12 Comments

1. 

   David Mattner

   Feb 7, 2019 at 6:43 pm

   I would think the role of a caddie is to discuss the players swing, alignment during and after a game of golf. If i was a caddie i would expect tostand behind the player when they are hitting the shot to provide feedback AFTER the swing has been completed. During the round i might say the golfer is aiming slightly right and the player can make adjustments. I just assumed that what players and caddies discuss during a round. Or the caddie may provide feedbacl to the coach about any number of things inc alignment. But that doesnt mean i will be aligning the player during the stroke. Its a gre yarea and i can’t help but think how many meetings there have been to discuss rule changes to only have a grey area like this. frustrating.

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2. 

   Leftshot

   Feb 7, 2019 at 11:13 am

   This rule doesn’t affect most of us. We don’t have caddies! For the pros, there are 7 ways from Sunday toprkvide alignment help without breaking the new rule as clarified. The caddie could align the player, the player presses down with his feet leaving an indentation, backs away, then resets with his caddie now to his side. The caddie could pick out two points on the tee box and say put your toes here, then pull away. There are many possibilities and it seems the rule-making bodies haven’t thought of any of them, or thinks golfers are too dumb to come up with them.

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3. 

   Regis

   Feb 7, 2019 at 10:49 am

   Every new rule in golf or in everyday life is a result of people seeking unfair advantage. There are golfers who travel with a caddie, a swing coach, a nutritionist, and a fitness coach all with the purpose of executing a golf swing at a critical time. The new rule was put in to curb abuses and everybody saw those abuses drawing criticism from avid golfers and fans. The initial rulings may at first be misapplied but it will eventually find a level of reasonable interpretation. That’s the nature of new rules

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4. 

   mark

   Feb 7, 2019 at 9:50 am

   What is so difficult? The player and caddie stand behind the ball, look/discuss what the line or aim point is. The caddie moves, the player approaches his/her ball, sets up. and swings.

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5. 

   Rory O Donnell

   Feb 7, 2019 at 2:33 am

   What about blind people who need assistance lining up there shots.

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6. 

   Charles Cartwright

   Feb 6, 2019 at 7:01 pm

   This could easily be clarified just to say the caddie may not be on the line of the stroke when the club is behind the ball.

   No more interpretation. Problem solved.

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7. 

   HKO

   Feb 6, 2019 at 6:56 pm

   soon PGA becoming like NFL—marshals stop game every 2 mins to discuss who did what. ads come in.

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8. 

   Dave

   Feb 6, 2019 at 6:47 pm

   This is still the worse written rule ever. The wording including “advice and other help” “aiming” leaves so much open to interpretation. E.g. cadie Behind player says take it off the right trap. They have assisted in aiming. I thought the pro elm was they wanted to illuminate caddies assisting in alignment. So just say that in the purpose. Is this the first time these guys wrote a rule or policy

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9. 

   Tom

   Feb 6, 2019 at 5:48 pm

   USGA has let equipment (ball) get completely out of hand…now stupid rules like dropping a knee height, grounding clubs in hazards….what’s next, dog and cats playing together???

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   • 

     15th Club

     Feb 6, 2019 at 6:33 pm

     Lol.

     Can I tell you about all of the GolfWRX members who hate the USGA, because of the threat that there might be a ball rollback? And who sneered at the Rules enforcement against a player whose club barely brushed the sand on takeaway in a fairway bunker?

     The drop rule is so simple. Lower your arm to hold the ball just above your knee and drop it. The new rule lessens the likelihood that a re-drop may be needed.

     I read the anti-USGA comments and just shake my head.

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     • 

       James

       Feb 7, 2019 at 2:31 am

       Yes, because moving five to ten grains of sand is something you (or I) as a player can feel. Clear -intent- of improving her lie there in that instance.

       It’s not that (some) of us sneer at the rules, we sneer at the stupidity with which they’re applied. (See: USGA over-ruling their own rule about ref’s assigned to a group having the final say about DJ moving the ball *forward* by touching the ground *behind* the ball)

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10. 

    Greg V

    Feb 6, 2019 at 3:47 pm

    Right, so we get the caddy standing behind his player problem fixed.

    Now, go back to the old rule about leaving the pin in- can’t do it on the putting green – for elite players. Elite players: you know who you are.

    And, btw, if you want elite players to play faster, enforce time limits.

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