If the Majority Ruled in Golf...
...there'd be no rules.
Okay, maybe that's a bit extreme....but not that far off the mark either. Most people I golf with don't follow the rules. Like STOP signs in Montreal, golf rules are often considered "just a suggestion". ;)
Why is that? Why do golfers "cheat"? Is it because they consider themselves just weekend hackers and rules don't apply to them? Or are they just ignorant of the rules? Or is cheating at golf like telling white lies - everybody does it.
I'm no different than all the rest. I do try and follow most rules so my handicap accurately reflects my play, but I also believe some rules are made to be broken on public courses (or at least modified to keep the game fun). Because, for me, the most important rule on the golf course is "pace of play".
I hate slow play. I hate it so much that I won't play with people who can't keep up with the group in front of them - even good friends. I would rather they cheat on their score cards than doddle.
They aren't bad people, but on the course, they are completely blind to the fact that they are ruining the game for everyone behind them. For them ignorance is bliss; for me it's a nightmare!
So to stop those of us who like to keep moving from hitting balls into slow groups to speed them up (Oh yes, I've seen that happen more than once ;)), I think these 3 exceptions to the rules should apply to non-competitive golf:
1. Gimmes inside the leather are good. But if a golfer putts after they are given a gimme and miss, the gimme is revoked and they have to count the extra strokes incurred.
Continued on the next page
Follow Technorati