Learning the rules tricks...

[cobras7]

I recently sat through a rules seminar that got me a free rules booklet but also our presenter told us about a trick he uses. He says in order to remember all 20 something rules there is a story about it. Has anyone heard of this? Does anyone know it? He said, "My buddies went to play as much golf as we could in one day. So the first hole we talked about the game of golf, that means rule #1 is about the game. Hole 2 we decided to play for money and began match play, rule #2 is match play. But we didn't like match play so on hole 3 we began stroke play, thus rule 3 is stroke play." And so on...Anyway i wanted to try and learn this from memory but now i dont know what he said! Thanks!

[zipazoid]

...and by the time we got to the back nine we decided eff it & started drinking. So the rest of the rules are so draconially confusing, they contribute to alcoholism.

[TourSpoon]

...and by the time we got to the back nine we decided eff it & started drinking. So the rest of the rules are so draconially confusing, they contribute to alcoholism.

I picked the wrong week to stop sniffing glue. What about all the decisions? If someone has a story to remember it all then it needs to be told!

[Ignorant]

Originally Posted by cobras7

I recently sat through a rules seminar that got me a free rules booklet but also our presenter told us about a trick he uses. He says in order to remember all 20 something rules there is a story about it. Has anyone heard of this? Does anyone know it? He said, "My buddies went to play as much golf as we could in one day. So the first hole we talked about the game of golf, that means rule #1 is about the game. Hole 2 we decided to play for money and began match play, rule #2 is match play. But we didn't like match play so on hole 3 we began stroke play, thus rule 3 is stroke play." And so on...Anyway i wanted to try and learn this from memory but now i dont know what he said! Thanks!

I bet you could write your own story if you wanted:

So we went to buy some new clubs (#4) and balls (#5) so we could call us players (#6). Then we had to practise (#7) a bit but in order to start that we needed some advice (#8). And then we had to learn how to count the strokes (#9) and decide who will begin the game (#10). We were told that the play starts from the teeing ground (#11) and we were advised to mark our balls (#12), ....

Feel free to copy and continue!

[cobras7]

Originally Posted by Ignorant

I bet you could write your own story if you wanted:

So we went to buy some new clubs (#4) and balls (#5) so we could call us players (#6). Then we had to practise (#7) a bit but in order to start that we needed some advice (#8). And then we had to learn how to count the strokes (#9) and decide who will begin the game (#10). We were told that the play starts from the teeing ground (#11) and we were advised to mark our balls (#12), ....

Feel free to copy and continue!

Thanks so much! His was actually REALLY confusing i don't know how he has remembered it for 25 years! Yours is way more simple and i will add on to it! Thanks so much.

[Fourputt]

Originally Posted by cobras7

Thanks so much! His was actually REALLY confusing i don't know how he has remembered it for 25 years! Yours is way more simple and i will add on to it! Thanks so much.

Easier yet is to carry the rule book in your bag and refer to it when necessary.  It doesn't take long to get familiar enough to find what you are looking for.  There is a table of contents, an index and a handy little page near the front titled "How to Use the Rule Book".  For the most part, only dedicated rules officials learn the all of the rules by number.  I know the numbers of most of the commonly used rules, and the most commonly breached ones - but I have worked as a rules official.  I've taken two 4 day USGA Rules Workshops, scored 80 and 85 on the final exams.  Even then they don't require that you know all the rules by number.  Half of the final is open book.  They teach and encourage you to learn how to find what you need, not memorize everything.

Thinking that you know it all is the quickest way to making an incorrect ruling.  I speak from experience.

[Dormie1360]

Originally Posted by Fourputt

I've taken two 4 day USGA Rules Workshops, scored 80 and 85 on the final exams.

Well done! Taking the test for the first time and scoring 80 is excellent.  I was told in the last class that the average first timers score is 69.  Less than 1% get a 100.  Not uncommon to see scores in the 40's for folks taking it for the first time.  The first time I took the test I got a 75........my head was mush.

[Fourputt]

Originally Posted by Dormie1360

Well done! Taking the test for the first time and scoring 80 is excellent.  I was told in the last class that the average first timers score is 69.  Less than 1% get a 100.  Not uncommon to see scores in the 40's for folks taking it for the first time.  The first time I took the test I got a 75........my head was mush.

What always amazes me is that about half of the questions I miss are ones that I'd have sworn were right.  I know that the last time 7 of the question s I missed were in the last 25 questions.  I think I just got tired.  It's so hard to keep total focus for the entire test, and you have to read every question and every answer very carefully or you will even miss ones that you would never miss if making the ruling on course.  I have great respect for anyone who even takes the test, and making better than 60% is a bonus.  I have a friend who has taken the test 4 times now and never scored higher than 71%.

[Dormie1360]

Originally Posted by Fourputt

What always amazes me is that about half of the questions I miss are ones that I'd have sworn were right.  I know that the last time 7 of the question s I missed were in the last 25 questions.  I think I just got tired.  It's so hard to keep total focus for the entire test, and you have to read every question and every answer very carefully or you will even miss ones that you would never miss if making the ruling on course.  I have great respect for anyone who even takes the test, and making better than 60% is a bonus.  I have a friend who has taken the test 4 times now and never scored higher than 71%.

To a certain extent, the test has always been a reading exercise.  Lot's of time you know the rule, but didn't read the question carefully enough.  It helps to be a good written test taker.  The best I've done is 94, although this year was an 86.  I actually felt better this year going into the test, but it certainly didn't show with my score.

I don't think having a great test score automatically would make someone a great rules official.  Sitting in class taking a test is one thing, applying the rules correctly to a situation on the course is another.  I think it's a talent that some people are better at than others, and I would imagine experience helps.  I would guess Jr. tournaments would keep you the most busy with the number and variety of rulings.  I've heard some great stories in class from officials that have officiated at tournaments like the Masters and the US Open.

I agree, my hats off to anyone that goes through the class.

[Fourputt]

Originally Posted by Dormie1360

To a certain extent, the test has always been a reading exercise.  Lot's of time you know the rule, but didn't read the question carefully enough.  It helps to be a good written test taker.  The best I've done is 94, although this year was an 86.  I actually felt better this year going into the test, but it certainly didn't show with my score.

I don't think having a great test score automatically would make someone a great rules official.  Sitting in class taking a test is one thing, applying the rules correctly to a situation on the course is another.  I think it's a talent that some people are better at than others, and I would imagine experience helps.  I would guess Jr. tournaments would keep you the most busy with the number and variety of rulings.  I've heard some great stories in class from officials that have officiated at tournaments like the Masters and the US Open.

I agree, my hats off to anyone that goes through the class.

Junior tournaments are a great way to learn and get lots of practice.  I've worked tournaments with players as young as 8 years old.  They know virtually nothing about rules or procedures, so you get lots of opportunities to interact with the players in a non pressure environment.  It makes working state level tournaments a lot easier.