us.

]]> By: Cody Thrasher http://thesandtrap.com/extras/rules/sand_trap_rules_quiz_number_one#comment-13307 Cody Thrasher Tue, 16 Sep 2008 21:07:41 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/?p=3127#comment-13307 Great stuff Danny! And I'm not afraid to admit I missed a couple of the questions. After reading the answers, however, I felt dumb for not knowing the correct answer. I know most of the basic rules of golf, but I don't know them well enough. That's one of my goals for the next year or so. Like you said, they are there for a reason. Great stuff Danny! And I'm not afraid to admit I missed a couple of the questions. After reading the answers, however, I felt dumb for not knowing the correct answer.

I know most of the basic rules of golf, but I don't know them well enough. That's one of my goals for the next year or so. Like you said, they are there for a reason.

]]> By: Danny Ottmann http://thesandtrap.com/extras/rules/sand_trap_rules_quiz_number_one#comment-13297 Danny Ottmann Tue, 16 Sep 2008 15:38:56 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/?p=3127#comment-13297 These are basic rules. I did not add any really obscure rulings into the column. Of course noone would act this way on a course but a dry blah, blah, blah, here are the rules column would have been no fun at all to write or read. If playing by any of the rules explained here would cause you discomfort or to lose a friendship I worry for you. These rules are put in place to level the field and make golf as fair as it can be. To not use them is to not really play golf. In the coming weeks I will put out another column just dealing with the absolute basics of golf rules. Keep a look out. These are basic rules. I did not add any really obscure rulings into the column. Of course noone would act this way on a course but a dry blah, blah, blah, here are the rules column would have been no fun at all to write or read. If playing by any of the rules explained here would cause you discomfort or to lose a friendship I worry for you. These rules are put in place to level the field and make golf as fair as it can be. To not use them is to not really play golf.

In the coming weeks I will put out another column just dealing with the absolute basics of golf rules. Keep a look out.

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