Better Players "Rolling the Ball in the Fairway". What's the Point?

[vbb]

Has anyone reading this thread actually checked the disparity in their scores between rolling the ball or playing it down? Maybe done a little experiment? I only ask because I played this weekend during a rare break in what has been a week of rain, and there was so much water on most of the course that water would slightly pool around your feet when you took a step. We played LCP on every shot, no matter if it was fairway or rough. Needless to say, I had a pretty decent lie on every shot just about (one or two I placed it back in the rough and it sunk right down to the bottom).

My score was within the same +/- 5 stroke spread that my score at this course usually is, so really, all that rolling and LCP didn't make a huge bit of difference.

Just curious. I'm not saying it isn't an advantage... but I'm just curious as to how much of an advantage is it really?

[scottvw13]

[quote name='vbb' timestamp='1381785551' post='8000955']
Has anyone reading this thread actually checked the disparity in their scores between rolling the ball or playing it down? Maybe done a little experiment? I only ask because I played this weekend during a rare break in what has been a week of rain, and there was so much water on most of the course that water would slightly pool around your feet when you took a step. We played LCP on every shot, no matter if it was fairway or rough. Needless to say, I had a pretty decent lie on every shot just about (one or two I placed it back in the rough and it sunk right down to the bottom).

My score was within the same +/- 5 stroke spread that my score at this course usually is, so really, all that rolling and LCP didn't make a huge bit of difference.

Just curious. I'm not saying it isn't an advantage... but I'm just curious as to how much of an advantage is it really?
[/quote]

I would suspect that the lower your handicap = more advantage to rolling. Perfect lie can lead to better distance control

[GWD]

I just researched the USGA site regarding the topic being debated. In summary:

>All rounds that are used for handicap purposes must be played by the Rules of Golf.

>If you are going to play a practice round not for handicap purposes you have to declare it before the round. I suppose a foursome could, barbershop quartet style, shout "PRACTICE ROUND" in harmony on the first tee.

>In a non-handicap practice round you can do as you darned well please. The key seems to be the intended use of the round for a handicap or not.

Since I don't play as much as I'd like, all rounds are scored for handicap purposes so the Rules of Golf are followed every round. That doesn't make me "holier than thou", just desperate.

Maybe the fact that we are all competitive makes us look on others' rule slips as unacceptable. If you are consciously or even sub-consciously competing with playing partners then a situation that puts you at a disadvantage seems to be cheating.

[MtlJeff]

I was under the impression that "practice rounds" weren't actually a real thing, and that you were required to post all scores unequivocally?

Does the USGA actually have a provision for declaring practice rounds? I remember checking this and not seeing anything

[Ty_Webb]

[quote name='vbb' timestamp='1381785551' post='8000955']
Has anyone reading this thread actually checked the disparity in their scores between rolling the ball or playing it down? Maybe done a little experiment? I only ask because I played this weekend during a rare break in what has been a week of rain, and there was so much water on most of the course that water would slightly pool around your feet when you took a step. We played LCP on every shot, no matter if it was fairway or rough. Needless to say, I had a pretty decent lie on every shot just about (one or two I placed it back in the rough and it sunk right down to the bottom).

My score was within the same +/- 5 stroke spread that my score at this course usually is, so really, all that rolling and LCP didn't make a huge bit of difference.

Just curious. I'm not saying it isn't an advantage... but I'm just curious as to how much of an advantage is it really?
[/quote]

I would think this would depend on which way round you were talking. If you're a player who always plays it down, you'll have become proficient at dealing with questionable lies, so you'll probably not see much of an impact from rolling it. If you're a player who habitually rolls it, I would think that your scores would suffer more from not rolling, because you don't practise those funky lies as much.

[GWD]

Here is a link to USGA articles referring to "practice". Googling "post golf practice round" will also bring up other hits.

[url="http://www.usga.org/USGASearch.aspx?q=practice&f=type%3aRules+of+Golf"]http://www.usga.org/...e:Rules of Golf[/url]

EDIT: I guess my post was too long because other information was not posted. Anyway, try the Google thing.

USGA does not address "practice round" per se. But if more than seven (7) holes are not played under the strict Rules of Golf then the score may not be posted for handicap.

[Splitter]

[quote name='vbb' timestamp='1381785551' post='8000955']
Has anyone reading this thread actually checked the disparity in their scores between rolling the ball or playing it down? Maybe done a little experiment? I only ask because I played this weekend during a rare break in what has been a week of rain, and there was so much water on most of the course that water would slightly pool around your feet when you took a step. We played LCP on every shot, no matter if it was fairway or rough. Needless to say, I had a pretty decent lie on every shot just about (one or two I placed it back in the rough and it sunk right down to the bottom).

My score was within the same +/- 5 stroke spread that my score at this course usually is, so really, all that rolling and LCP didn't make a huge bit of difference.

Just curious. I'm not saying it isn't an advantage... but I'm just curious as to how much of an advantage is it really?
[/quote]

I definitely save strokes when I LCP, but there's are a ton of factors that go into how many.

Ironically, the better you're playing, the more it helps you. i.e. you need to be in the fairway to LCP, so if you're having a bad driving day it may not help much. Also depends on what shape the course is in and how well it's marked. One course I play tries really hard to mark bare spots and one never does. The most common argument I hear people make when moving the ball is "they should have marked this".

Even when I play LCP, I don't take relief on every shot. I feel guilty going from a good lie to a perfect lie. Kind of stupid to do it for some lies and not others if you are doing it. Maybe I'll try it for every lie the next time I play and see how I do..

[Pepperturbo]

[quote name='adamsstaff' timestamp='1381454351' post='7984415']
Its a terrible habit to get into..
[/quote]

I understand and support the rules of golf. But have to say, there is a huge gap between never and all the time. Its only a habit if someone "regularly" moves the ball.

[wobgon]

[quote name='needfasp3ed' timestamp='1381784104' post='8000825']
Sure, I'll start taking strokes for losing balls in the middle of the fairway under a pile of leaves instead of dropping nearby. But then don't you dare call me a sandbagger when I net 60 in a tournament at a different course in better condition due to the inflated handicap.
[/quote]
Next they will be expecting me to count it when I miss a four foot put when i obviously put a good stroke on it but the green was bumpy due to the time of year.......Some of these guys would probably expect a guy to count stroke and distance when they hit a drive OB in July when a fellas hands are all sweaty........Some really take the rules to extremes.....

[blaird]

[quote name='wobgon' timestamp='1381792890' post='8001517']
[quote name='needfasp3ed' timestamp='1381784104' post='8000825']
Sure, I'll start taking strokes for losing balls in the middle of the fairway under a pile of leaves instead of dropping nearby. But then don't you dare call me a sandbagger when I net 60 in a tournament at a different course in better condition due to the inflated handicap.
[/quote]
Next they will be expecting me to count it when I miss a four foot put when i obviously put a good stroke on it but the green was bumpy due to the time of year.......Some of these guys would probably expect a guy to count stroke and distance when they hit a drive OB in July when a fellas hands are all sweaty........Some really take the rules to extremes.....
[/quote]

Finally!!! You are starting to get it!! And that punch out that you hit good but nicked a tree and went ob...dont count that just place the ball where you think it would have gone!! Golf is now starting to get fun!!

[mke1078]

So my dilemma is as follows. Our regular group on Fridays gives a breakfast ball from the first tee, and to most people's horror will post that score. So when I play in this, there have been times I have taken a bfast ball. So I am now a cheater. Ok I can live with that. So now I have cheated myself because I now have a lower handicap than I should.

Now I go out last weekend and we have our last "major" of the year, and win low gross. Should I alert the committee to those scores that were posted with a breakfast ball or should they just put an asterisk next to my name?

[blaird]

[quote name='mke1078' timestamp='1381794136' post='8001621']
So my dilemma is as follows. Our regular group on Fridays gives a breakfast ball from the first tee, and to most people's horror will post that score. So when I play in this, there have been times I have taken a bfast ball. So I am now a cheater. Ok I can live with that. So now I have cheated myself because I now have a lower handicap than I should.

Now I go out last weekend and we have our last "major" of the year, and win low gross. Should I alert the committee to those scores that were posted with a breakfast ball or should they just put an asterisk next to my name?
[/quote]

I say no and congrats..good playing!! But I am in the minority here so be prepared to be called a cheater and liar about your handicap...probably some other choice names as well.

[Pepperturbo]

[quote name='mke1078' timestamp='1381794136' post='8001621']
So my dilemma is as follows. Our regular group on Fridays gives a breakfast ball from the first tee, and to most people's horror will post that score. So when I play in this, there have been times I have taken a bfast ball. So I am now a cheater. Ok I can live with that. So now I have cheated myself because I now have a lower handicap than I should.

Now I go out last weekend and we have our last "major" of the year, and win low gross. Should I alert the committee to those scores that were posted with a breakfast ball or should they just put an asterisk next to my name?
[/quote]

No... As much as I am a proponent of rules in tournaments and for money bets, if those conditions are not in involved, no sense in worrying about casual. Now, if you want to be part of the in-crowd on Golfwrx, than maybe you should rethink if.

[HighSpeedScene]

[quote name='somaplr' timestamp='1381784228' post='8000839']
[quote name='needfasp3ed' timestamp='1381784104' post='8000825']
Sure, I'll start taking strokes for losing balls in the middle of the fairway under a pile of leaves instead of dropping nearby. But then don't you dare call me a sandbagger when I net 60 in a tournament at a different course in better condition due to the inflated handicap.
[/quote]

They don't mow fairways in iowa?
[/quote]

They only have two mowers to share - cmon, show some sympathy.

[indyvai]

My dad does this... not a habit, he just likes to improve his lie. I ALWAYS ask him if he'd like a tee!

[HighSpeedScene]

[quote name='blaird' timestamp='1381775370' post='8000113']
[quote name='somaplr' timestamp='1381775057' post='8000085']
[quote name='blaird' timestamp='1381774662' post='8000051']
[quote name='wobgon' timestamp='1381774303' post='8000015']
[quote name='blaird' timestamp='1381774114' post='7999995']
[quote name='wobgon' timestamp='1381773338' post='7999931']
Do all the people who think it is fine to roll the ball in the fairway think it is ok to roll it in the rough and if not, why????????
[/quote]

If I am playing a normal round I usually dont touch it in the rough. We have two money games I play in and one you can move it in the fairway only the other game you can move it everywhere. I leave it alone in the rough just because the few 4 balls where we get to move the ball we move it in the fairway only. I will move it in the rough if its against a root or in a bunch of rocks. Not worth hurting myself or the club for a kickaround round.
[/quote]
You play money games where you can move it anywhere.....Why?
[/quote]

There are a bunch of guys in the game that will move it everywhere regardless of what we say at the beginning of the round so the guy who runs the game just decided to move it everywhere so it is equal for everyone which is all that matters to me. It wouldnt bother me to play it down and put everything out but Im going to play by whatever rules are stipulated.
[/quote]

That's like playing a pickup basketball game and giving a guy 3 steps on a traveling call, instead of 2.
[/quote]

You call traveling in pickup games??
[/quote]

Well, well - leave it to a Dukie to say that...

[needfasp3ed]

[quote name='blaird' timestamp='1381793130' post='8001531']
[quote name='wobgon' timestamp='1381792890' post='8001517']
[quote name='needfasp3ed' timestamp='1381784104' post='8000825']
Sure, I'll start taking strokes for losing balls in the middle of the fairway under a pile of leaves instead of dropping nearby. But then don't you dare call me a sandbagger when I net 60 in a tournament at a different course in better condition due to the inflated handicap.
[/quote]
Next they will be expecting me to count it when I miss a four foot put when i obviously put a good stroke on it but the green was bumpy due to the time of year.......Some of these guys would probably expect a guy to count stroke and distance when they hit a drive OB in July when a fellas hands are all sweaty........Some really take the rules to extremes.....
[/quote]

Finally!!! You are starting to get it!! And that punch out that you hit good but nicked a tree and went ob...dont count that just place the ball where you think it would have gone!! Golf is now starting to get fun!!
[/quote]

...because hitting a tree or going OB is relevant to hitting a ball in the middle of the fairway?

[wobgon]

[quote name='needfasp3ed' timestamp='1381797123' post='8001919']
[quote name='blaird' timestamp='1381793130' post='8001531']
[quote name='wobgon' timestamp='1381792890' post='8001517']
[quote name='needfasp3ed' timestamp='1381784104' post='8000825']
Sure, I'll start taking strokes for losing balls in the middle of the fairway under a pile of leaves instead of dropping nearby. But then don't you dare call me a sandbagger when I net 60 in a tournament at a different course in better condition due to the inflated handicap.
[/quote]
Next they will be expecting me to count it when I miss a four foot put when i obviously put a good stroke on it but the green was bumpy due to the time of year.......Some of these guys would probably expect a guy to count stroke and distance when they hit a drive OB in July when a fellas hands are all sweaty........Some really take the rules to extremes.....
[/quote]

Finally!!! You are starting to get it!! And that punch out that you hit good but nicked a tree and went ob...dont count that just place the ball where you think it would have gone!! Golf is now starting to get fun!!
[/quote]

...because hitting a tree or going OB is relevant to hitting a ball in the middle of the fairway?
[/quote]
So are you really saying that people should play the leaf rule and that that is the way golf should be played....

[needfasp3ed]

[quote name='wobgon' timestamp='1381800569' post='8002255']
[quote name='needfasp3ed' timestamp='1381797123' post='8001919']
[quote name='blaird' timestamp='1381793130' post='8001531']
[quote name='wobgon' timestamp='1381792890' post='8001517']
[quote name='needfasp3ed' timestamp='1381784104' post='8000825']
Sure, I'll start taking strokes for losing balls in the middle of the fairway under a pile of leaves instead of dropping nearby. But then don't you dare call me a sandbagger when I net 60 in a tournament at a different course in better condition due to the inflated handicap.
[/quote]
Next they will be expecting me to count it when I miss a four foot put when i obviously put a good stroke on it but the green was bumpy due to the time of year.......Some of these guys would probably expect a guy to count stroke and distance when they hit a drive OB in July when a fellas hands are all sweaty........Some really take the rules to extremes.....
[/quote]

Finally!!! You are starting to get it!! And that punch out that you hit good but nicked a tree and went ob...dont count that just place the ball where you think it would have gone!! Golf is now starting to get fun!!
[/quote]

...because hitting a tree or going OB is relevant to hitting a ball in the middle of the fairway?
[/quote]
So are you really saying that people should play the leaf rule and that that is the way golf should be played....
[/quote]

I didn't suggest that at all. I was simply bringing up the idea of how it could inflate a handicap at this time of year.

[halliedog]

I skipped the last 2 pages. So if your club pro states "roll it a scorecard in your own fairway", and you and everyone else you are playing against does, is this cheating? That seems like a "local rule" to me.

Also, someone mentioned Old Tom Morris on the first or second page of this thread, because of the rules in place at the time. That's like saying it was OK for Thomas Jefferson to rape his slaves, because that's what everyone else did at the time. (No it wasn't, but at the time he played, it was within the "rules"). Rules evolve. They evolve at the highest level of the game, because the best players in the world demand it. (How can Tiger be forced to hit from behind a rock in a bunker when it would most assuredly prove a loss and bad TV revenues)? How may of Old Tom's rounds did he play in foul weather and get LCP (none)? Money drives the pro circuit, and the PGA thinks that everyone wants to see these guys shoot 38 under par every week. I'm OK with seeing them play the same soggy, divot-filled fairways as us, and "playing it down". It would be interesting to see what they actually shot, then we might have a better idea of if Trevinio/Nicklaus could stand up to the "modern" "champions".

I play it down in "practice" rounds to get every experience I can, but play by the same rules as everyone else I'm playing against for score or money. Color me a cheater, if you must, but that would make about 99% of the people I play with cheaters also. We don't consider ourselves cheaters though, because we all play under the same circumstances/local rules. And as long as WE don't violate the rules of our "local" event, which has rules of it's own as is allowed in "the Rules of Golf" under "local committee", we are fine with that.

[goobers80]

[color="#800080"]​Are peoples trying to win this ? It is nonsense over ands over. Rules are there for tournaments to me. If I roll a ball into a worse lie , i cheated to make golf harder. Local rules are different. I am allowed to rake ands place in our bunkers. Handicap only helps get into qualifiers ands invitational stuffs for me. I never roll the ball in those rounds. If I kick a ball onto a side hill lie because i needs practice on that , i deem that practices. I use the course as a driving range some *rounds* .[/color]

[color="#800080"]​As i saids before , it is only cheating if you are required to use rules. A casual round , deem it what you will , do what you wants. I play rounds from all four tees at my club to hit different clubs during a round. I call it practices , because i am tryings to win tournaments. I am nots a cheater. [/color]

[HighSpeedScene]

goobers is right, there is no winner here. One thing that's clear is that the ROG loses...which is becoming so clear in threads lately. From people advocating not applying rules in situations where the only evidence available comes from video or spectator testimony, to the continual justification that "if we all do it, it's not against the rules," to widespread application of LCP (but not even LCP as prescribed by the rules - instead, rolling it or declaring winter rules outside of how it is intended by the rules) it is very clear that the ROG is just a guideline to a seemingly large percentage of folks (if responses to this thread can be considered representative). So, we, as a population, appear to be ready to accept that rules are only applicable when we feel like they are. Which, then, are not rules to most people.

Which is fine - doesn't impact me in the least bit - I don't play net events, and if I did I think this would give me an advantage, and I don't bet anything that means anything with people whose games I don't already know very well, and, again, I would have an advantage if people are cheating in rounds that make up their index anyway. I just find it an interesting commentary on our times that people can't seem to admit that they intentionally violate rules and that the intentional violation is, by any objective definition, cheating. It's fascinating behavior, really, to see where people draw the line about what rules are ok to violate and which are not, and the justification used to convince themselves that it is ok and that their intentional violation of ROG does not constitute cheating.

I'm tempted to draw an analogy to the general unwillingness to take responsibility for our actions in wider society, but I'm afraid I don't have anything but anecdotes to back it up. Doesn't stop me from believing that to be the case, however.

Last thing: if you're unwilling to admit to cheating, you may want to ask yourself why you would admit to the behavior that obviously constitutes cheating, but not when the term "cheating" is applied to it. If you feel like there is a reason to justify the behavior, maybe you should evaluate whether the behavior is something you ought to be doing. As I wrote before, just friendly advice passed down from my father (not that he or I are saints - but we are pretty good at admitting our shortcomings and not fooling ourselves into thinking the "bad" things we do aren't really "bad").

Late.

[goobers80]

[color="#800080"]​With all the rules ands too many being stupid anyways , why woulds peoples go onto a high horse over peoples who rather enjoy a weekly game with friends or families. How many non rule breakers actually take the propers drop , nearest points , etc 100% of times. Some will break rules not evens known to them. All this over rolling a ball. I learned nots to throw names outs there at peoples , especially cheater. Save it for those who cheat in true usga rule competitions , not weekly games that have their own rules.[/color]

[color="#800080"]​Constantly bendings rules will catch up to those eventually. Too much crap that is wrong with this world , rolling a ball is nots one of those. I learned rules by breakings them. I am nots reading that manual.[/color]

[Yuck]

This is like gimmies and mulligans. Different groups seem to have different norms. I have played with groups that give "gimmies" and a mulligan, some consider a 6 incher a "gimmie", some think a 2 and a half foot side hill slider is a gimmie, but they always play the ball down. I have played in places where they would never give a gimmie or mulligan, but would always roll the ball over. All are bad habits come tournament time, but if it is not a competition, it is not my job to police them.

[Greenie]

It's Fall....Why are we talking about rolling the ball? Where is the thread on the leaf rule? You hit your drive down the middle of the fairway and can't find it because of those darn leaves. What are you going to do?

I 'll play the ball down on the well kept courses I play.
I'll roll the ball on the goat type courses I play. Sometimes I have to roll my ball a couple of club lengths just to find some grass. I don't feel if my ball is in the fairway I should have to play it off of dirt. If it is in the rough laying on dirt I'll roll it over to the rough grass.
I'll agree it is something you shouldn't start doing. It is hard for me to not roll my ball. It has become habit for me. I am use to rolling my ball over and seeing my mark on it. On the days I play it as it lies if I can't see my mark it drives me crazy. I want to touch my ball so bad just to roll it enough to see my mark. The guys will laugh at me sometimes because I'll be checking out my ball from every angle trying to see my mark without touching it.

[nochct1]

[quote name='502 to Right' timestamp='1381463556' post='7985245']
I've never heard of someone being afraid of hitting a ball out of a divot. Something like a root or stone--sure. But a divot? C'MON MAN!
[/quote]

Does it really matter? Plenty of people go out and play just to have fun. It's not the us open every time the balls gets teed up.

[Fourmyle of Ceres]

The sad part is that so few people apparently find golf "fun". So they make up their own game. I honestly don't see how it's more "fun" doing the ball rolling thing than playing actual golf.

I notice how the "fun" brigade makes up dozens of pseudo-Rules but not a single one of them makes the game any more challenging. Always to make it easier. Why not just spend a couple hours on the driving range hitting balls off perfect lies (use a mat, even) then a couple hours playing Putt-Putt? That's gotta be way more enjoyable than hassling with golf itself.

P.S. The ultimate expression of modern gormlessness is the guy who drives it 240 and crooked as Hogan's goat yet plays from the 7,100 yard tees then rolls the ball on every shot and refuses to putt out his two-footers because the game is not enough "fun" for him.

[KevCarter]

[quote name='Greenie' timestamp='1381834364' post='8003673']
It's Fall....Why are we talking about rolling the ball? Where is the thread on the leaf rule? You hit your drive down the middle of the fairway and can't find it because of those darn leaves. What are you going to do?

I 'll play the ball down on the well kept courses I play.
I'll roll the ball on the goat type courses I play. Sometimes I have to roll my ball a couple of club lengths just to find some grass. I don't feel if my ball is in the fairway I should have to play it off of dirt. If it is in the rough laying on dirt I'll roll it over to the rough grass.
I'll agree it is something you shouldn't start doing. It is hard for me to not roll my ball. It has become habit for me. I am use to rolling my ball over and seeing my mark on it. [b]On the days I play it as it lies if I can't see my mark it drives me crazy. I want to touch my ball so bad just to roll it enough to see my mark. The guys will laugh at me sometimes because I'll be checking out my ball from every angle trying to see my mark without touching it.[/b]
[/quote]


[b] 12-2. Lifting Ball For Identification[/b]

[color=#000000][size=3][left]The responsibility for playing the proper ball rests with the player. Each player should put an identification mark on his ball.[/left][/size][/color]
[color=#000000][size=3][left]If a player believes that a ball at rest might be his, but he cannot identify it, the player may lift the ball for identification, without penalty. The right to lift a ball for identification is in addition to the actions permitted under Rule [url="http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Rules-of-Golf/Rule-12/#12-1"]12-1[/url].[/left][/size][/color]
[color=#000000][size=3][left]Before lifting the ball, the player must announce his intention to his [i][url="http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Rules-of-Golf/Definitions/#Opponent"]opponent[/url][/i] in match play or his [i][url="http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Rules-of-Golf/Definitions/#Marker"]marker[/url][/i] or a [i][url="http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Rules-of-Golf/Definitions/#Fellow-Competitor"]fellow-competitor[/url][/i] in stroke play and mark the position of the ball. He may then lift the ball and identify it, provided that he gives his [i][url="http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Rules-of-Golf/Definitions/#Opponent"]opponent[/url][/i], [i][url="http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Rules-of-Golf/Definitions/#Marker"]marker[/url][/i] or [i][url="http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Rules-of-Golf/Definitions/#Fellow-Competitor"]fellow-competitor[/url][/i] an opportunity to observe the lifting and replacement. The ball must not be cleaned beyond the extent necessary for identification when lifted under Rule [url="http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Rules-of-Golf/Rule-12/#12-2"]12-2[/url].[/left][/size][/color]
[color=#000000][size=3][left]If the ball is the player’s ball and he fails to comply with all or any part of this procedure, or he lifts his ball in order to identify it without having good reason to do so, [color=red][b]he incurs a penalty of one stroke[/b][/color]. If the lifted ball is the player’s ball, he must replace it. If he fails to do so, [color=red][b]he incurs the general penalty for a breach of Rule [/b][/color][url="http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Rules-of-Golf/Rule-12/#12-2"]12-2[/url], but there is no additional penalty under this Rule.[/left][/size][/color]
[color=#000000][size=3][left][b]Note:[/b] If the original lie of a ball to be replaced has been altered, see Rule [url="http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Rules-of-Golf/Rule-20/#20-3b"]20-3b[/url].[/left][/size][/color]
WX

[nochct1]

[quote name='Fourmyle of Ceres' timestamp='1381835085' post='8003693']
The sad part is that so few people apparently find golf "fun". So they make up their own game. I honestly don't see how it's more "fun" doing the ball rolling thing than playing actual golf.

I notice how the "fun" brigade makes up dozens of pseudo-Rules but not a single one of them makes the game any more challenging. Always to make it easier. Why not just spend a couple hours on the driving range hitting balls off perfect lies (use a mat, even) then a couple hours playing Putt-Putt? That's gotta be way more enjoyable than hassling with golf itself.

P.S. The ultimate expression of modern gormlessness is the guy who drives it 240 and crooked as Hogan's goat yet plays from the 7,100 yard tees then rolls the ball on every shot and refuses to putt out his two-footers because the game is not enough "fun" for him.
[/quote]

Haha. I guess you're one of the us open type guys. I play plenty of golf where every rule is followed and I also play golf for fun where things are a bit more casual (and my best scores are tournament scores where I focus more).
But here are a few rules I break when playing for fun (like I did this past week while playing with a few 20 handicaps...mine fluctuates between 2-5):

- I played out of turn to keep of the pace of play
- I let someone use my flat ball marker and then picked up and cleaned my ball and replaced it in the same spot without marking it.
- I dropped my ball from a ground under repair area without actually measuring and marking.

And we were having fun, so I didn't really care too much if I broke a rule or two. Did my not marking my ball and picking it up a foot off the green give me a huge advantage? Or dropping without measuring with my driver? How about playing out of turn?
Or how about showing my friend how to hit a flop shot during the round? I'm sure that broke some sort of rule. But we don't get out together much these days so I wasn't too worried about the rules.

But I'm sure you're a blast to play with.

[blaird]

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Do all the people who think it is fine to roll the ball in the fairway think it is ok to roll it in the rough and if not, why????????
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If I am playing a normal round I usually dont touch it in the rough. We have two money games I play in and one you can move it in the fairway only the other game you can move it everywhere. I leave it alone in the rough just because the few 4 balls where we get to move the ball we move it in the fairway only. I will move it in the rough if its against a root or in a bunch of rocks. Not worth hurting myself or the club for a kickaround round.
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You play money games where you can move it anywhere.....Why?
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There are a bunch of guys in the game that will move it everywhere regardless of what we say at the beginning of the round so the guy who runs the game just decided to move it everywhere so it is equal for everyone which is all that matters to me. It wouldnt bother me to play it down and put everything out but Im going to play by whatever rules are stipulated.
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That's like playing a pickup basketball game and giving a guy 3 steps on a traveling call, instead of 2.
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You call traveling in pickup games??
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Well, well - leave it to a Dukie to say that...
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Ha thats funny...Im guessing by your avatar you are a Michigan State fan. We have a kid down here that has them in his top 5. His mom is from Michigan so he has Michigan and Michigan State listed. Izzo has been down to his open gyms a few times. So if he goes there yall will get another fan out of me.