Wadess

You're not alone. I liked the setup except for the greens. The randomness of the green surfaces made luck a major factor.

Why not and how so?

This is my biggest problem with the rules in general. The game has evolved from a simple set of rules to the large set we have now that try to cover every possible situation. In my mind, the attempt to create an exhaustive set of rules is an implication that players are not honorable. Maybe that's the reality of modern times. I would have a small one page set of rules and a final catch all regarding anything not covered. Did the player intend to gain an advantage by the action? (If yes, loss of hole or DQ depending on match\stroke. If no, go to question 2) Did the player gain an advantage by the action? (If yes, replay if found immediately, two stroke penalty if not feasible. If no, no penalty)

I think this is where lot of the difference of opinion regarding the rules is found. The ball was played from a different spot. That's a matter of fact. You have the diehard rules guys that follow the rules to the letter and think they're perfect. On the other hand, you have varying degrees of disagreement with the rules\ruling (no call ins, penalty doesn't fit the infraction, unfair scrutiny of high profile players). It's essentially a letter of the law vs. a spirit of the law argument. After all, it's blatantly obvious the current rules were written by lawyers. I would never say she "cheated" to win even knowing she played from a different spot. Cheating is doing something for an advantage and I don't believe she intended to or gained any advantage by playing from the different spot.

The change in family dynamics is a major contributor that I think is often overlooked. With both spouses working and sharing kid duties, it is hard to fit in a round anywhere but the weekend.

I bought the Thule Sonic last year to carry clubs on a trip. I've used it for three trips since and it has worked great. I can easily fit two sets (in cart bags) and assorted other golf items no problem. There is no way 2 pull carts would fit in the small Sonic model that I have though.

Regatta Bay: Very nice course. Fun to play and pretty narrow. Don't know if I think it's worth the early morning rates ($145). Indian Bayou: Fun layout and pretty well maintained for the cost. Holiday (PCB): Greens were great and the course was cheap. Forgettable layout. Eglin (Eagle Course): Can't slam it for the price (

If you want to see the growth of the rules, check out http://www.ruleshistory.com/rules1899.html . You can go back and look at 18th and 19th century rules too.

You don't have to run a professional tournament using the same rules. Using football as an example, the NFL has a different rule book than the NCAA or NFHS.

As iacas already pointed out, pages 11-17 are the Quick guide to the rules of golf. I have a hard time believing anyone caring enough about the game to look at the rules wouldn't know what a club or ball were, but that could be easily fixed by adding two definitions. A water hazard and how to address ending up in one is covered on page 16. As for the rest of the vitrol, I'm sorry I offended your sensibilities by attacking the holy rules of golf by answering the original question. I have no desire to get into an intellectual pissing match. I gave an extremely quick cut as to what I would change without much thought as that wasn't part of the original question. I also don't have a desire to fix it. If that makes me lazy, so be it. I have better things to do with my time than worship at the altar of the USGA. The USGA spent almost 3 million on the rules last year. They could simplify if they chose to.

I have to disagree. If the rulebook stopped after the definitions, I would be in complete agreement. For me, the "fleshing out" of the rules (36-117) turn a gentlemanly set of principles into a law book detailing every possible scenario. I would wager that lawyer(s) were heavily involved in the writing. There's even a subsection titled "The facts of the case". I suppose my fix would be to cut the book off after page 35.

I am one of the 15. I'm familiar with the rules and have a rule book to reference. Everyone I play with admitted being overwhelmed when they first started playing strictly by the rules. The USGA rule book is 210 pages and then there's a decisions book! I don't know how I would approach condensing the rules and haven't really thought about it. That wasn't the question. The first recorded rules of golf numbered a whopping 13 and would easily fit on a single sheet of paper.

Congrats guys!

Will do. I love a good Japanese steakhouse!