As we enter a new season, a few things have occurred to me during our forced hibernation.
I’m sure you are no different than I am when it comes to thinking about golf during the off-season – thoughts of warm sunny days, blue skies and emerald fairways dancing in our heads.
However, I also think of other stuff too – here is a list of a few:
A ball goes into a divot but I can’t get relief. People think this only happens when someone is neglectful, failing to replace a big chunk of grass, but that’s not always true. Divots can be removed by a mower or perhaps there is no divot, just scattered sod. If there is to be a rule change what would the criteria be? What would determine eligibility and still be fair to the other players? Strangely, a ball flies down the fairway and comes to rest in a previous player’s ball mark. Since you can’t determine whether or your ball made the mark or not, you get relief because your ball remained in its own pitch mark – only it didn’t. I think I’ll phone in.
Why isn’t the edge of every fairway marked with red stakes? This would eliminate a return to the tee for a lost ball or an OB and speed up play. After all, why should a player have to play a ball across ground, she/he has already covered? Further, I actually wonder why we need yellow hazards as well when a few simple wording changes could allow for the proper procedure.
Players take a lot of time positioning their ball so their alignment line is correctly set in place. Doesn’t placing a mark to indicate the line violate Rule 8:2a and b?
Given the controversy regarding the correct replacement of a player’s ball after it has been marked, why not introduce an actual ball-marking tool? A big part of the problem is caused by players trying to align the line on their ball. They lift, turn and replace the ball repeatedly, each time increasing the potential to make an incorrect replacement. A tool shaped like a horseshoe or a “V” that fits around the ball would eliminate the problem.
Why does the men’s tour have male rules officials and the women’s tour female rules officials?
Why don’t pace of play rules apply in a playoff when the largest number of viewers is watching?
In a playoff, one player draws to hit first. Why not alternate on the next hole, so each has equal advantage?
Why do some men tour professionals wear steel spikes? Do they take their shoes off when they enter the clubhouse?
When TV announcers say things like “he just birdied the hole and is only the second to do so today,” why don’t they know who else did it?
When a 10-ton mower can ride on the fairway to cut it, why are carts kept on the cart path?
Couldn’t we have more fireside chats with tour players? Let them tell some of the crazy antics that happen as they travel around the world.
Why not “mic” the caddies, so we can hear their discussions with the player?
Why not “mic” the rules official so we can hear the rules discussion between him and a player and perhaps, we’d all learn something?
Why can’t the scoreboard show the amount of money a player would win if the event were to end at that moment, so we can get a better grasp of the situation?
At the LPGA Tour’s Volunteers of America Texas Shootout, we watched over and over and over excellent players trying to hit the 18th fairway of the Las Colinas Country Club in Irving, Tx. Over and over and over, the ball ran down the hill behind a bunch of trees in the right rough. If golf is supposed to be fun, how does the average player play this hole?
In the men’s match play event why doesn’t the player putting the easiest putt for the lowest score play first? Don’t they know they get far more “free” tries and lot fewer short pressure putts.
When the El Nino current provided warm, dry weather every-one complained about the temperature being too hot. Now the current has reversed and it is cold, miserable and raining everyday, why aren’t they happy?
Why does every player who just came off course after shooting the highest score of their lives say, “what time tomorrow?”
Let me add one more question to your excellent list, Michael… Why don’t they just take the Rule Book, throw it out, and start again with some common sense?
Why can’t you ground your club in a hazard?
Bruce;
Go to The Rules of Golf 1856. Rule 4: Lifting of Break-clubs, &c.
All loose impediments within a club-length of the ball may be removed on or off the course when the ball lies on grass. (See Rules 6 and 12.) When a ball lies in a bunker or sand, there shall be no impression made, nor sand or other obstacle removed by the club or otherwise, before striking at the ball. When a ball lies within a club-length of a washing tub, the tub may be removed; and when on clothes, the ball may be lifted and dropped behind them.
Seriously, I think the original rule about ‘making an impression’ was included because bunker shots were played with a niblick and with its thin leading edge it dug into the ground. Therefore, players would benefit from ‘grounding’ the club. The part about the ‘wash tub’ has been removed to suit modern times.
FYI The sand wedge was invented by Gene Sarazen around 1930.
In my opinion, we only require about 10 or so rules……the same 10 used by every casual player every day.
Bruce,
Many of the rules of golf may seem bizarre but when you look at all the possible scenarios they do have a purpose, mostly for preventive measures.
This rule prevents those who would improve their lie, by moving loose impediment around the ball that could negatively affect their shot, during the act of taking their backswing.