What is the best rule in golf?

[boogielicious]

We've had a lot of discussion about rules we don't like and how we would change the rules of golf. But I'd like to know what you think the best rule is golf is.

I will start with a basic principle: Play the ball as it lies.

It is so simple and yet causes more consternation than anything else in golf. But it is easy to apply. 

 

[saevel25]

Whoo-hoo I get to answer this again ;)

 

1-4. Points Not Covered By Rules

If any point in dispute is not covered by the Rules, the decision should be made in accordance with equity.

 I like this rule because it allows for interpretation of the rules for each unique situation. 

[isukgolf]

Lift and clean during wet conditions ...  

[David in FL]

 

I will start with a basic principle: Play the ball as it lies.

It is so simple and yet causes more consternation than anything else in golf. But it is easy to apply. 

 

Close, but I'm going with:

Rule 28 - Ball Unplayable

The player may deem his ball unplayable at any place on the course, except when the ball is in a water hazard. The player is the sole judge as to whether his ball is unplayable.

Because it provides the answer to the vast majority of excuses people come up with when they don't want to play the ball as it lies!

[georgep]

Knocking the ball off the tee at address is not a stroke. 

[SavvySwede]

Close, but I'm going with:

Rule 28 - Ball Unplayable

The player may deem his ball unplayable at any place on the course, except when the ball is in a water hazard. The player is the sole judge as to whether his ball is unplayable.

Because it provides the answer to the vast majority of excuses people come up with when they don't want to play the ball as it lies!

I'll have to agree with this one. Sometimes you just need an out.

[rkim291968]

Speaking of needing an out, I like the ESC scoring rule. 

[Hardspoon]

My vote for the best rule would be: 

Section 4: Holes Not Played/Not Played Under the Rules of Golf

Q.  How do I post a score if a hole is not played or not played under the principles of The Rules of Golf?"

 

A.  For handicap purposes, the player must record a score of par plus any handicap strokes normally received for the holes not played or holes not played in accordance with The Rules of Golf. These scores should have an “X” preceding the number. For example, player A is not able to play holes 16, 17, and 18 due to darkness. Player A has a Course Handicap™ of 12 and holes 16, 17, 18 are a par 5, 3, 4, and are allocated as the number 4, 16, 10 handicap holes, respectively. Therefore, player A will record an x-6, x-3, x-5 on holes 16, 17, and 18, respectively.

This allows weaker players to employ "casual" rulings (for example, not trudging back to the tee after a lost ball) without feeling like the entire round is somehow invalid, and it speeds up play.

[bkuehn1952]

I'll have to agree with this one. Sometimes you just need an out.

 

As some have said, the Unplayable Ball rule. 

Edited October 2, 2015 by bkuehn1952

[Jon Hoover]

25-2. Embedded Ball
A ball embedded in its own pitch-mark in the ground in any closely mown area through the green may be lifted, cleaned and dropped, without penalty, as near as possible to the spot where it lay but not nearer the hole. The ball when dropped must first strike a part of the course through the green. "Closely mown area" means any area of the course, including paths through the rough, cut to fairway height or less.

[Abu3baid]

25-2. Embedded Ball
A ball embedded in its own pitch-mark in the ground in any closely mown area through the green may be lifted, cleaned and dropped, without penalty, as near as possible to the spot where it lay but not nearer the hole. The ball when dropped must first strike a part of the course through the green. "Closely mown area" means any area of the course, including paths through the rough, cut to fairway height or less.

I like that rule too!  Sweet.

[DrvFrShow]

The unplayable rule. Sometimes you need an out, or sometimes you simply want an easy way to improve your angle without risking putting yourself in a worse position.

[RickK]

 

Close, but I'm going with:

Rule 28 - Ball Unplayable

The player may deem his ball unplayable at any place on the course, except when the ball is in a water hazard. The player is the sole judge as to whether his ball is unplayable.

Because it provides the answer to the vast majority of excuses people come up with when they don't want to play the ball as it lies!

Ditto

[Fourputt]

We've had a lot of discussion about rules we don't like and how we would change the rules of golf. But I'd like to know what you think the best rule is golf is.

I will start with a basic principle: Play the ball as it lies.

It is so simple and yet causes more consternation than anything else in golf. But it is easy to apply. 

 

 

And I'll add a second fundamental principle:  Play the course as you find it.  What you see is what you get.  Don't bend, break, groom (aside from what is allowed in Rules 23 and 24), uproot, or otherwise do anything more than minimally required to take your stance and play your stroke.  

Remember, the rules do not entitle the player to a perfect stance.  If a bush or tree is in the place where you want to take your stance, you must move into position in  the least intrusive manner.  You cannot choose a path just so that it bends a branch out of the way of your swing if there is a less intrusive way to address the ball.

Edited October 5, 2015 by Fourputt

[boogielicious]

 

And I'll add a second fundamental principle:  Play the course as you find it.  What you see is what you get.  Don't bend, break, groom (aside from what is allowed in Rules 23 and 24), uproot, or otherwise do anything more than minimally required to take your stance and play your stroke.  

Remember, the rules do not entitle the player to a perfect stance.  If a bush or tree is in the place where you want to take your stance, you must move into position in  the least intrusive manner.  You cannot choose a path just so that it bends a branch out of the way of your swing if there is a less intrusive way to address the ball.

I was hoping someone would bring this one up! Thanks Rick. 

[HonestyPolicy]

I agree, "Play the ball as it lies". Such a simple concept yet sooooooo many seem to have a problem with it.

Here's another one that I've found controversial:

3-5. Players Competing from Different Tees or Men and Women from Same Tees

Basically this rule says that if you compete against someone who is playing from a different tee than you are, to have a fair competition there must be an adjustment to the handicaps based on the difference in difficulty (rating) between tees. Here's an example of 2 Men competing:

PlayerA and Player B both have 10 handicaps from their respective tees. PlayerA is a 10 from the white tees and PlayerB is a 10 from the gold tees. On the surface PlayerB thinks he's playing PlayerA straight up, but the white tees are rated 70.2, and the yellow tees are rated 66.6.  The difference between ratings is 3.6 and then rounded to 4 strokes, so either PlayerB gets 4 less strokes (the preferred method), or PlayerA gets 4 more strokes because PlayerB is playing a less difficult course.

I've found many that want to move up to the forward tees have a big problem with this one!