"The Principles Behind the Rules of Golf" by Richard S. Tufts

[iacas]

"The Principles Behind the Rules of Golf" (by Richard S. Tufts, and updated for the 2012-2015 Rules by William J. Williams, Jr.) is a fine book that costs a whopping $2 from the USGA.

This thread exists for two purposes.

The first purpose is for the open discussion of the book, the principles explained therein, and so on.

The second is to serve as a request that certain members demonstrate proof that he has purchased and read this book before creating any new Rules of Golf discussion threads on this site. The URL to this thread will be PMed to members as a means of requesting this of them.

https://www.usga.org/PublicationStore/PubStoreProductDetails.aspx?id=21474853812

https://www.usgashop.com/Media/Books/id-USGAED0059/Principles_Behind_the_ROG_Third_Edition (Updated 2016-07-11)

Edit: Exceptions may be made, but unless you've been granted one, you must own the book to participate in this thread.

[Fourputt]

Great idea for a thread.  I recommend that anytime a rule change is proposed, justification under these principles is a requirement.

Almost every current rule can be tied to one of the two most fundamental principles:

1)  That you play your ball from the tee and never touch it until you remove it from the hole, and...

2)  That you play the course as you find it.

That doesn't mean that the game should be played strictly under those conditions, only that the game adheres to those principles as closely as possible while still maintaining playability.

[David in FL]

I ordered my copy last week when Fourputt first recommended it. I've gotta be an absolute dork, because I'm really looking forward to reading it!

[iacas]

I ordered my copy last week when Fourputt first recommended it.

I've gotta be an absolute dork, because I'm really looking forward to reading it!

You will enjoy it. I have.

[Fourputt]

I ordered my copy last week when Fourputt first recommended it.

I've gotta be an absolute dork, because I'm really looking forward to reading it!

I may have to replace my copy.  My sister is coming for a visit in November, and I can have her bring it down with her.  I've missed having it for reference since we moved.

[MEfree]

Great idea for a thread.  I recommend that anytime a rule change is proposed, justification under these principles is a requirement.

Almost every current rule can be tied to one of the two most fundamental principles:

1)  That you play your ball from the tee and never touch it until you remove it from the hole, and...

2)  That you play the course as you find it.

That doesn't mean that the game should be played strictly under those conditions, only that the game adheres to those principles as closely as possible while still maintaining playability.

How do you reconcile #1 above with your statement below?  Why would two opponents agreeing to hole out all their putts violate either of the two most fundamental principles of golf which almost every current rule can be tied to?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fourputt

By agreeing not to concede putts they have waived a rule of golf and both are disqualified.

[Fourputt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fourputt

Great idea for a thread.  I recommend that anytime a rule change is proposed, justification under these principles is a requirement.

Almost every current rule can be tied to one of the two most fundamental principles:

1)  That you play your ball from the tee and never touch it until you remove it from the hole, and...

2)  That you play the course as you find it.

That doesn't mean that the game should be played strictly under those conditions, only that the game adheres to those principles as closely as possible while still maintaining playability.

How do you reconcile #1 above with your statement below?  Why would two opponents agreeing to hole out all their putts violate either of the two most fundamental principles of golf which almost every current rule can be tied to?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fourputt

By agreeing not to concede putts they have waived a rule of golf and both are disqualified.

Read the last sentence in my post. Why does everything turn into an argument with you? Good grief!

(For explanation:  When the stroke is conceded, the hole is finished for the player receiving the concession, so his ball is no longer in play, the same as if he had holed out on his next stroke.  That is what a concession is, it's a statement by the conceding player that his opponent will hole out his next stroke.  If the hole is is finished, there is no longer any logical reason to hole out.)

[MEfree]

Ok, looking at your last sentence

Great idea for a thread.  I recommend that anytime a rule change is proposed, justification under these principles is a requirement.

Almost every current rule can be tied to one of the two most fundamental principles:

1)  That you play your ball from the tee and never touch it until you remove it from the hole, and...

2)  That you play the course as you find it.

That doesn't mean that the game should be played strictly under those conditions, only that the game adheres to those principles as closely as possible while still maintaining playability.

So how is requiring that putts can be conceded necessary to maintaining playability?  Do you consider golf unplayable if all putts have to be holed?  If so, then maybe we should conceded all putts within 1 foot (or another reasonable distance).

Put another way, why can't the ROG of golf state that all putts should be holed for both stroke play and match play?  (or at the very least, not make it a breach of the rules to agree to hole all your putts)  Wouldn't that be more consistent with fundamental principle #1?

To me, it seems like lots of rules are not tied to or don't really adhere as closely as possible to the two fundamental principles you stated including :

2-4

8 Advice

9 Information as to Strokes taken

10 Order of Play

16-1c

21

[iacas]

MEfree, I'll make this easy for you.

1. Buy the book
2. Read the book
3. Demonstrate that you've read the book
4. Resume posting about the Rules on this site

The fourth step is optional.

Right now you're responding to one person's very brief synopsis of a portion of the book. That doesn't cut it. You must own the book to participate in this thread.

[Fourputt]

MEfree, I'll make this easy for you.

Buy the book

Read the book

Demonstrate that you've read the book

Resume posting about the Rules on this site

The fourth step is optional.

Right now you're responding to one person's very brief synopsis of a portion of the book. That doesn't cut it. You must own the book to participate in this thread.

I'm going to take your advice for the time being and just not reply to him.  I'm just exhausted when every comment I make to him is twisted or ignored or misunderstood (and I give him the benefit of the doubt in that).  I will explain the same thing three different ways and still never convince him - there seems to be no way to punch through that brick wall around his brain.  He twists the logic to suit his view and no amount of reasoning can ever change his mind, so I'm done with him for now.  (Yes MeFree, I'm talking about you.  Read the book - it's actually just a pamphlet -  then come back and discuss it, and please, please, for once open your mind just a little)

[iacas]

David, I'd love to hear your impressions of it when you first read through it. Have a copy of the Rules handy - you'll want to refer to the various sections as you read along (of course, the iPad, or web versions will suffice). For example, one of the two main over-arching philosophies about playing the course as you find it primarily deals with, IIRC, 13-2, the line of play or putt, taking your stance, and a few other little things. They're important rules, but they aren't necessarily 60% of the rules.

I busted out my copy (I had to get a new one last year) and will skim through it again to refresh my memory.

[Ernest Jones]

I just looked at this on the USGA website and they had it listed as $20 not $2. Is there a paperback version or was the $2 a typo?

[iacas]

I just looked at this on the USGA website and they had it listed as $20 not $2. Is there a paperback version or was the $2 a typo?

https://www.usga.org/PublicationStore/PubStoreProductDetails.aspx?id=21474853812

Don't look at the hardcover version.

[Ernest Jones]

Thanks.

[David in FL]

David, I'd love to hear your impressions of it when you first read through it. Have a copy of the Rules handy - you'll want to refer to the various sections as you read along (of course, the iPad, or web versions will suffice). For example, one of the two main over-arching philosophies about playing the course as you find it primarily deals with, IIRC, 13-2, the line of play or putt, taking your stance, and a few other little things. They're important rules, but they aren't necessarily 60% of the rules. I busted out my copy (I had to get a new one last year) and will skim through it again to refresh my memory.

Will do.

[cipher]

I will probably pick up a copy at some point just to satisfy my curiosity, but I will generally stay out of rules threads due to my highly under qualified comprehension of the details.

[Fourputt]

I will probably pick up a copy at some point just to satisfy my curiosity, but I will generally stay out of rules threads due to my highly under qualified comprehension of the details.

Well, one of the best ways to begin is to start with the foundation that the rules are built on, and this small book will start you on the right path.

[cipher]

Well, one of the best ways to begin is to start with the foundation that the rules are built on, and this small book will start you on the right path.

Very well, I will have to pick it up.