Number of balls allowed by Pros in a single round or day?

[Fourputt]

Umm, Turtleback.  I expressed my opinion of what the rules SHOULD be.  If you think the currently entirely optional appendix addendums to the Rules of Golf ought to be incorporated into the body of Rules, then please speak up and say so.  And regardless of your opinion, or mine,  this 'one ball' rule remains entirely optional. It AIN'T A RULE.

On that you are wrong, Joe.  The definition of "Rule":

Rule Or Rules

The term “Rule’’ includes:

a. The Rules of Golf and their interpretations as contained in “Decisions on the Rules of Golf”;

b. Any Conditions of Competition established by the Committee under Rule 33-1 and Appendix I;

c. Any Local Rules established by the Committee under Rule 33-8a and Appendix I; and

d. The specifications on:

(i) clubs and the ball in Appendices II and III and their interpretations as contained in “A Guide to the Rules on Clubs and Balls”; and

(ii) devices and other equipment in Appendix IV.

[joekelly]

OK.  I was not considering optional rules.  Only those that always apply.  But the more i attend this forum the more is seems that 'always' and 'never' are also optional.

[Rulesman]

OK.  I was not considering optional rules.  Only those that always apply.  But the more i attend this forum the more is seems that 'always' and 'never' are also optional.

Local Rules and Conditions of Competition (approved by the USGA/R&A;) are Rules which may optionally be invoked by the Committee. Unless they are invoked by the Committee, they are not optional for the player. Similarly, they are not optional for the player if not invoked by the Committee.

[onthehunt526]

Local Rules and Conditions of Competition (approved by the USGA/R&A;) are Rules which may optionally be invoked by the Committee. Unless they are invoked by the Committee, they are not optional for the player. Similarly, they are not optional for the player if not invoked by the Committee.

Would that be for example, where the tournament committee allows you to remove stones from bunkers? I don't think that there is a limit to the number of balls one may carry in a stipulated round... as long as the player follows the Tour "one-ball" rule... interestingly enough, the model year does matter, however, the numbers for identifying the ball do not

[ColinL]

Would that be for example, where the tournament committee allows you to remove stones from bunkers?

I don't think that there is a limit to the number of balls one may carry in a stipulated round... as long as the player follows the Tour "one-ball" rule... interestingly enough, the model year does matter, however, the numbers for identifying the ball do not

That's right.  The Rules give the Committee the authority to introduce a Local Rule  deeming stones in bunkers  to be movable obstructions (which you can remove) whereas they are normally loose impediments (which you can't touch).

[onthehunt526]

That's right.  The Rules give the Committee the authority to introduce a Local Rule  deeming stones in bunkers  to be movable obstructions (which you can remove) whereas they are normally loose impediments (which you can't touch).

I brought the stones in bunkers thing up, because every year at the Ithaca City Golf Tournament, we play that local rule, because the committee decided a few years back that the stones could cause a safety issue... so they changed the stones from "loose impediments", to "movable obstructions"... I digress, I think it would be embarrassing for one to run out of balls in a tournament though, you don't see it very often though...

[turtleback]

Umm, Turtleback.  I expressed my opinion of what the rules SHOULD be.  If you think the currently entirely optional appendix addendums to the Rules of Golf ought to be incorporated into the body of Rules, then please speak up and say so.  And regardless of your opinion, or mine,  this 'one ball' rule remains entirely optional. It AIN'T A RULE.

No you did not say that this was what your opinion of the what the rules SHOULD BE.

Others have already corrected your misunderstanding of what the rules consist of.

[joekelly]

@turtleback , I've already expressed my 'mis-understandings' concerning the Body of Rules, and the various Appendices. Now, some of the notions in the Appendices are not optional, eg, the rules set forth on the velocity of Balls and shape of Clubs as in Appendix II and III.  But i maintain that the advice on Local Rules, as in App I, are optional according to the wishes of the Committee of the Match.

If you don't like my arguments re the One Ball Rule. fine.  I care not.  Let's hear your opinion on this issue, if you have one.  And generally, in English, we don't like to end sentences with dangling prepositions. One stroke penalty on you.

[onthehunt526]

Let's put this question to bed for good. The following is taken from the USGA's FAQ page, the rule in question here is Rule 5 by the way: Rule 5 Maximum number of Balls Q. What is the maximum number of balls I can have in my bag or use during the stipulated round? A. The Rules of Golf do not place a limit on the number of balls that can be carried or used during the round. The "one-ball" rule is in effect a Local Rule, which the Tour places on their hard card, as a general Tour rule... which basically amounts to a new local rule every week...