Speaking of golf rules ...

[RocketDawg]

Do you think that amateurs, even weekend hackers like most of us, should play strictly by the rules of golf? And I mean dropping in the right place, not moving the ball around, replacing your putt against the coin, no gimmes in medal play, no mulligans, etc.?

Keep in mind that the rules make no provisions for courses that are not in good shape (if your ball is in rocks, take an unplayable), nor does it give slack just because a person is a lousy golfer, ad there are no special rules for amateurs (except we can still use square grooves for a few more years). And there's no such thing as "winter rules".

What do you think? Many tournaments at our level allow the ball to be moved and such. But is that the way it should be?

 

[chew1095]

Hell no. Would take my 25 handicap up to 40.

 

[Dawgzilla]

Winter Rules ARE a real thing:

Section 7 of the USGA rules of golf specifically address preferred lies (Winter Rules). The "committee" can institute a local rule allowing for the use of preferred lies any time the conditions warrant. If a preferred lies rule is in effect, you are still supposed to post your score for handicap purposes.

The real crux of this rule is what constitutes "the committee". If you are playing in some type of tournament or other organized event, then the committee is obviously the rules committee is charge of the event. Some private clubs have an actual committee that rules on these types of things. For most people, though, the "committee" is just you and the people you are playing with.

So, if your foursome agrees to play be "winter rules" and allow for preferred lies in the fairway, then "the committee" has decided to adopt a local rule and you are free to play by that rule and post your score for handicap purposes.

As for your main question, the guys I play with try to abide by the rules as best we can, but it doesn't always work out. We play the ball where it lies unless the course is so wet that carts are restricted to the path. I am sure we have all taken and illegal drop at some point or another. When the course is crowded, its just not feasible to enforce a stroke and distance penalty for a lost ball, or for a ball that we discover is OB, so we just make up new rules and go forward (the guy getting hit with the penalty will probably make double bogey or worse, anyway, so there's no real harm.

 

[missouridawg]

Hell no...

Obviously, don't stretch the rules to give you an advantage... but pace of play is extremely important. Take the drop at the same spot (or close to it, just like Tiger did) and carry on.