Lining up putts

[Dyna]

As far as a supposed "local" rule goes, what difference does it make if a club breaks the USGA rules as opposed to a player or group of players?

It's ok for a club to allow "cheaters"?

[Fourputt]

  Dyna said:

As far as a supposed "local" rule goes, what difference does it make if a club breaks the USGA rules as opposed to a player or group of players?

You don't seem to know what you are talking about. Have you ever actually seen a rule book? A

local rule is a legal modification of a standard rule, fully authorized by the USGA. A club can't just "invent" its own local rules, they still have to follow the suggestions spelled out in Appendix 1 of the Rules of Golf. This year the use of measuring devices, including laser rangefinders and GPS was made legal and added to the rule book as an option. It is still only legal to use them in competition if the club has adopted this local rule. Currently this new addition is only found in the Decisions as posted above (14-3/0.5), but you can expect to see it in the Specimen Local Rules with the next revision after the first of the year.

[iacas]

  fastfed said:

Well.. Please go back and re-read this thread, I never said "I CHEAT" I actually even said I don't like it when others do.

You've said that you ignore rules that you disagree with. That's cheating. It's really that simple.

  fastfed said:

But there are some things you just have to let slide.

Ignoring the Rules of Golf will not be one of them.

  fastfed said:

Not everyone wants to be on the tour. For god sake, they're are more people who like to play "casually" than have to worry about every little rule.

That doesn't change anything I've said: they're not playing "golf" and, again, the "tour" has nothing to do with it. They're the RULES OF GOLF. They're not "Rules of Golf that Only Apply if You Are Playing on a Pro Tour".

  fastfed said:

Don't sit there and tell him he is a bad person or not really "playing golf"

We're not telling the original poster that. We're telling you that.

If someone comes here and asks for advice, give them the PROPER advice, the LEGAL advice. Don't rationalize why they should ignore the rules.

  Dyna said:

As far as a supposed "local" rule goes, what difference does it make if a club breaks the USGA rules as opposed to a player or group of players?

  Fourputt said:

You don't seem to know what you are talking about. Have you ever actually seen a rule book? A

Thank you, Fourputt, for pointing out the obvious. Dyna doesn't seem to know what he's talking about - I agree.

[Dyna]

  Fourputt said:

You don't seem to know what you are talking about. Have you ever actually seen a rule book?

My 2006-2007 USGA rule book which is sitting right in front of me states absolutley nothing about modifying the rules for local clubs to authorize measuring devices. Mentions modifying the rules to accomdate local playing conditions but that has nothing to do with any sort of yardage measurements.

Maybe you both are all for modifying the official USGA rules when it suits you? Why have a rule prohibiting the devices if local club rules can superscede them? Hell, why have a rule book at all if local rules trump all?

[fastfed]

  iacas said:

You've said that you ignore rules that you disagree with. That's cheating. It's really that simple.

I must be honest with you here, what started off with a little friendly argument actually turned into a little bit of an "insult I win" Attitude Please, enough with the "Its not golf" because people don't want to sit and follow every single rule.. Half the "GOLFERS!!!!" don't even know HALF OF THE DARN RULES!!!! Enough!! I applaud that you like to follow everything in your little book, as believe it or not I do too.. Except little things, like playing a scramble by myself and leaving the flag in, just because I am to lazy, not to help me putt better. Understand, there are other people in this world that don't need nor want to follow every rule golf has decided to come up with, and that doesn't mean they're not golfers..

[NM Golf]

  fastfed said:

Understand, there are other people in this world that don't need nor want to follow every rule golf has decided to come up with, and that doesn't mean they're not golfers..

Well in the eyes of real golfers it does. If you want to hack it around on a Sunday afternoon with some buddies while guzzling beer, have at it. Really, I will think none the leser. But to post scores and all while not following the rules is a different matter entirely.

Do what you want but when on here please give intelligent, legal advice.

  Dyna said:

My 2006-2007 USGA rule book which is sitting right in front of me states absolutley nothing about modifying the rules for local clubs to authorize measuring devices. Mentions modifying the rules to accomdate local playing conditions but that has nothing to do with any sort of yardage measurements.

The rule: 14-3/0.5 Local Rule Permitting Use of Distance-Measuring Device Q. May a Committee, by Local Rule, permit the use of distance-measuring devices? A. Yes. A Committee may establish a Local Rule allowing players to use devices that measure distance only. However, the use of devices that gauge or measure other conditions that might affect a player’s play (e.g., wind or gradient) is not permitted. In the absence of such a Local Rule, the use of a distance-measuring device would be contrary to Rule 14-3. (New) So there you go genius. If you want to try and discuss the rules of golf I would suggest you get a better understanding of them first. Right now you sound like a fool.

[Fourputt]

  Dyna said:

My 2006-2007 USGA rule book which is sitting right in front of me states absolutley nothing about modifying the rules for local clubs to authorize measuring devices. Mentions modifying the rules to accomdate local playing conditions but that has nothing to do with any sort of yardage measurements.

Have you ever seen the book "Decisions on the Rules of Golf"? Did you notice that I quoted that specific decision (14-3/0.5), and that such decisions are an integral part of the Rules? Just because you don't have the book of Decisions, doesn't make it any less valid. Look it up online... that is where I get 99.9% of my information. The USGA Rules website has a prominent place in my favorites list, and I use it for reference and research regularly. I've also attended USGA Rules seminars, which are truly eye-opening.

The rule change allowing measuring devices is there in the decisions for Rule 14... you don't have to take my word for it. See this article from the USGA website: Announcement for measuring devices.

[fastfed]

  NM Golf said:

Well in the eyes of real golfers it does. If you want to hack it around on a Sunday afternoon with some buddies while guzzling beer, have at it. Really, I will think none the leser. But to post scores and all while not following the rules is a different matter entirely.

First off, who are you to say what can and can't be posted? I'll leave this forum if this is how its going to be, I never once said it WAS LEGAL, I said, quote, THIS IS NOT LEGAL!!!

And once again not everyone wants to be so anal with following EVERY SINGLE RULE, that doesn't mean they cannot play golf, or even brag about their score. What I posted again is not going to increase his chance of making his putt. Edit** By the way, I don't drink and play about 3x a week, and follow the rules of golf, atleast for the most part. Playing by myself, being lazy, not pulling the pin, well that right there is a rule I am breaking. OMG!!! He's not a real golfer!!!!

[iacas]

  fastfed said:

First off, who are you to say what can and can't be posted? I'll leave this forum if this is how its going to be, I never once said it WAS LEGAL, I said, quote, THIS IS NOT LEGAL!!!

I believe he meant posting your scores, as in posting them into GHIN or whatever handicap system you use. If you're not obeying the Rules of Golf your scores are, by definition, a sham.

Continuing to argue is making you look bad. My simple advice is that you stop and, the next time a rules question comes up, let people who follow all the rules answer it.

[Fourputt]

I think the 2 of you just don't get it. There aren't 2 ways to do it. You can't say that you play by the rules, then immediately modify it with exceptions. If there are exceptions, then, ipso facto, you aren't playing by the rules. The score cannot be counted for handicap, nor even for bragging rights, because it can't be compared to anyone else's score that WAS played under the rules.

I have no problem with you playing any way you like, rules or no rules... that's up to you and your buddies. But you just can't come in here and say that you play by the rules, then in the next word do a 180 and say you don't. It invalidates anything you say afterwards. And it was even worse giving bad advice to someone who clearly just wanted to know the correct procedure. You had to expect to be called on it.

You think that where the ball was placed doesn't matter???? He may have had to place it in a position that actually increased the break on the putt, or decreased it. Just like you using the pin when putting... if you are playing and reporting for handicap, then you really don't know if using the pin helped or hindered you, all you can know is that it was against the rules, and thus invalidated your score.

[NM Golf]

  iacas said:

I believe he meant posting your scores, as in posting them into GHIN or whatever handicap system you use. If you're not obeying the Rules of Golf your scores are, by definition, a sham.

You are correct, I was referring to posting scores into a handicap system. I don't care what scores you post on the forum.

  iacas said:

Continuing to argue is making you look bad. My simple advice is that you stop and, the next time a rules question comes up, let people who follow all the rules answer it.

Well said.

[fastfed]

  Fourputt said:

And it was even worse giving bad advice to someone who clearly just wanted to know the correct procedure. .

Like your friend, you need to reread, he never asked what the proper RULING WAS, he just asked WHAT WE ALL DO..

You do certain things one way, I do them another, Breaking rules, OK!!! FINE, GET OVER IT NOW..

[fastfed]

And here it is boys..

I get the threat!! I am sure this won't be up to long. So long

  iacas said:

Give up on "lining up putts" thread.

[iacas]

  fastfed said:

And here it is boys..

That was hardly a threat. More like a warning, as stated, or a bit of friendly advice. And the "P" in "PM" doesn't stand for "public." Not cool.

And hey, look at that, your post with the contents of my PM is still here! Guess you were wrong about that one. Why? Because I'll stand by what I've said, and I'll leave this thread up so what you've said will remain a matter of record, too. We don't have many rules here, but one of the big ones is to act like a grown-up. Time for fastfed and Dyna to cool off a little bit and wisen up. This thread has run its course. To Benefactor, the OP, I hope you got your answer out of all of that mess.