Advice on a couple of rules please

[Fourputt]

But too, you refer to a special circumstance on a course that is being prepared for the toughest major. Most courses which are aimed at the average player aren't going to have that sort of rough that close to a very narrow fairway.

Most environmentally sensitive areas I've known of are wetlands, where hacking it up would truly be destructive. As I understand the rule, to be declared environmentally sensitive, there must be more corroboration (EPA, state conservation agencies, etc.) than just the course making such a decision. BTW, we have plenty of rattlesnakes here in Colorado too... in areas where there is a reasonable potential for coming across them there are usually warning signs posted, but entry isn't forbidden just because of that. There is a ravine on one of my 2 home courses where I wouldn't enter without hip high boots and shoulder length leather gauntlets. You can look into it from the crossing bridge and see dozens of balls... and not rarely a snake or two as well.

[RocktimusPryme]

But too, you refer to a special circumstance on a course that is being prepared for the toughest major. Most courses which are aimed at the average player aren't going to have that sort of rough that close to a very narrow fairway.

The signs in places where this is in effect ussually does have the stamp of an official agency. The one i specifically mention being Paiute is on indian land so thats their particular reason.

Im not saying I think some of the course rules arent silly. I mean one of the enviromentally sensitive courses (badlands I think but Im not 100%) Forbids people from going in to retrieve their balls in certain areas so as not to disturb the protected area. So you will see spots with hundreds of golf balls pock marked into the landscape. I never understood how tons of golf balls being left there didnt disturb the area. Ive also played with rangers on a couple of courses on their off days who say if your in a shrub, but are thinking about hitting it out because you think its still playable. They want you to take a free drop because course management doesnt want you hacking what little they can get to grow out here to pieces. Thats not one I follow thought because Its not written on the scorecards as a course rule.

[tjy355]

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Well, the lost ball rule is one of the basic tenets of golf that was incorporated in the very early history of the game, long before there was a PGA or tournament golf or galleries lining the course.

The whole idea of golf was (is) that you start out with a ball and you keep playing that ball and don't touch it until it goes in the hole. Losing your ball was a bad thing and indeed a severe penalty but it only makes sense that you would have to go back and replay the shot. It is amusing to hear people describe elements of golf as "unfair."