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Is breaking the rules really bad?


dnaygs
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I play with 17 clubs. I lift clean and place whenever I feel like it, even in bunkers. I take mulligans and gimmes. I drop a ball in the fairway instead of looking for it in the trees. I putt with the flagstick in. I ground my club in hazards. I move my ball out of divots.  Sometimes I'll drive into the rough and move my ball to the fairway.  I'll place a ball instead of dropping it.

Would I do these things in a tournament?  No

If I shot a 90 while doing these things, would I tell people I shot a 90? No

My main goal in golf is simply to have fun, that's it, and personally I don't think following every single rule is the best way to have fun.

If you're not playing in a tournament or for money, and not keeping an official handicap or plan to in the future, do the rules really need to apply?

One could argue that since I'm not following all the rules of golf, I'm not really playing golf.  I'm just walking around a grassy area, hitting a little ball around.  Sounds good to me.

I'm sure a lot of people disagree with me which is good.  What do you think and why?

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I play with 17 clubs. I lift clean and place whenever I feel like it, even in bunkers. I take mulligans and gimmes. I drop a ball in the fairway instead of looking for it in the trees. I putt with the flagstick in. I ground my club in hazards. I move my ball out of divots.  Sometimes I'll drive into the rough and move my ball to the fairway.  I'll place a ball instead of dropping it.

Would I do these things in a tournament?  No

If I shot a 90 while doing these things, would I tell people I shot a 90? No

My main goal in golf is simply to have fun, that's it, and personally I don't think following every single rule is the best way to have fun.

If you're not playing in a tournament or for money, and not keeping an official handicap or plan to in the future, do the rules really need to apply?

One could argue that since I'm not following all the rules of golf, I'm not really playing golf.  I'm just walking around a grassy area, hitting a little ball around.  Sounds good to me.

I'm sure a lot of people disagree with me which is good.  What do you think and why?

Nope, given the whole context, there's nothing wrong with any of what you've said.  Knock yourself out, and have fun.  If it helps you speed up play, so much the better.

All I ask is that you repair ball marks, rake bunkers, sand or repair divots, observe appropriate etiquette, and generally show the respect for the course and everyone else out there while you're doing your own thing.

Welcome to the site.  Stick around! :beer:

  • Upvote 3

In David's bag....

Driver: Titleist 910 D-3;  9.5* Diamana Kai'li
3-Wood: Titleist 910F;  15* Diamana Kai'li
Hybrids: Titleist 910H 19* and 21* Diamana Kai'li
Irons: Titleist 695cb 5-Pw

Wedges: Scratch 51-11 TNC grind, Vokey SM-5's;  56-14 F grind and 60-11 K grind
Putter: Scotty Cameron Kombi S
Ball: ProV1

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Nope, given the whole context, there's nothing wrong with any of what you've said.  Knock yourself out, and have fun.  If it helps you speed up play, so much the better.

All I ask is that you repair ball marks, rake bunkers, sand or repair divots, observe appropriate etiquette, and generally show the respect for the course and everyone else out there while you're doing your own thing.

Welcome to the site.  Stick around!

I can't really add to this one bit.  My sentiments 100%

Bill - 

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Nope, given the whole context, there's nothing wrong with any of what you've said.  Knock yourself out, and have fun.  If it helps you speed up play, so much the better. All I ask is that you repair ball marks, rake bunkers, sand or repair divots, observe appropriate etiquette, and generally show the respect for the course and everyone else out there while you're doing your own thing. Welcome to the site.  Stick around!  :beer:

QFT.

In my bag:

Driver: Titleist TSi3 | 15º 3-Wood: Ping G410 | 17º 2-Hybrid: Ping G410 | 19º 3-Iron: TaylorMade GAPR Lo |4-PW Irons: Nike VR Pro Combo | 54º SW, 60º LW: Titleist Vokey SM8 | Putter: Odyssey Toulon Las Vegas H7

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I never care how others play golf regarding the scoring rules. Just don't compare your score to mine, and all is good.

In fact, I played my first league match ever last night (I won!!) and they don't really follow the rules either. It's a bit annoying, since we're competing and I will follow the rules, but there's no prize money in it, and everyone is just there for the fun, so not a huge deal. It will in all likelihood cost me a match or two, though.

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Nice to hear.  I've played with a lot of people who are not good, and don't play in tournaments or keep a handicap, who are real rule sticklers.  I find it slows down play and takes away a bit of the fun.

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Do what you want.  My only caveat is that I have never been able to understand why so many think that playing by the rules and having fun are mutually exclusive.  I play by the rules and I have a blast, as do the guys I play with most often.  It's just what we do.

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Rick

"He who has the fastest cart will never have a bad lie."

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Do what you want.  My only caveat is that I have never been able to understand why so many think that playing by the rules and having fun are mutually exclusive.  I play by the rules and I have a blast, as do the guys I play with most often.  It's just what we do.

Yup.  I've never understood that either.

In David's bag....

Driver: Titleist 910 D-3;  9.5* Diamana Kai'li
3-Wood: Titleist 910F;  15* Diamana Kai'li
Hybrids: Titleist 910H 19* and 21* Diamana Kai'li
Irons: Titleist 695cb 5-Pw

Wedges: Scratch 51-11 TNC grind, Vokey SM-5's;  56-14 F grind and 60-11 K grind
Putter: Scotty Cameron Kombi S
Ball: ProV1

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For me it's just about not being frustrated.  I don't personally enjoy trying to swing with branches in my backswing, or out of an extremely difficult lie when I don't have the skill to do so, or other similar situations.  I also don't want to hold people up, so I figure it's better for everyone if I just move the ball, hit from there and move on.  If I'm ever playing with someone who is keeping my score and insists on following every rule, they can feel free to mark down all my infractions and penalize me accordingly.  I feel like golf is challenging enough the way I play.

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For me it's just about not being frustrated.  I don't personally enjoy trying to swing with branches in my backswing, or out of an extremely difficult lie when I don't have the skill to do so, or other similar situations.  I also don't want to hold people up, so I figure it's better for everyone if I just move the ball, hit from there and move on.  If I'm ever playing with someone who is keeping my score and insists on following every rule, they can feel free to mark down all my infractions and penalize me accordingly.  I feel like golf is challenging enough the way I play.

I understand how challenging golf is......but you're also cheating yourself out of the joy of hitting that good shot out of a divot, or out of a tough lie in the rough.  The joy of saving a genuine bogey having knocked it OB from the tee.

Those are the things you'll remember long after the round is in the history books.   But only if you try.....

  • Upvote 3

In David's bag....

Driver: Titleist 910 D-3;  9.5* Diamana Kai'li
3-Wood: Titleist 910F;  15* Diamana Kai'li
Hybrids: Titleist 910H 19* and 21* Diamana Kai'li
Irons: Titleist 695cb 5-Pw

Wedges: Scratch 51-11 TNC grind, Vokey SM-5's;  56-14 F grind and 60-11 K grind
Putter: Scotty Cameron Kombi S
Ball: ProV1

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I understand how challenging golf is......but you're also cheating yourself out of the joy of hitting that good shot out of a divot, or out of a tough lie in the rough.  The joy of saving a genuine bogey having knocked it OB from the tee.

Those are the things you'll remember long after the round is in the history books.   But only if you try.....

Well if the guy doesn't want to play out of a divot, take an unplayable lie and move it. 1 stroke penalty, let the game continue!!! :-D

I agree. Some of the best times I've had was making stupid pars.

Matt Dougherty, P.E.
 fasdfa dfdsaf 

What's in My Bag
Driver; :pxg: 0311 Gen 5,  3-Wood: 
:titleist: 917h3 ,  Hybrid:  :titleist: 915 2-Hybrid,  Irons: Sub 70 TAIII Fordged
Wedges: :edel: (52, 56, 60),  Putter: :edel:,  Ball: :snell: MTB,  Shoe: :true_linkswear:,  Rangfinder: :leupold:
Bag: :ping:

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Quote:

If I shot a 90 while doing these things, would I tell people I shot a 90?

What's your point?  I would deny shooting 90 too!  ;-)

Do whatever you want as long as you're only playing against yourself.

If we have a match, we need to play by the same rules.  I assume that we're playing by THE rules, unless agreed upon ahead of time.

On the other hand, if I'm a 5 playing by THE rules and you're a 10 taking liberties everywhere, I'm probably happy to play you with your vanity handicap.

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For me it's just about not being frustrated.  I don't personally enjoy trying to swing with branches in my backswing, or out of an extremely difficult lie when I don't have the skill to do so, or other similar situations.  I also don't want to hold people up, so I figure it's better for everyone if I just move the ball, hit from there and move on.  If I'm ever playing with someone who is keeping my score and insists on following every rule, they can feel free to mark down all my infractions and penalize me accordingly.  I feel like golf is challenging enough the way I play.

Just one more comment then I'll bow out.  You will never learn to play such shots if you never even make the effort to try.  It's still up to you, but playing a great shot from a difficult situation is one of the more rewarding parts of the game for me.

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Rick

"He who has the fastest cart will never have a bad lie."

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I don't even know anybody in this area that "plays by the rules" until they get to a point where they can at least legitimately break 100 or so (and I am glad of it). I do sometimes see tourists doing it and it's painful to watch.

Just yesterday I was waiting for my wife to get to the course and a man and woman I didn't know were playing the 9th hole. Since I was just sitting there I watched them play the hole (or at least most of it). I stopped counting the woman's strokes at 14 and gave up all hope for the guy at 8 and neither even had a ball on the island green yet. The woman hadn't even gotten close enough to attempt the shot and the man had already missed his attempt from the drop area at 70 yards. (In their defense they were the only ones on the course. Thank goodness.)

When my cousin first started playing golf I went to visit him and played a round with him and his buddies (none of whom could break 100). They followed every rule and kept score in their attempts to break 100. That was my first experience with a group of which I was a part slowing down the other golfers on the course and I absolutely hated it. It was so bad that I skipped several holes completely in an attempt to move our group along faster, which did very little good at all.

My thoughts the whole time:

This is embarrassing.

I'll be glad when it's over.

I'll be glad when these guys get better.

Can't they see the smoke coming out of the ears of the players behind us?

Why aren't they playing the ladies tees?

How can I figure out a way to let the 10 groups behind us all play through?

If I ever do this again I hope nobody is on the course besides us.

So yes, I believe breaking the rules can be a beautiful thing.

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Quote:
~~Just one more comment then I'll bow out. You will never learn to play such shots if you never even make the effort to try. It's still up to you, but playing a great shot from a difficult situation is one of the more rewarding parts of the game for me.

I agree, but I very often can't hit a good shot from a perfect lie in the fairway.  I figure I should learn that first, at least somewhat, before I worry about being able to hit from a more difficult lie.

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Originally Posted by dnaygs View Post
Quote:
~~Just one more comment then I'll bow out. You will never learn to play such shots if you never even make the effort to try. It's still up to you, but playing a great shot from a difficult situation is one of the more rewarding parts of the game for me.

I agree, but I very often can't hit a good shot from a perfect lie in the fairway.  I figure I should learn that first, at least somewhat, before I worry about being able to hit from a more difficult lie.

There is considerable merit in possessing the required skill to "often can" hit a good shot from a perfect lie. So, I would agree that trying to learn to hit a golf ball while on the course needn't be disturbed by following those pesky Rules. Your local golfing community might appreciate that you spent more time taking lessons and practicing on the range.

"Age improves with wine."
 
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Whether you decide to play by the rules or not is a personal decision.  The only "rub" I know of is if you are keeping an official handicap then not playing by the rules will probably lead to what I would call an "ego handicap".  This would certainly put you at a disadvantage in any competition where you would be required to play by the rules.  But if you don't ever play competitive golf then I suppose the no harm no foul would apply to not playing by the rules.

BTW I, like Fourputt, don't think playing by the rules and having fun are mutually exclusive events.

Butch

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