playing "strict"

[pxc]

I'm a rank beginner, as in I just started playing about 3 weeks ago. I'm not at a place in life where I can expect to play a round more than maybe twice a month, and if I get to the range twice a week I will be doing well.

Because of this I realize I will not zoom to a 10 handicap anytime soon. I'm ok with this, despite being terrible I really enjoy playing.

However, my first time out I played with guys who were very forgiving. "It's good" for puts within a foot of the hole, lots of mulligans, etc. I shot an incredible 141, par was 71. :D So in all likelihood it was probably over 150.

The next week I played with my brothers-in-law at the same course and we played more strict. One mulligan (which I used up on my first tee shot by slicing it over the fence onto the neighboring driving range), make your puts, etc. I shot a 137. Still terrible I know, but a 4 stroke improvement and play that adhered closer to the rules.

Is it better for my game to play strict like this? I would assume it is. If so, should I limit or eliminate my playing with guys that are too relaxed on the rules? I had fun playing with them, but I would like to improve and eventually break 100.

[clubchamp]

Since you are just starting out the rules should be on the back burner for a while and really work on getting some consistency. I'm in no way saying the rules aren't important but I would really focus on your swing.

[Yukari]

There definitely is a benefit playing "strict rule" in that you learn to control your emotion. By that I mean you get to experience the pressure of 1 foot putts and the pressure of having to hit 3 from the tee box, etc.

There are so many 1 to 2 feet putts that I missed when I first started out. Now that I play in the tournaments, the pressure went up by a factor of 100 (a little exaggeration--but you get the point).

After I got pretty decent, I only play by the rules. Everything else is not "real golf" as some would say. I don't like people playing "one mulligan on each nine" that is like saying I can cheat on one hole on each nine.

[jlund]

I think you really should play by the rules. It just becomes a part of how you play after a while. There is nothing worse than playing wih a 7 handicapper who takes a mulligan a round and takes "gimmee" putts...

... I would also say, that right now you should not be too worried about your score. Just go out and focus on making as many good golf shots as you can.

Good luck!

[David in FL]

The only way to accurately track your progress is to play by the exact same rules every time you play........you might as well make them the "right" rules!

[deronsizemore]

If you don't play by the rules then you really have nothing to base your improvement off of. If you randomly take mulligans, pick up two foot putts, improve your lie in the rough, etc. You will never really know how good you actually are because you're cutting strokes from your score. If you always play by the rules and you shoot a 90 one day and then an 80 the next, you'll know you shot the 80 because you're improving, not because you took a couple mulligans, picked up a couple putts you maybe otherwise would have missed or improved your lie everywhere.

Like others have said, you can play by the rules the best to your knowledge but I wouldn't be too worried about score at this point because you're likely to just get discouraged. Someone new to the game will likely top, chuck, skull, etc. a lot of shots that will inflate their score so just concentrate on making good swings and good contact and eventually when you get more consistent you can worry about your score.

[1par2win]

I would agree that playing by the rules is the way to go. You have to learn and play by them sometime so may as well do it now. Besides, there are situations on the course that can affect your club selection if your playing by the rules. For example, if you have out of bounds down the right hand side and you know that you have a "mulligan" you will probably hit the driver. If your counting everything, you may choose a hybrid instead. That's a part of the challange of the game. I have more respect for someone that shoots a 137 and counts every stroke vs someone that broke 100 with a little "help".

[Bump-n-MI]

Trust me, playing by the rules will pay dividends later. You shot 141 playing "happy" golf…which may (or may not) have been around a 150? How are you ever going to know what your actual scores are unless you play the game by the rules? Buy a rules book, read it in your spare time, apply your new knowledge to the course, and show actual improvement in your legitimate scores…..pretty simple. Just because your playing partners play "happy" golf doesn't mean you need to

[iacas]

I'm as big a "by the book" guy as you'll find (or close to it), but for a guy just starting who can't break 100? Who cares? For my wife, who's just learning? Who cares - drop another ball. She's not even counting her scores on most holes.

Until you feel like you're near to breaking 100, I don't see much pointing following strict rules. You've already got enough to think about. I also don't buy into the "it sets up bad habits" thing - just switch when you're good enough to play under strict Rules of Golf.

My brother-in-law picks up at "double par" on every hole, or plays out and just writes down double par. Do I care? No. I'm not betting the guy and he's out there having fun.

[pxc]

To those suggesting I focus more on hitting shots and less on score - is that why handicap only goes up to 36? Because beyond that... who cares? I guess that would make sense.

I will probably continue to keep score, because I play to improve but also as a social thing. But it's not terribly important to me. As some of you have implied, shooting 120 vs. 140 isn't really a big deal, they're both terrible scores and indicate I need to keep working.

I have some lessons coming up so I can get the fundamentals down. I prefer to play by the rules as strictly as possible as that seems more fun, but I will still play with my more relaxed friends and keep focusing on hitting good shots.

I wish I'd gotten started on this earlier in life.

[opie]

I'm as big a "by the book" guy as you'll find (or close to it), but for a guy just starting who can't break 100? Who cares? For my wife, who's just learning? Who cares - drop another ball. She's not even counting her scores on most holes.

Agreed.. there's no reason to be strict when walking off at 150. Improve your lie, move your ball, drop. Just learn to hit it and get around the course. Keeping strict score comes later

[goblue107501]

I'm as big a "by the book" guy as you'll find (or close to it), but for a guy just starting who can't break 100? Who cares? For my wife, who's just learning? Who cares - drop another ball. She's not even counting her scores on most holes.

Pretty much what I was going to say. Just go out and have fun. You don't need to worry about how to hit a ball around the tree from out of a divot when you can't hit a clear shot from the fairway anyway. Once you start getting better, then you can play by the rules and you will know what you need to do to improve. You don't do yourself any good by hitting 3 balls OB off the tee and counting the score. Don't even keep score. Just see if you can make some bogeys and maybe a par or two.

[whetstone]

Another agreement. At this stage, I wouldn't even carry a scorecard. Improve your lie, if needed, "hit another one" every time you need to, play two balls, etc. I decide before I tee off if I'm going to turn in a score. If not, my time on the course is spent practicing. I might chip 3 balls from the same spot, or drive 2.

You should be aware of the rules, and play by them if you plan to keep score or establish a handicap, but play to learn right now, and enjoy!

Agreed.. there's no reason to be strict when walking off at 150. Improve your lie, move your ball, drop. Just learn to hit it and get around the course. Keeping strict score comes later

[zeg]

Until you have enough consistency for it to be mistaken for real golf, I think bending the rules can be beneficial. Playing the tricky chip out of the woods from next to a tree just to get back to the fairway is important, but that practice time (and the next three shots that are from the same situation because you shanked the first one) might be better spent dropping in the rough and practicing another full swing. At some point you've got to learn the chip out, but I'd save it until you're down around 100 or so.

[tulefog]

I'm as big a "by the book" guy as you'll find (or close to it), but for a guy just starting who can't break 100? Who cares? For my wife, who's just learning? Who cares - drop another ball. She's not even counting her scores on most holes.

I agree completely. I would say that if you are keeping track of your scores for handicap purposes, or if you are in a competition, you need to adhere strictly by the rules. However, for a beginner in neither of these categories, I see no reason not to bend the rules a little, especially if it increases your enjoyment (and perhaps speeds play).

[lumpuckeroo]

Looks like a lot of us are in agreement, at this point the rules are second to hitting the ball. Keep the game enjoyable, you will have plenty of time to be miserable latter.

[kris]

I am in no way saying to completely burn off the rules, especially on the putting green (it never hurts to get as much putting practice as possible). But at your stage, just starting out and shooting 150, the rules don't really matter. Your main goal is to get better. Learn how to properly swing and make contact with the ball. Lessons are good, they will hopefully teach you the fundamentals and help you become a little more consistent.

But I think for now or at least after your lessons where you'll have a better understanding of the swing, don't sweat the rules too much.

[unabowler]

When I started playing again a few years ago, my buddy and I would take pretty many liberties for a while. When I could shoot 60 for 9 holes, I started playing strictly. If you get 2 bogies, two doubles, two triples, and 2 quadruple bogies in nine holes (plus one more hole) you're somewhere in the upper 50s. That's not good but it still took me a while to get to that level, and I think that was the point where it was worth tracking carefully and being a little more strict.