Should golfers be required to take a rules test before joining a club?

Opics

I have noticed in many threads lately and through playing with other golfers that there are many people who have been playing golf for many years who don't know the basic rules of golf. Should golfers be required to pass a test on the basic rules of golf before being accepted as a member or get a handicap?

You wouldn't put a footballer on the field of play in a match without them knowing the rules and this should be the same in golf IMO





*Just to clarify, I feel this should be for people entering competitions. People that go back once a year playing golf for fun have no need for a handicap so knowing the rules shouldn't be as necessary for them.

k.p.h

No I don't think a test would be the best way to go as it would put a lot of people off.

"I play golf for fun and now I have to do a test" etc ..

I personally think it should be mandatory for everyone who plays to have a copy of the rules in the bag. I think the GUI & ILGU should supply the book as part of the membership sub. I think the cost of the book could easily be covered by some simple advertising or sponsorship. The book could also be used as a diary with fixtures and other things of interest in it.

The R&A have a good system in place so rules are actually quite easy to find in the book.

Just on a side note, their is one rule that I repeatedly get told which I think is completely wrong. I don't know where it comes from or maybe it is a rule which has been changed or something.

It's in regard to the flagstick being attended. I keep getting told that the flag has to be either in or out from off the green. As I interpret the pretty simple rule it can be attended from anywhere. I told this to a group of elderly retired gentlemen I was playing with the other day and they looked at me like I was some type of idiot. They all agreed that it had to be in or out from off the green. I have been told this numerous times from older more experienced golfers. I am starting to get a bit confused about it at this stage :rolleyes:

Rule 17-1 The flagstick me be removed, held up or attended regardless of where the player's ball lies.

nocal

Golfers should know the rules - it is amazing how poor the knowledge of the rules is. But then they are complex. I think clubs should probably try to do more to promote knowledge of the rules - like have a rule of the day on display before each competition.

I attended a rules night in the club this year - but it got very long winded and complicated. I did learn from it, even though at the time I thought that I had not. I find that the best way to learn the rules is to look them up when something happens during a round to provoke doubt. I currently carry a copy of the rules in my bag - but have not had to pull it out during a round yet - it is good to know that it is there if required.

As for your question kph - the flag may be attended from off the green (you might remember Mickelson sending Bones up to attend the flag at one of the competitions in the States this year as Phil tried to hole out with a wedge from about 80 yards to force a playoff) but if it is attended from off the green then it must be removed before the ball goes into the hole.

death1234567

k.p.h wrote: »

It's in regard to the flagstick being attended. I keep getting told that the flag has to be either in or out from off the green. As I interpret the pretty simple rule it can be attended from anywhere. I told this to a group of elderly retired gentlemen I was playing with the other day and they looked at me like I was some type of idiot. They all agreed that it had to be in or out from off the green. I have been told this numerous times from older more experienced golfers. I am starting to get a bit confused about it at this stage

I think the old rule was that it had to be in or out if you were off the green but AFAIK the rule was changed to allow it to be attended.

uberwolf

had a bit of a ding dong on this one yesterday.

With an attended flag, and a player off the green, can the flag be removed once the stroke is taken?

I thought yes. Read 17-1 at the time to try and settle it. It seemed to me that there was no point in allowing the flag be attended if it can not removed post stroke. And indeed there is a two stroke penalty for it hitting the flag, once it has been attended.

Can anyone point me towards a definitive ruling to prove my case against more 'experienced' golfers? (or am I just wrong?)

Bullseye1

Even Professionals require judgement calls from Match Referee. I would say no.

uberwolf

I forfeited two beers on this last night, so I've already lost face...

The flag can definitely be attended from anywhere on the course. 17-1
Once attended, if I hit it I'm faced with a two shot penalty. (in strokeplay) 17-3

So for me the obvious logic is to avoid hitting the flagstick, the attendee removes the flagstick post stroke. Same as the rule on putting. Indeed that is the entire purpose of attending the flag.

k.p.h

Thats the way I would take it up anyway uberwolf.

It has happened a few times where I have had relatively short pitches and not been able to see the hole and only the top of the pin. This is usually not a problem but occasionally the flag stick is leaning towards me in which case I would like to have the flag stick attended.

I think the reason why people take up the rule as a simple "in or out" is that it is easier to explain the rule in that manner to avoid penalty strokes and also that most people would rather leave the pin in just in case they hit the ball with too much pace and the pin occasionally stops the ball etc.

Funny one but nocal's description is spot on as far as I can tell.

jimmystars

No, to the original question. Would need a degree in english to understand some of the rules and the way they are written. I see you can get a copy of the rules on the i phone which is really handy.
Just to clarify this one for me. If a ball plugs do you get relief. I thought you played as it lies but playing partner produced rules on i phone saying you get relief. Did this rule change recently
Thanks

uberwolf

afair you get relief through the green for this. 25-2
http://www.randa.org/en/Rules-and-Amateur-Status/Rules-of-Golf.aspx#/rules/?ruleNum=25&subRuleNum=2

randomer

I think a rules training session would be a great idea. I attended one last week at my club. It lasted just over an hour and covered the most common errors that are made.

In hindsigt, the number of errors that I have witnessed over the past couple of months is staggering.

Ignorance of, or failure to comply with, the rules can result in players shooting lower scores and winning prizes that a player with more knowledge, or honesty in some cases, should have won.

stockdam

No I don't think it should be mandatory as it would be a logistics nightmare to do right. However I think something should be done to educate most people in the most commonly broken ones. Maybe if players want to play in competitions then yes there should be a way of testing the general knowledge.

randomer

stockdam wrote: »

No I don't think it should be mandatory as it would be a logistics nightmare to do right. However I think something should be done to educate most people in the most commonly broken ones. Maybe if players want to play in competitions then yes there should be a way of testing the general knowledge.

In my response I was referring to competition play, rather than casual play. Apologies if I wasn't clear.

gramlab

Even the pros need advice from official now and again so to expect the average golfer to know them is a bit much.

Plus I think you would have a lot of bad calls and hold ups with people trying to show their knowledge of the rules.

An idea would be to produce some sort of card with the 20 or 30 most commonly cited rules which could be handed out by clubs

randomer

gramlab wrote: »

Even the pros need advice from official now and again so to expect the average golfer to know them is a bit much.

Plus I think you would have a lot of bad calls and hold ups with people trying to show their knowledge of the rules.

An idea would be to produce some sort of card with the 20 or 30 most commonly cited rules which could be handed out by clubs

I don't expect "the average golfer" to know all of the rules, but I do expect them to know the rules that will affect them on a regular basis, and also the etiquette of the game.

A simple introduction into the rules and etiquette of the game would take about 60 minutes and could easily be arranged when people join a new club, before they participate in a competition.