Putridgasbag

Quote: Originally Posted by Fourputt First the OB stakes, fences, etc. are there to define the boundaries of the golf course. What may or may not be on the other side of the boundary is irrelevant. And when you hit the ball there you have managed to hit such a bad shot that it is no longer on the golf course. There is no option to play it as it lies. The rules have no choice but to require you to play your next stroke from the last point where your ball was at rest on the course. That is the only point of reference on the course that can be used for determining relief in this situation. You can't use the line defining out of bounds as a reference point as the line itself is out of bounds. Nothing makes sense but to require a reload. The penalty is for the privilege of being allowed to take the ball in hand and put it back in play. With a lateral water hazard... first your ball is still on the golf course (it may even be playable within the hazard), so you should derive a possible benefit from that. Second, there is a reference point on the course to use for taking relief (the line which defines the hazard). Again the penalty is for being allowed to to take the ball in hand and putting it back in play. Also by definition a water hazard of any kind, lateral or regular, must hold water at some time of the year. If not, the course management is already in violation for mismarking a feature of the course. What "old days" are you talking about? This was tried in a rules change in 1964, and rescinded by 1968. I don't know anything about the discussion that led to the change or to the withdrawal of it, but one has to believe that it was found to be contrary to the principles of the game. I will say that at the time of that experiment, the golf course residential developments were not as prolific as they are now, so OB was not as much a part of the game, (i.e. on both sides of every hole). This is one rule to keep an eye on to see if there is any move for a change in the future. As it stands, the rule is reasonable and logical within the idea and the spirit of the game. I can however understand the reasoning behind a push for a change. If not a change of the OB rule, then maybe the creation of a new "feature" definition for such courses, with its own procedure. Don't know if it is going to happen though.... we don't often see rules changes that only apply to certain venues. I do believe that modern courses and specifically the residential type do warrant a new look at OB and the penalties associated with it. At my home course there is one hole with out of bounds down the right side due to a runway and around 260ish yards a lateral hazard runs through the course and out of bounds. From the tee box the hazard is partially visible though any ball entering it isn't visible for long so it is possible for a ball to enter the hazard and then come to rest OB or in the hazard but neither will be easily visible or even findable. It is really hard to determine some times where the ball crossed either the hazard or the OB. The difference in the penalty is huge. From the hazard the drop will leave you a shot and not a particularly hard one and the OB well it leaves a the walk back and it is all up to where you "think" the ball went out. I wish on that hole that the penalty was similar for both and it would remove a lot worries about where the ball ended up. Not being able to hit a provisional for a ball thought to be in a hazard comes into play as well on this hole.

Quote: Originally Posted by mikelz Provisional balls don't cost you anything. Untrue. They cost me a $1.50 for each one that follows the original out of bounds. Amazing how you can blast the provisional down the middle and then find the first one in a really nasty spot.

I don't smoke around those who don't. I read in another post that you are a land surveyor. If the Land Surveyors I know were to stop smoking there would be a noticeable drop in the demand! I suppose rules are a little more liberal up north or the 49th. I guess it is all where you are. Around these parts it isn't treated much differently than having a beer. You wouldn't just open and drink a beer just anywhere but in an appropriate and time, No different that pot. Bottom line with me is it my choice what I put in my body whether it be alcohol, Tobacco or even meat.

It is the same people who stand up and look for the camera at a hockey game. People more worried that their buddies will know it was them at the event than enjoying being there. I am fairly sure that the ones who yell random stuff go running home to watch the same event that they have recorded to see if they can hear themselves and then exclaim "That's me" with great pride.

So let me get this straight you believe that because I smoke marijuana and have for well over 30 years that I am antisocial, a criminal and also unhealthy? Little judge-mental no? I walk every round of golf, I am a member of a golf club and participate in many community functions and enjoy spending time with various people some who smoke and some who don't. So unhealthy and antisocial I think not. As for its legality well that is up to a bunch of grumpy old men who believe they have a right to tell me what I can and can't use in my body. I want to know why you believe that you or others have the right to tell me why I am not allowed to smoke or ingest marijuana. You also say soft drugs like marijuana. Out of curiosity what other drugs do you consider soft drugs that do damage? I personally see way more problems in society caused by alcohol than anything else yet I seem to be able to purchase and consume this drug quite easily. Heck I can go to a course and they encourage you to consume this drug right there on the course. They even have convenient mobile delivery service for it.

I have raised two good kids with the youngest graduating high school tomorrow and moving on to university in the fall. The oldest works for a bank and going to school. What the hell does smoking a plant have to do with that? I feel sorry for narrow minded people who think that they know best.

If you were to show up and wear headphones with me I'd leave you behind. Part of golf is being responsible to your playing partners and the rest of the course. By this I mean listening and watching where the other players shot go and to be protective of yourself and others. What do you do if you can't hear and somebody yells fore? If you walk in front of someone hitting? I like music and a lot of music that others may not enjoy as much as me. I wouldn't expect people to put up with me playing music at inappropriate times and I sure wouldn't put up with people doing the same. Time and place for everything and a golf course is not the time and place for music...

In my regular bunch it is a common, very common occurrence. Heck I'm the youngest and I am pushing 50 and it is just a part of life, no different than having a beer. I am a member of a club where the membership is well over 50% military, retired military/ cops and never had a problem. Last year's senior club champ partakes as do a few of the others. To the ones who think that they could even tell... keep think that way. If I doubt that you will be cool about it you won't see it but up in these parts most people just don't care. Can't believe that this is still a topic of conversation and that governments still waste resources on a problem that is only a problem to them.

I see sandbagging and vanity 'cap as a problem with the handicap system itself. Allowing/expecting people to post scores from casual rounds and allowing the calculated handicap to be used in tournaments is just plain stupid. To me a casual round with buddies is nothing like the weekly Mens tournament at the club I belong to or any other tournament with something on the line. It is I suppose why at our course we have 2 handicaps to worry about. The official sanctioned one and the Saturday one. I know that when I look at the club handicap that I am looking at one that is exclusively from rounds that matter and were played under the rules of golf. The official one not so much.

Any scramble that I have played in it is birdie or bust. par is bogey and bogey equals done like diner.

#2 still works even in that format. Getting to play your second from the middle of the fairway and I am guessing here, the closest to the pin on par 3s, makes a huge difference. I also agree with your 3rd point, horses for courses. Sandbagging does happen but not every good score is sandbagging. The lesson learned is don't enter tournaments based on prizes, specially ones that use modified rules, unless you consider your entry fee a donation to a good cause.

Then they wouldn't win much at the year end Scramble event at my club. While that score is quite remarkable I have seen similar things happen where I am fairly certain no cheating occurred though none were for more than a couple of bucks, picture in the local rag and a trophy.

77 on the home course which is a par 71. Best nine would be a 34 (-1) on the back nine of the same course, different day.

Couldn't have written it better myself! When the bag is balanced there in the small of the back it feels like I am almost carrying nothing. Adjusting the bag can be the tricky part. Easiest to do with the bag full and on your back with someone else making the adjustments. I love the feel of being...mmmm for the lack of a better words, under load. The bag strapped on and heading down the first fairway is one of my favourite feelings in golf.

Make a cover. I had some left over mesh fencing and put it on a light frame, 1"x1" cedar. The bunker doesn't have to be too big. just enough for you to comfortably stand and hit. If I was to guess mine is about 4' x 6' total. Really helped with my bunker play.

I have probably said that but I can guarantee you that I had a smile on my face and laughter in the heart! As long as the company is pleasant and as a group we stay in position I'm a happy camper.

Summer is usually not a problem and in the winter or if conditions require I carry a old golf towel.

In my experience the less slope built in the better. Slope done wrong cuts down on your actual putting area. One gently sloped green is better than two tiers and a steep slope between them. My original design used the the two tier method which didn't work quite like I imagined. When I went to the gentler slope that encompassed basically the whole green I found the green much more usable and realistic. Keep it simple and don't try and recreate all types of putts.

Trust me as someone stupid enough to have built and maintained a putting green in my backyard there is a ridiculous amount of work to be done if you actually want to be able to putt on it. If I was to guess I would say that for every hour I used the green there was at least 2 or maybe 3 hours of maintenance. The only thing that I still maintain is the bunker. The green while still there is just a really well drained patch of lawn which every once and a while I cut short for chipping practice.

Players playing out of their ability. If it is your first game ever maybe you would want to consider playing an executive length course or a par 3 and not the tips of a challenging high slope course. Nothing worse than watching somebody struggle trying to play a course or length that is totally beyond them. Excuses. Don't care. Keep up, enjoy the game and try your best and what you shoot is immaterial to me.