Opinion & Analysis
(Sort of) Playing by the rules
The USGA handicap system is often misunderstood.
Those of you who play baseball or bowl know exactly how your averages are calculated: The number of hits divided by the number of at-bats; or the total pins divided by the number of games you bowl. It’s simple math.
But here is an essential difference in those averages and your golf handicap: The USGA is not counting your average score; it is calculating, as best the system can, your ability to play a golf course.
This is why the worst rounds are tossed out, and why recent rounds are valued more than older rounds. So if you are capable of shooting an 85 on a 70-rated golf course (remember, rating nor par) you are a 15. This system, according to the USGA, keeps the playing field as level as it can be. But it can be misleading.
Quite often, golfers with a certain handicap play in a competitive stroke play event away from their home course and do not play as well as their handicap indicates. Take a low-handicap player who tries to qualify for the state open or an amateur event. They are, say, a 7-handicap, but they shoot 88 in the qualifier. Bad day? Maybe, but maybe not, because individual stroke play events are quite a different story than the games often played at home.
Bobby Jones offered a great analogy for this: If one were to put a 1-foot wide plank on the ground and asked you to walk across it, you would do so with no thought at all. That’s like golf with your buddies. Now, take the same plank and raise it 10 feet in the air.
Whoa! Better be careful. One step carefully in front of the other; every step counts. What if I fall?
Now that’s tournament golf. Jones went on to say that if the plank was raised to 30 feet, that would be major tournament golf. But his point is clear: There’s a big difference between golf with your buddies and tournaments.
This phenomenon has always fascinated me on several levels. I have explored the reasons in addition to the obvious one, pressure, but I think there are other factors involved. Namely, the rules of golf. If you consider the way most club matches or rounds are played, there is a very loose application of the rules of golf. Here are a few examples:
Gimmes: In stroke play there is no such thing, but in match play a conceded putt cannot be declined or refused. That is why you cannot play your ball “for score” in a four ball (better ball) match. If I have a 10-footer for par and my partner has a 5-footer for birdie on the same line, my opponent will of course concede my putt so I don’t show my partner the line. By the rules of golf, I have to pick that 10-footer up. And in big money matches, I BETTER pick it up. That’s why stroke play and match play are two very different animals that cannot be played concurrently.
Lost ball: There is only one option — stroke and distance. Go back to where you just played your last shot and add a stroke. “I’ll just drop one here to save time” is not in the rules book. This one is tougher on us than the pros, because in everyday golf we do not have the advantage of 10,000 people in the gallery looking for our golf ball.
Out of Bounds: There is only one option: Go back to where you have just hit your last shot and add a stroke. Again, you can’t just “drop one here.”
Wrong ball: In stroke play, you go back and play the correct ball and add two shots. In match play, it means a loss of hole. “Let’s go back, play the right ball but forget about the two strokes” is not applicable.
Although these may be the most commonly violated rules (there are many others such as playing the ball “up,” the leaf rule, playing out of turn, not announcing a provisional, etc.), the important thing to remember is this — many times, golfers do not violate these rules out of ignorance or cheating. They are violating rules to save time.
Recently, I wrote about pace of play and suggested that more match play would speed things up. The reason why? If all golfers played by USGA rules like they are supposed to (local rules notwithstanding), play would be even slower. If a golfer loses a ball in a fourball, the weight of the match would simply shift to his or her playing partner. “Play hard pards, I owe ya one,” is much better than a provisional and 10 minutes of searching for a ball that will never be recovered.
Now, getting back to where I began the story, do not let your home course handicap mislead you when it comes to playing competitively. For those of you who want to go the tournament route, you should learn the rules and play in as many competitive stroke play events as possible. This will give you a good idea of where you stand to par and other good players.
Recently while officiating a junior event, two young boys drove from the first tee dead down the middle of the fairway, maybe 240 or 250 yards out. They were both playing No. 3 Titleist ProV1 balls, and their balls came within a yard of each other. They were shocked (and their parents none too pleased) when I sent them back to the first tee hitting three! Both of their shots were considered lost because they could not identify their golf balls (neither had marked them). I wonder how many times that one would be called in a friendly club match.
Golf is a very difficult game by the book, but that’s why we have local rules. Personally, for the sake of time, I would drop the distance penalty for both out of bounds and lost ball and just take the stroke penalty. There’s no need to hold play up by going back to the tee, and even provisionals slow play with golfers of a certain level.
The game is about enjoyment with your buddies at a respectable pace. Playing some local rules and using a few simple time-saving tricks can help that; but don’t let your final score mislead you or be disappointed if you head out with the big boys.
As always, feel free to send a swing video to my Facebook page and I will do my best to give you my feedback.
Opinion & Analysis
Brandel Chamblee PGA Championship Q&A: Rose’s huge McLaren risk, distracted LIV pros and why Aronimink suits the bombers
PGA Championship week is here, and Brandel Chamblee did not hold back in our latest discussion ahead of the season’s second major.
In our 2026 PGA Championship Q&A, golf’s leading analyst made the case that PIF pulling LIV’s funding has left its players competing in a state of confusion, called Justin Rose’s mid-season equipment switch a huge risk at 45, and explained why Aronimink will be a bombers’ delight this week.
Check out the full Q&A below.
Gianni: With the PIF confirming that they’re pulling funding from LIV at the end of the season, what impact do you expect that to have on the LIV players competing at the PGA Championship?
Brandel: I would imagine that they have all been thrown into a state of confusion, and will be distracted, not knowing where they are going to play next year and not knowing exactly their road back to either the DP World Tour or the PGA Tour. Or in Rahm’s case, being tied to a sinking ship for the next few years, likely playing for pennies on the dollar in events that no one cares about or watches.
I doubt this would put him in the best frame of mind to compete at his highest level. Keeping in mind, however, that majors are the only time that LIV disciples get to play in events that matter, so never disregard the motivation they have to prove to the world they are still relevant.
Gianni: Justin Rose switched to McLaren Golf equipment mid-season while playing some of the best golf of his career. What do you make of the change?
Brandel: I don’t really know what to make of Rose switching equipment. It seems a huge risk on his part, even though it is likely, in my opinion, that the clubs he’s playing are similar, if not the exact grinds, to what he was playing previously, with a McLaren stamp on them.
Having said that, at best, it is a distraction when he seemed to be as dialed in with his game as any 45-year-old could be and trending in the majors to perhaps do something that would definitely put him in the Hall of Fame. At worst, given the possibility that these clubs aren’t just duplicates of his old set stamped with McLaren on them, he’s made an equipment change that would take time, and 45-year-old athletes don’t have the time to do such things.
Gianni: Aronimink has only hosted a handful of professional events since it hosted the 1962 PGA Championship. What kind of test does it present, and does a course with less recent major championship history tend to level the playing field?
Brandel: Even though Aronimink has only hosted a handful of meaningful professional events, it has been fairly discerning in who can win there. When Keegan Bradley won the BMW Championship on the Donald Ross masterpiece in 2018, he was the 2nd best iron player on tour coming into that week. When Nick Watney won the AT&T at Aronimink in 2011, he was 2nd in strokes gained total coming into the week.
In 2020, Aronimink hosted the KPMG Championship, and Sei Young Kim won. On the LPGA that year, she was first in greens in regulation, putts per green in regulation, and scoring average on the way to being the LPGA player of the year. And then there is the 1962 PGA Championship won by Gary Player, who eventually became just one of a few players to win the career grand slam on the way to winning 9 majors. It is a formidable test, and if it’s not softened by rain, it will bring out the best in the upper echelons of the game.
Gianni: Is there a specific hole at Aronimink that you think will do the most to decide the winner?
Brandel: The hardest hole at Aronimink in each of the three tour events that have been played there since 2010 has been the long par-3 8th hole, with the par-4 10th being the second hardest, so most of the carnage will happen around the turn, but with the par-5 16th offering opportunities for bold plays and the tough closing holes at 17 and 18, the finish is likely to be frenetic.
Gianni: The PGA Championship has always sat in the shadow of the other majors. What does the ideal PGA Championship look like in your eyes, and what would it take for it to carve out its own identity?
Brandel: The PGA Championship, to whatever degree it suffers from the comparison to the other three majors, is still counted just as much when adding them up at the end of one’s career. Almost 1/3 of Nicklaus’ major wins were the five PGA Championships he won. Walter Hagen won 11 majors, five of which were PGA Championships.
Tiger Woods twice in his career won back-to-back PGA Championships, and those four majors count just as much as the other 11 he won. The PGA may not have the prestige of the other three, but it carries the same weight. Having said that, I preferred the identity that it had as the last major of the year.
Gianni: You nailed your Masters picks. Rory won, Scottie finished solo second, and Morikawa surged to a tie for seventh. Who are your top 3 picks for the PGA Championship and why?
Brandel: I am not a huge fan of majors played on golf courses that have been shorn of most of the trees, although I understand some of the agronomic reasons for doing so and of course the ease with which it allows members to play after errant drives. However, at the highest level, it all but eliminates any strategy off the tee and turns professional golf into an even bigger slugfest. That means that it will likely be a bomber’s delight this week, but fortunately, Scottie Scheffler is long enough to play that game and straight enough to play it better than anyone else.
The major championships give us very few surprises anymore, going back to the beginning of 2012, so the last 57 majors played, the average world rank of the winners has been better than 15th in the world. So look at the highest ranked and longest drivers who are on form coming into the PGA Championship who also have great short games as the surrounds at Aronimink are very challenging. That’s Scottie Scheffler by a mile and then McIlroy and Cameron Young with a far bigger nod towards DeChambeau than I gave him at the Masters.
In this episode of the Club Junkie Podcast, we dive into one of the most interesting flatstick releases of the year with a full review of the new TaylorMade SYSTM 2 putters. After spending time on the greens, I break down what makes this design stand out, where it performs, and why it has me completely torn between loving it and fighting it. If you are into feel, alignment, and consistency, this is one you will want to hear about.
We also take a look at some of the putters in play on the PGA Tour last week. From familiar favorites to a few surprising setups, there is always something to learn from what the best players in the world are rolling with under pressure.
To wrap things up, I walk through the process of building a set of JP Golf Prime irons paired with Baddazz Gold Series shafts. From component selection to performance goals, this is a deep dive into what goes into creating a unique custom set and why this combo has been so intriguing.
This year my 50th birthday. Gosh, where has the time gone?
As a teenager in rural Missouri, some of my junior high and high school years felt interminable. Graduation seemed light years away. But the older I get, the faster life seems to fly by.
I’m also increasingly aware of my mortality. My dad died recently. Earlier this year, a friend and fellow PGA of America professional and I were texting about our next catch-up. The next message I received was news of his unexpected passing at 48. Shortly after, a woman I dated in college succumbed to cancer at 51.
Certainly, one can share perspective at any age. Seniors help freshmen, veterans guide rookies. But reaching this milestone feels like as good a time as any to do one of those “what would I tell my younger self?” articles.
I’ve had a uniquely varied career in golf. I started as a 27-year-old, average-length-hitting, 14-handicap computer engineer and somehow managed to turn pro before running out of money, constantly bootstrapping my way forward. I’ve won qualifiers and set venue records in the World Long Drive Championships, finished fifth at the Speedgolf World Championships, coached all skill levels as a PGA of America professional, built industry-leading swing speed training programs for Swing Man Golf, helped advance the single-length iron market with Sterling Irons®, caddied on the PGA TOUR and PGA TOUR Champions, and played about 300 courses across 32 countries.
It’s been a ride, and I’ve gone both deep and wide.
So while I can consult and advise from a lot of angles, let me keep it to a few things I’d tell the average golfer who wants to improve.
1. Think About What You Want
Everyone has their own reason for picking up a golf club.
Oddly, as a professional athlete, I’m not internally driven by competition. That can be challenging, as the industry currently prioritizes and incentivizes competition over the love of the game.
For me, I love walking and being outdoors. Nature helps balance my energy. I prefer courses that are integrated into the natural beauty of their surroundings. I’m comfortable practicing alone. I’m a deep thinker, and I genuinely enjoy investigating the game, using data and intuition to unearth unique, often innovative insights. I’m fortunate to be strong and athletic, so I appreciate the chance to engage with my abilities. Traveling feels adventurous. I could go on.
You don’t have to overthink it like I do. For you, it might be as simple as hitting balls to escape work, hanging out with friends, and playing loosely with the rules and the score.
The point is to give yourself permission to play for your own reasons, and let that be enough.
But if improvement is your goal, thinking about your destination—and when you want to get there—is important, because it dictates the steps you need to take. When I set out to go from a 14-handicap to the PGA TOUR as quickly as possible, the steps I needed were very different from those of a working golfer trying to break 90 in six months. That’s also different from someone who just wants a few peaceful hours outside each week, away from work or family.
None of these goals are better than the others, but each requires a different plan that you can work backward from.
2. There Are Lots of Things That Can Work
One of the challenges of golf is that, although there are rules for playing, there aren’t clear, industry-wide standards for how to best play the game. There’s a lot of gray area.
You might hear a top coach or trainer insist that a certain move is the best way to swing or train. Then you dig a bit deeper and, much to your confusion and frustration, another respected coach or trainer says something completely different. I don’t think anyone is trying to confuse you—at least I hope not. It’s just where the industry is right now.
You have to be careful with advice from tournament pros, too. They might be great at scoring, but they’re also human and sometimes just as susceptible as amateurs to believing things that don’t really move the needle. Tour players might describe what they feel, but that’s not always what they’re actually doing when assessed with technology.
I recently ran a test on my YouTube channel (which connects to my GolfWRX article “How to use your hands in the golf swing for power and accuracy”), and, interestingly, two of the most commonly taught hand actions produced the worst results in the test.
Coaches can certainly help. If you find someone you connect with to help navigate, that’s great. But there are many ways to get the ball in the hole. In the current landscape, you may need to seek multiple opinions, think critically, and use your own intuition to discern what seems true and whose advice resonates with you.
I’d recommend seeking someone who is open-minded and always learning, because things constantly change. Absolutes like “correct” or “proper” should raise a red flag. AI can be useful, but it tends to confidently repeat popular advice, so proceed with caution.
3. Get Custom Fit
If you’re serious about becoming a better player, getting custom fit is hugely important. There’s no sense fighting your equipment if you don’t have to. Most better players get fit these days and, if they don’t, they’re usually skilled enough to work around clubs that aren’t ideal.
If you plan to play for a long time, it’s worth spending a little more upfront to get something that truly fits you and your game, rather than continually buying and discarding equipment.
Equipment rules haven’t really changed significantly since the early 2000s. To stay in business, manufacturers keep pushing those limits. If you pull a bunch of clubs and balls off the rack and test them, you’ll find differences. I’ve tested two new drivers and seen a 30-yard total distance gap. Usually, the issue isn’t bad equipment; it’s that the combination of components simply isn’t the best fit.
It’s like wearing a new pair of floppy clown shoes. Sure, they’re shoes—but you won’t sprint your best in them compared to track shoes that fit perfectly.
Be wary of what’s called custom fitting, too. Sometimes the term is used as a marketing strategy rather than an actual fitting. In some retail settings, fitters may be incentivized to steer you toward higher-priced components. That doesn’t automatically mean it’s not the best fit, but you should be aware of potential biases.
I learned a version of this lesson outside of golf. Years ago, I bought a tennis racquet at a big box store from a seemingly knowledgeable employee who thought it would suit me best. The racquet gave me tennis elbow, and I spent months recovering with rest and acupuncture. The next season, I invested more time and money to find what actually fit me, and I walked away with something amazing that I still play with years later.
So if you’re going to get fit, be smart about it.
Find someone you believe has deep knowledge—possibly with certifications, but not necessarily. Make sure there’s a wide inventory across many brands. Check recent reviews for the individual fitter if possible. Make sure you trust that the fitter has your best interests at heart. If they’re wearing a hat or shirt with a specific brand’s logo, proceed with caution. Unless you specifically want a certain brand or look, be wary of upsells, especially if two options perform nearly the same.
Also, while golf is called a sport of integrity, there’s a thread of manipulation in the industry. I once drafted an equipment article for an industry magazine, structured just like one of their previous popular stories, with matching word count and great photos. The assistant editor loved it; it was useful to readers and required little work on his part. But the editor-in-chief nixed the story. When I asked why, I was told it was because I wasn’t an advertiser. It turned out the article I’d modeled mine after was a paid ad cleverly disguised as editorial content.
I really dislike games, clickbait, and fear-based manipulation. I hope this changes, but golfers deserve to know it exists.
4. Distance and Strategy Matter
There’s a real relationship between how far you hit the ball and your scoring average, even at the PGA TOUR level.
I experienced this early in my pro career. I started as a power hitter, swinging in the high 120s and breaking 200 mph ball speed with a stock driver.
Back then, some instructors advised swinging at 80%, so I tried slowing down for more accuracy. That worked fine on shorter, tighter courses. But on longer setups, I was coming into greens with too much club, and par 5s stopped being
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inncfromnj
Jul 17, 2013 at 5:08 pm
In competitive stroke or match play events, the rules of golf should be adhered to by the book.
For the $5 Nassau, the group may wish to modify a few of the rules, so as long as all parties agree, to keep pace of play. One such rule is ball out of bounds. If in the friendly round with no money or anything else on the line, play it as a lateral hazard and proceed with a one stroke penalty.
In stroke play there is no rule regarding playing “out of turn”…in match play, there is. Players must play in turn. That is the ball farthest from the hole must be played first.
Other than that, play by the rules. Keep the game moving. Don’t hold up the golf course.
Play read
Brian
Jul 17, 2013 at 1:00 pm
My local club and the organization that runs the state events (CGA), enter your tournament rounds for you, so there’s no escaping the effects tournament golf has on your handicap.
With that said, the negative effects tournament golf can have on your handicap can easily cause a realistic handicap to be confused with sandbagging, especially at less stressful club events like a member guest or member member. It’s a double whammy for those that don’t play tourney golf b/c not only do their handicaps have the potential to be artificially low, but they often aren’t used to playing by all of the rules, most damaging of which I’ve found to be putting the ball out.
is1ander
Jul 15, 2013 at 10:57 pm
Great article! Hits the issue right on the sweet spot as far as the (mostly) honest golfers are concerned.
Shannon
Jul 14, 2013 at 2:42 pm
I’m a rules official, recreational golfer & play in club tournaments. I play by the letter of the law in tournaments but in regular day to day play, I do not follow the OB and Lost ball rules if I haven’t played a provisional. There are times when you just can’t find the ball when it shouldn’t be a problem finding it. The ball has just rolled into the rough but you can’t find it. I wouldn’t have played a provisional because the ball should be easy to find but when I get there and can’t it, I’m not going to slow the course down by walking back to where I hot my previous shot. I will play it like a lateral hazard. I know I’m not playing by the rules but I also haven’t slow the course down. SLOW PLAY is the biggest problem in the game today. Match play would speed the game up by 30 minutes or more but in North America, we don’t play enough match play.
Tom
Jul 15, 2013 at 6:10 am
Great article, and I agree with you, and would do the same IF it’s just a match with the weekend group. We ALWAYS play by the rules too, and the only “gimmee” you’ll get is if it’s leaning over the hole. BUT if that ball is lost for no apparent reason, no one goes back, and will drop one to play it. BUT they’re out of the hole, and the score is put down as the max allowed for their handidcap for posting. Playing the other ball is basically just finishing the hole to stay warmed up I guess. Some at our course thought changing some OB to lateral hazards would speed up play. In many cases it’s done just the opposite. When you think you’re OB, you right away hit a provisional. But if you have a lateral where you cross the line at point A, everyone STILL goes forward to see if they can find their ball, (it may have popped out, hit a tree or you can find it and play it), but then not finding it have to go back to where it crossed and THEN hit their next shot, whereas the provisional would already have been hit and just go over and play it.
And I’ll play one of those guys where everything inside the leather is good, ALL DAY. When he has to putt them, boy is it entertaining.
Dennis Clark
Jul 15, 2013 at 8:55 am
good points; provisionals are hit when its obvious or even iffy, but not when its in an area where the golf ball should have been easy to find…and you’re right slow much is a much more serious problem
inncfromnj
Jul 17, 2013 at 5:51 pm
Agree 100%..It seems that far too many people are obsessed with their “score”…When I first started playing again, almost everyone played match play games such as a Nassau or “Wolf”….Those are match play games.
Rather than grind over a 9 on a par 4, in match play, you go in the pocket and we simply use the Equitable Stroke Control number of strokes and put that on the score card. A typical middle handicap golfer( 12-18) would take no more than a triple bogey. Problem solved.
Sean
Jul 12, 2013 at 6:39 pm
If you don’t play by the rules then you can never know your true handicap. How then will you know if you are improving or not?
ps: I always mark my golf ball. Even if it only ends up being used for one shot. :-0
Rob
Jul 12, 2013 at 4:02 pm
I think the competition factor definitely leads to inflated scores, but it’s not the only reason handicaps are misleading.
What we have to realize in a certain handicap is that the number reflects a score you “could” shoot 25% of the time, or 1 in 4 rounds at most. Because, of your last 20 scores, only the top 50% are included in the calculation, and then those are averaged, giving you a number that correlates with your top 25% scores.
So 75% of the time you shouldn’t expect to play to your handicap in competition or a friendly round.
Dennis Clark
Jul 12, 2013 at 12:51 pm
If you read into this thread, you’ll see that most are referencing the tee shot. But remember that lost and OB have to applied everywhere. Example: Par 5, third shot, 100 yards skulled OB over the green. with S&D, I can play 5, hit it tight and make 6. With two strokes, I’m chipping 6 from somewhere behind the green. Let me recommend a book: “The Principles behind the Rules of Golf” by Richard Tufts-google it. It is WELL worth the read.
G
Jul 13, 2013 at 2:46 am
Bingo.
Once again, the difference between general recreational golf and tournament golf with proper rules.
The problem with most golfers (not the problem with golf – note the difference) is that most golfers are NOT HONEST and their egos get in the way, they do not respect the rules, do not respect etiquette, and just generally don’t care what anybody else says. And I said, MOST. Of course, there are plenty of golfers who do care and maintain decency, keep their egos in check (most of the time) and respect the rules and the reason for why it is golf.
Ryan
Jul 12, 2013 at 10:53 am
In the example where you told the kids to replay:
A) Feels like if you’re going to really come down on these kids hard with the rule it would be easier to just have them check the marks before you start?
B) In this case its usually a pretty obvious “my ball is on the right”, would that still not be enough?
Dennis Clark
Jul 12, 2013 at 11:12 am
There is no intent of being hard or easy; it is simply the rule, very black and white. Even young eyes cant see the ball 250 yards away when they are as close as they were. But that’s why we have junior golf, so the young players can learn what competition is. That includes the rules as well as learning to play.
Steve Barry
Jul 12, 2013 at 11:21 am
No, it has to be definitive I believe. I was caddying for a buddy in a State Am Qualifier one year and from the tee box, he pushed his to the right, over a small hill which we couldn’t see over. Well, over this hill was a small pond. We didn’t see the ball go into the hazard, so we were going to take a drop up right by the water as we were certain it was in there. However, one of the guys playing with us said we had to play it as a lost ball because we couldn’t definitively say the ball was in the water as no one saw it enter the water or see a splash or something that would let you know, 100%, the ball was in the water.
Brian
Jul 17, 2013 at 12:32 pm
Actually, it has to be “known or virtually certain”. Known would imply you saw it go in, i.e. 100% sure, virtually certain would imply you didn’t see it go, i.e. not 100% sure, but you and your playing partners are extremely confident that it went in the hazard. Every situation is different. We have a hole at my home club that tees downhill where you can’t see the landing area. If you crush it, the fairway narrows to about 10-15 yards, sloping to the left, with a pond on the left side of the fairway. When someone crushes one right down the pipe, and we can’t find the ball, we’re virtually certain the ball went in the drink.
Dennis Clark
Jul 17, 2013 at 1:51 pm
correct Brian; Rule 26-1.
inncfromnj
Jul 17, 2013 at 5:42 pm
Incorrect. The rule is “certain or ‘virtually certain”. the ball has crossed the margin of the hazard.
It is shocking to find how many players who play competitive golf, know so little about the rules.
In a stroke play amateur tournament, a competitor in my group hit his tee shot on a par three. The ball cam to rest directly a split rail fence which is marked as OB. I informed his that if any part of the ball lies on or directly below or touches any part of the ground that is OB, the ball is out of bounds.
He had to re tee. Later he asked the tourney director and even he got this one wrong. Oh well.
Dennis Clark
Jul 17, 2013 at 10:40 pm
USGA Rules of Golf:2012-2015
Rule 26-1: 2nd sentence: In the absence of knowledge or virtual certainty…
Paragraph two: “If a ball is found in a water hazard or is KNOWN OR VIRTUALLY CERTAIN…
ParHunter
Jul 29, 2013 at 1:07 pm
Sorry but you got that wrong. The ball is only oob when all of it is OOB.
As per the definition of out of bounds, a ball is out of bounds when all of it lies out of bounds.
http://www.randa.org/en/RandA/News/News/2013/January/Course-Marking-1.aspx
evenStephen
Jul 12, 2013 at 10:28 am
Dennis great write up! Really enjoyed it.
Pressure is what separates the players from the guys that puke on themselves. I can say it is true, because I am the guy usually puking on myself.
Tournaments are tournaments and all rules should be followed, but if those same rules are followed during a regular weekend game (OB, No Gimmes, Lost Ball, etc.) maybe there will be less puking, quicker rounds, and more knowledge of the rules. Practice makes perfect.
I believe everything should be putted out regardless of the game you are playing.
Dennis Clark
Jul 12, 2013 at 11:14 am
Agreed, but remember that in match play you do not have the right to “putt out” if you putt is conceded.
dubbledxu
Jul 12, 2013 at 7:15 am
This is one of the best articles I’ve read on the net in a while, well done Dennis.
Dennis Clark
Jul 11, 2013 at 10:04 pm
Question: how many reading this story have ever played their golf ball out of a deep divot?
G
Jul 11, 2013 at 10:41 pm
All the time, on ALL courses, whether private or public it doesn’t matter – you’d be surprised how poorly behaved most expensive, private course members are about fixing divots and ballmarks, it’s shameful, truth be told.
paul
Jul 11, 2013 at 10:48 pm
I did once. Hurt my elbow a bit to. next time im taking a drop a foot behind the pivot. my elbow hurts just thinking about it. safety first, im not playing for money.
chris
Jul 17, 2013 at 11:06 pm
Another good point. I’m not injuring myself playin a round with my buddies. Besides I dint care what anyone says you shouldn’t be penalized for hitting a fairway.
inncfromnj
Jul 17, 2013 at 5:35 pm
All the time. The fun part is the challenge of executing a shot from that type of lie.
igolfman
Jul 11, 2013 at 9:49 pm
Hey guys you can’t be a little bit pregnant. Play by the rules it is not that hard. If you think it is OB or it could be lost hit a provisional. Otherwise, I make most of those three footers I’m not going to count that one I made 3 not 4.
tightmf
Jul 11, 2013 at 6:55 pm
I just add 2 if I lose it or walk up on an unexpected OB ball.
My provisional is always worse anyway.
Danimal
Jul 12, 2013 at 12:01 pm
This seems to be what the rule should really be — OB should be treated the same as a lateral hazard but with a two-stroke penalty instead of one. Lost ball too, except the trick would be to figure out where to drop. Last known location of the ball, one club-length, no closer to the hole?
OB/Lost Ball are terrible rules, in my opinion. Walking back to re-hit should never be required in golf (although it should always be an option).
Dennis Clark
Jul 11, 2013 at 5:24 pm
One thing to remember here: It has always been the policy of the USGA to penalize “like situations alike” so there is no question that OB and lost ball should have same penalty. And the reason I say tournament golf is different is this: If distance penalty was dropped for tour pros, they could use the rules to their advantage in several ways. Example: going for a par 5 in two: If they go for it and hit it OB on their 2nd shot, they’d be playing 4 right up by the green, strategy changes greatly.
Dave
Jul 12, 2013 at 7:43 am
Yes, that is an excellent point. And for all golfers who play by the rules, OB is very punitive (stroke and distance), so it will likely affect their club selection and intended shot off the tee. If you are allowed to just drop, why not go for broke on strategic holes?
Danimal
Jul 12, 2013 at 12:17 pm
This wouldn’t be worth it if the OB penalty was two strokes, however.
Tom
Jul 11, 2013 at 5:20 pm
For the sake of saving time and not going back too re-tee. The option of hitting a provisional comes into play.
Jim
Jul 11, 2013 at 4:12 pm
Nice article. I agree with the lost ball/ out of bounds comments. I have never seen anyone walk back to re-tee after loosing a ball (and hope I never do for time sake). You just drop one near where you ‘lost’ it and keep moving. If you actually walked back to the tee that 4 1/2 hour round would be 6 hours easily because you wouldn’t be the only one doing the same thing. Re-teeing makes sense for tournament play only not for the recreational golfer.
Dennis Clark
Jul 11, 2013 at 4:18 pm
Very true; and remember this: We don’t have half of golfdom looking for our ball when we hit it off line. The gallery saves the tour players time and strokes!
Dominic
Jul 11, 2013 at 5:10 pm
That is why we have adopted a local rule at our course that all unmarked hazards are to be played as red stakes. The only OB stakes are along the edge of the property but this saves time for people that hit in the trees and lose their ball.
Dave
Jul 12, 2013 at 7:36 am
That is why you are supposed to hit a provisional ball if there is a chance your tee ball is lost or OB.
inncfromnj
Jul 17, 2013 at 5:33 pm
Be careful. If a ball is “lost” in a hazard or is known or virtually certain to be lost in a hazard, the player may proceed under rule 27-1 playing a ball nearly as possible to where the original ball was played. Or if in a water hazard determine where the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard and drop a ball keeping that point between the point of entry between the hole and the place where the ball is to be dropped with no limit on how far from that point which the ball entered the hazard. Or if in a lateral hazard, no more than two club lengths no nearer the hole.
There is no ‘provisional ball’ contingency for a ball lost in a hazard. Rule 27-1
Mike
Jul 11, 2013 at 4:09 pm
I’m not sure about your handicap calculation… You need slope and rating to calculate handicap.
Dennis Clark
Jul 11, 2013 at 4:15 pm
yes you do; the calculations were used as an “average” or example. The larger point is clear…whatever handicap is, people rarely shoot it in stroke play formats.
Matt M
Jul 11, 2013 at 4:03 pm
Great piece! I agree with this idea of dropping the distance penalty for local play. With rounds lasting 4+ hrs the last thing I want to do on the tee is watch a guy search for 5 minutes then hike back to tee to re hit. A counter point would be if you think there is a chance it’s lost hit a provisional to avoid the wasted time walking back to tee.
Andrew
Jul 11, 2013 at 4:57 pm
Totally agree, If I have any doubt that I may not be able to find my ball I hit a provisional.
Loupus
Jul 11, 2013 at 2:52 pm
If I could change one rule, it would be to take away the distance penalty for OB. Slows play and is unnecessarily penal. Same goes for lost ball. So I guess that makes two rules I’d change.
Dennis Clark
Jul 11, 2013 at 3:12 pm
Agreed; mentioned that in the article. It’s not a good idea in tournament golf, but for club golf and local rules, I think it would speed play.
Stephen Lee
Jul 13, 2013 at 1:21 pm
Couldnt agreed more on the idea of revise some of the rules. some of the penalties are too severe and unnecessary. In my honest opinion, amateurs are doing better with the rules regarding lost ball & Out of bounds.
G
Jul 11, 2013 at 10:38 pm
No way! THAT is how a good player differentiates himself from the bad, right away – by being IN PLAY. It’s a penalty for a reason. In fact, the problem with modern golf courses is that there are NOT ENOUGH OBs on boundaries. And why would you blankly say that OB slows play? How can it? If a player knows the rules properly and plays by it, IF there is any CHANCE that a ball may be OB or not be found, the player is supposed to immediately play a PROVISIONAL from the tee and proceed thus = by the time he gets to the first ball that may have gone out or not found and is indeed discovered that the ball is out – all he has to do is play the provisional = not much time wasted, at all.
The problem with slow play is due to the “Search for the ball” rule – if a bad player hits dozen balls into the bush and spends 5 minutes looking for each ball and never lets the group behind play through – therein lies the problem. The Rules of Golf should clearly state that a player may only look for 3 lost balls within the time allotted of 15 minutes total to search. That should solve a huge chunk of the problem of slow play. The course marshals needs also need to be given more respect and authority by being allowed to move groups forward or ejecting players who just should not be out there at all.
pezman38
Jul 12, 2013 at 8:59 am
If you go 5-10 yards to the right of the fairway in the rough and your ball lands in a gopher hole, or buried in deep rough never to be seen again, I bet you a 50 spot you didn’t play a provisional. You get to the spot and can’t find your ball, in this instance to speed play dropping where you saw it land is better than going back to re-tee IMHO. This is for Rec play of course.
If you see OB and your ball heads there, sure easy to play a provisional there, i get that, talking about not having a gallery watching your ball 200-300 down the fairway and only missing the fairway by a few yards.
Dennis Clark
Jul 12, 2013 at 11:08 am
Please remember that if the golf ball ends up in a gopher hole, you get free relief; it is an “abnormal ground condition” by definition.
Danimal
Jul 12, 2013 at 12:12 pm
But only if you can confirm that it’s in there, right? Otherwise, you’re trucking it back to the tee and making the entire golf course wait for you (if you want to play by the rules [which I do]).
Should be a drop and two-strokes for OB/Lost ball, says I. Let’s petition the USGA/R&A!! (yeah right…)
inncfromnj
Jul 17, 2013 at 5:16 pm
If the ball is not identified, It is a ‘lost ball’..Stoke and distance is the proper play.
ParHunter
Jul 29, 2013 at 12:54 pm
IMHO an OOB or lost ball should be handled in a similar way than a water hazard. E.g. use where the ball entered the OOB or where it is deemed to be lost.
Why is a bad shot that ends up OOB punished more than a bad shot that ends up in a water hazard (e.g. both could be a slice with in one case OOB running along the right side and in the other a water hazard running along the right side)? With OOB and lost ball you get punished effectively two shots (shot and distance) while with a water hazard you get punished one shot which is bad enough IMHO.