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

[David in FL]

Another "ah hah" moment for me that seems so simple.......but trips up a lot of people trying to 2d guess the rules and find obscure situations that seem to be in conflict with the rules.

From section 17, in discussing the Committee's responsibility to adopt Local Rules as appropriate:

It is therefore a principle that the Rules should not attempt to cope with the exceptional. To do so would simply throw all normal play out of balance.

and, in discussing improper Local Rules, specifically giving examples that include "Lost Ball, drop in fairway, two strokes." and "Ball within two club lengths of rain shelter, drop away, without penalty.".........

The use of Local Rules is often essential to the proper playing of the game, but they must be in conformity, and not in conflict, with the Rules of Golf.

[Fourputt]

This book should be required reading for Tour pros.  I'm already seeing passages which Tiger could benefit from.

First two most basic principles combined:  "You put your ball in play at the start of the hole, you play the course as you find it, you play only your own ball, and you do not touch it until you lift it from the hole."  (do not touch it includes moving it by means other than making a stroke)

Fourth paragraph begins, "Golf, like life, is full of breaks.  It is a game of chance, one of its fascinations being in "the way the ball bounces".  To be able to accept the breaks and still go on playing your game as always been one of the tests of the true champion, a test which it is more important to meet successfully in golf than in any other sport."

Since Tiger's ball tends to bounce astray rather often, he would be well advised to to take this to heart if he wants his legacy to be unsullied.  The "true champion" doesn't go off on the rules official for assessing a penalty which the player incurred through his own play.  He cause his ball to move in breach of the second principle, and then he failed to take that break in stride, essentially breach of the first principle.  He better get this figured out and do it soon.

[jamo]

Finally got around to reading this. Took quick pictures of my two favorite passages: The first one because it's a Tom Watson quote from the '80s about TV viewers calling him on a rule, and the second because Bubba Watson could maybe learn something from it. Anyway, I learned a lot. I read it with a copy of the Rules next to me (the USGA sent me three free copies over the winter, for some reason), and I'm going to go back over them a few more times.

[Rulesman]

What version of the book have you got?

Tufts' original was published in 1960, the quote is from the 80s. It's not in my copy.

[iacas]

What version of the book have you got?

Tufts' original was published in 1960, the quote is from the 80s. It's not in my copy.

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

Mine says "Second Edition" on the cover. It also says "As Updated by William J. Williams, Jr. On the Basis of The Rules of Golf (2012-15) on the first page. Then the next page says "Copyright© 2009" and the third page has the Foreword marked June, 2009.

[Rulesman]

Thanks. That explains it.

[Martyn W]

I am a PGA instructor at Golf Academy of America and have been teaching Rules of Golf for 12 years. I am very happy to see this thread - I make 'Principles" required reading in my advanced rules class. I also have a weekly Rules show on thegolfdirector.com where I refer to Tufts every week. If anyone is interested, the videos are archived under the 'TGD TV' tab and there is a discussion forum under the 'community' tab.

Thanks for giving Mr. Tufts the credit he deserves!

[turtleback]

I am a PGA instructor at Golf Academy of America and have been teaching Rules of Golf for 12 years. I am very happy to see this thread - I make 'Principles" required reading in my advanced rules class. I also have a weekly Rules show on thegolfdirector.com where I refer to Tufts every week. If anyone is interested, the videos are archived under the 'TGD TV' tab and there is a discussion forum under the 'community' tab.

Thanks for giving Mr. Tufts the credit he deserves!

Welcome, Martyn.  Good post.  I hope you will stick around and continue participating.  You would bring a different perspective to the board that I think we would benefit from.

[iacas]

I got the third edition of the booklet for my class in March. It has a pale yellowish-green color. I haven't opened it yet, so I'm not 100% certain what's changed, but it says "As Updated by William J. Williams, Jr. On the Basis of The Rules of Golf (effective 2016)"

[Dormie1360]

2 hours ago, iacas said:

I got the third edition of the booklet for my class in March. It has a pale yellowish-green color. I haven't opened it yet, so I'm not 100% certain what's changed, but it says "As Updated by William J. Williams, Jr. On the Basis of The Rules of Golf (effective 2016)"

I'm guessing it's been  updated for the new rule changes....a quick glance found that it took out a reference to R6-6 on page 24 under disqualification penalties.

[ColinL]

10 hours ago, iacas said:

I got the third edition of the booklet for my class in March. It has a pale yellowish-green color. I haven't opened it yet, so I'm not 100% certain what's changed, but it says "As Updated by William J. Williams, Jr. On the Basis of The Rules of Golf (effective 2016)"

Where did you get it from?  I can only see a hardback reprint of the original in the USGA shop.

[Rulesman]

11 hours ago, iacas said:

I got the third edition ...in March.

 it says ...(effective 2016)

I don't mean you particularly but I wonder why nobody spotted the early opportunity for clues to any changes.

 

[iacas]

2 hours ago, Rulesman said:

I don't mean you particularly but I wonder why nobody spotted the early opportunity for clues to any changes.

My class is this upcoming March.

2016

[Rulesman]

1 hour ago, iacas said:

My class is this upcoming March.

2016

Sorry. I thought you got it in March (2015).

[Dormie1360]

7 hours ago, ColinL said:

Where did you get it from?  I can only see a hardback reprint of the original in the USGA shop.

 

Anyone already signed up for next year's workshops got them in the mail last week along with the new decisions book and rule book.  I'm guessing as they get their inventory up you will start seeing more of the new 2016 stuff online.

Edited November 29, 2015 by Dormie1360

[ColinL]

1 hour ago, Dormie1360 said:

 

Anyone already signed up for next year's workshops got them in the mail last week along with the new decisions book and rule book.  I'm guessing as they get their inventory up you will start seeing more of the new 2016 stuff online.

Thanks.  I’m probably looking for it too soon, then.

[DaveP043]

Just to update the source for "The Principles...."

https://www.usgashop.com/Media/Books/id-USGAED0059/Principles_Behind_the_ROG_Third_Edition

3 bucks, plus shipping.

[iacas]

7 minutes ago, DaveP043 said:

Just to update the source for "The Principles...."

https://www.usgashop.com/Media/Books/id-USGAED0059/Principles_Behind_the_ROG_Third_Edition

3 bucks, plus shipping.

Thanks. Added the URL to the first post.