Golf is known as a gentlemen’s game with very strict procedures and etiquette on the pro level. But casual golfers may get a little loose with the rulebook on the local course while out with their buddies for a few different reasons. For one, no one likes a rules sticker during a casual round of golf. The second reason is there are so many complex rules that it can be difficult to keep them all straight.
Are there too many rules in golf? Are some of them unnecessary? It’s certainly possible there are a few ideas that are a bit outdated but remain built into the history of the sport at a professional level. One example is signing an incorrect scorecard. No matter how a player performs, if he or she signs a scorecard following a round with a lower score than the actual total, the player is disqualified, even if it was an accident.
Additionally, if they sign a scorecard that shows a higher number than what they actually shot, the player is simply given the score which they signed for. This cost Roberto De Vicenzo a shot at winning The Masters in 1968. This may have been necessary long ago but at this point, professional golf could certainly have others keep score just like in every other sport.
Prior to January 2018, there was a system in place in which fans could watch a PGA event on television and call in rules violations for officials to review. Often, these minor rules violations would be so minor that casual golf fans would not actually know what rule had been broken, though broadcasters generally do a great job in explaining the situation at play to keep viewers in the know. This had been a hot topic for years, but no longer are fans able to call in rules complaints.
Still, rules are needed no matter the sport to make for an even playing field across the entire event. On the PGA Tour, Patrick Reed has certainly had his fair share of rules controversies over the course of his career as a professional golfer. He has gained a reputation as a bit of a rule bender in the golf community and has been called out by his colleagues on a number of occasions.
Surely only Golf Societies are allowed to do this!! ? #PatrickReedCheating pic.twitter.com/Q82PYmpXyk
— Bagot Arms Golf Society (@BagotArmsGolf) December 7, 2019
As for the rest of us as recreational golfers, feel free to set your own standards with your friends. Whether that’s unlimited mulligans, gimme putts or the always useful foot wedge, just make sure everyone plays with the same set of rules.
Picture Credit: Pixabay, Twitter
