Growing the Game: Amended rules for beginners?

[newtogolf]

I don't think an amended set of rules does much for growing the game.  New golfers don't follow the rules, creating a fake set of rules to follow will only confuse them if they get more serious and wish to play with those of us that follow the real rules.

[MS256]

Most new golfers do a good job of not following the rules all on their own, or are nudged by playing partners into picking the ball up.

(Thank goodness).

[rogolf]

Violators will be executed.

The point being, you can make all the guidelines and rules you want, but the problem is enforcement, or the lack thereof.

I respectfully disagree, and offer that the problem is lack of education on the proper etiquette of the game.  "Enforcement" is the responsibility of every player in the group.

[Asheville]

Quote:

Originally Posted by turtleback

Violators will be executed.

The point being, you can make all the guidelines and rules you want, but the problem is enforcement, or the lack thereof.

I respectfully disagree, and offer that the problem is lack of education on the proper etiquette of the game.  "Enforcement" is the responsibility of every player in the group.

Our friend, turtleback said it best, not long ago, "In golf the only thing that prevents someone from playing by the Rules is a personal choice."

[szaino]

I don't think an amended set of rules does much for growing the game.  New golfers don't follow the rules, creating a fake set of rules to follow will only confuse them if they get more serious and wish to play with those of us that follow the real rules.

I agree, that would only make things more complicated.

Rules are broken by virtually everyone for 3 reasons:

1) Ignorance of the rules - ie the average golfer doesn't understand the drop procedures for water hazards and lateral water hazards. Tiger Woods even had a problem with his drop options and almost got DQ'd from the Masters.

2) Cheating- they know the rule but break them in order to gain an advantage.

3) Don't care because the rule is stupid- ie when I play by myself, I never pull the pin when putting, it is just a complete waste of time and there is no competitive advantage.

Most rules are broken due to ignorance of the rules and that is because the rules are already way too complicated. Players think they are doing the correct thing but in fact may not be. This is just a constantly moving line based upon how knowledgeable a particular player is about the rules.

I have had numerous occasions when another player asks me a question about a situation that just happened after the fact and when I explain the rule and they realize that they violated a rule (not on purpose), it becomes awkward because even though it is a friendly round it  usually involves a match of some sorts for money  ...  that's when I feel like an ahole because I wasn't even going to bring it up, but now, when asked, I will explain the rule. Now my friend feels bad.

The fact that this happens all the time on the course upsets me because the rules of a sport shouldn't be so GD complicated.

[wadesworld]

Quote:

Originally Posted by szaino

Most rules are broken due to ignorance of the rules and that is because the rules are already way too complicated. Players think they are doing the correct thing but in fact may not be. This is just a constantly moving line based upon how knowledgeable a particular player is about the rules.

I have had numerous occasions when another player asks me a question about a situation that just happened after the fact and when I explain the rule and they realize that they violated a rule (not on purpose), it becomes awkward because even though it is a friendly round it  usually involves a match of some sorts for money  ...  that's when I feel like an ahole because I wasn't even going to bring it up, but now, when asked, I will explain the rule. Now my friend feels bad.

Many (perhaps most) players are ignorant of the rules because they don't play by them enough.  When in a casual round golfers just throw a ball down wherever they feel like, it's no wonder they know don't proper drop or relief procedures.

Incidentally, you should never feel bad for informing someone of the correct rule.  One thing I wish would change about the game of golf is for players to stop pretending it's someone else's fault when they break a rule.  It is NOT being "ridiculous."  Expecting people to ignore your rules violations "as no big deal" when you may be depriving others behind you of their rightful position on the leaderboard is what is ridiculous.

Quote:

The fact that this happens all the time on the course upsets me because the rules of a sport shouldn't be so GD complicated.

Ever considered what it takes to write a good rule?  It's extremely difficult to craft a rule which covers the majority of situations, and even if the rule is well written, there will be situations you never considered which will lead to one or more decsions.  Most people advocating "simple" rules haven't considered even a fraction of the situations which will occur.

[mchepp]

I made my argument in Thrash Talk saying that we need a "family" day where we have the 15 inch holes. Just in order to make the game faster and easier.

I also have been thinking if we could improve the game by making a golf ball that was slightly bigger and went much straighter. The idea being it would be easier to hit and didn't slice quite as much. Almost all games have different balls for young kids. Golf should try to have something like this as well. Beginning golfers could use this ball as well.

[turtleback]

I agree, that would only make things more complicated.

Rules are broken by virtually everyone for 3 reasons:

1) Ignorance of the rules - ie the average golfer doesn't understand the drop procedures for water hazards and lateral water hazards. Tiger Woods even had a problem with his drop options and almost got DQ'd from the Masters.

2) Cheating- they know the rule but break them in order to gain an advantage.

3) Don't care because the rule is stupid- ie when I play by myself, I never pull the pin when putting, it is just a complete waste of time and there is no competitive advantage.

Most rules are broken due to ignorance of the rules and that is because the rules are already way too complicated. Players think they are doing the correct thing but in fact may not be. This is just a constantly moving line based upon how knowledgeable a particular player is about the rules.

I have had numerous occasions when another player asks me a question about a situation that just happened after the fact and when I explain the rule and they realize that they violated a rule (not on purpose), it becomes awkward because even though it is a friendly round it  usually involves a match of some sorts for money  ...  that's when I feel like an ahole because I wasn't even going to bring it up, but now, when asked, I will explain the rule. Now my friend feels bad.

The fact that this happens all the time on the course upsets me because the rules of a sport shouldn't be so GD complicated.

That is all a cop-out IMO.  Anyone who makes a point of seriously trying to play by the rules will learn them to a satisfactory level pretty quickly.  Personally I believe that for the most part people do not know the rules because they do not play by them, rather thn the other way around.  There are so many more resources out there now, as compared to when I was coming up that there is no real reason not to know and play by the rules other than personal choice.

[szaino]

That is all a cop-out IMO.  Anyone who makes a point of seriously trying to play by the rules will learn them to a satisfactory level pretty quickly.  Personally I believe that for the most part people do not know the rules because they do not play by them, rather thn the other way around.  There are so many more resources out there now, as compared to when I was coming up that there is no real reason not to know and play by the rules other than personal choice.

You have a valid point which I agree with. Learn the rules and play by them. As I get older though, it becomes apparent that the rules are way too complicated for the average golfer to spend the time reading about and studying. No sport should require this amount of effort.

What I mention above is the absolute truth. The average or majority of the golfers do not understand the basic rules which they come across every single time they play. The most common of these include relief from hazards and relief from obstructions. These are usually done incorrectly. And I am not talking about beginners, I am talking about people who have been playing golf for 30 years and have no clue what a yellow stake v red stake means or how to determine nearest point of relief.

[turtleback]

What I mention above is the absolute truth. The average or majority of the golfers do not understand the basic rules which they come across every single time they play. The most common of these include relief from hazards and relief from obstructions. These are usually done incorrectly. And I am not talking about beginners, I am talking about people who have been playing golf for 30 years and have no clue what a yellow stake v red stake means or how to determine nearest point of relief.

Personally I have no respect for them if they are maintaining handicaps.  If they have been playing 30 years and have no clue what the difference is between a red stake and a yellow stake then the problem is not that the rules are too complicated it is that they just do not care.

Granted there can be some complicated situations, as anyone can see by looking at some of the USGA advanced rules quizzes.  But those usually rise when there is interaction between different rules.  And yes there are the Decisions which clarify how the rules apply in certain situations.  But the rules you need to know in order to be 99% (no one is perfect) compliant 99% of the time are just not that complicated.

[Rulesman]

This covers most situations encountered by most players

http://www.randa.org/en/Playing-Golf/Quick-Guide-to-the-Rules.aspx

[Asheville]

I remember once trying to "help" a player who contended that the Rules were useless ... too complicated, etc.

I gave him the Rule book from my bag and suggested that it would help if he tore out some pages, namely 11 through 17. He did so, and I took back the Rule book, saying that he should keep 11 through 17 and that would be all he needed to know.

We ended up as friends.