Rules

Golf World Handicap System – Update

/ The Grateful Golfer / 6 Comments

For the past few years, “An extensive review of existing handicap systems administered by Golf Australia, the Council of National Golf Unions (CONGU) in Great Britain and Ireland, the European Golf Association (EGA), the South African Golf Association (SAGA), the Argentine Golf Association (AAG) and the United States Golf Association (USGA) has been undertaken.” (The R&A)

“More than 15 million golfers in over 80 countries presently have a handicap, a numerical index long used as a measure of a golfer’s potential skill level. Handicaps are currently delivered through six different systems around the world. The aim of the proposed handicap system is to adopt a universal set of principles and procedures that will apply all over the world.” (The R&A)

And now there is movement towards the World Handicap System. Continue reading →

Two New Golf Rule Changes for 2018

/ The Grateful Golfer / 9 Comments

New rule changes affecting your score!

The governing bodies of golf have finally made two good rule decisions I can get behind. Some pundits feel that the changes will empower the players to cheat, but I say that it forces professionals to play to the level of integrity we expect  as viewers. These two rule changes will make pundits take sides and I choose the side of good riddance. 

Continue reading →

New Rules of Golf: Searching For Your Ball

/ The Grateful Golfer / 6 Comments

We have all spent time looking for golf balls. Whether it is our own or your playing partners’, walking through the rougher parts of the golf course is normal. If I have to look repeatedly for a golf ball, it does throw off my game, especially if the player I am with refuses to give up looking. You know that player, the one that spends more time looking for his 2 dollar ball then he spends researching before he buys a new car. It is very frustrating and has a tendency to ruin the flow of everyone’s game. Hence, the new rules of golf are designed to change that…..or will it? Continue reading →

New Golf Rules Are Coming

/ The Grateful Golfer / 7 Comments

In March 2017, the governing bodies of golf released the draft rules for the golfing world to peruse. After some feedback, they will make the final announcement in the spring of 2018 with the new rules becoming law on 1 January 2019. The changes are significant and in some cases, not so much. Reading the recent addition of the Golf Canada Magazine, they outlined 5 specific rules I thought were worth discussing. Continue reading →

Crazy Golf Rules

/ The Grateful Golfer / 2 Comments

This is just a crazy golf rule that I had to share. It is a cut and paste from BarDown website. I take no credit for the original reporting, but I just had to share it!

Bizarre rule leads to golfer having to strip down and jump into a lake!

Water Hazard

Water Hazard

Sometimes golf gets weird when you drop the ball.

Wednesday, during the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional, Jacksonville golfer David Wicks found out just how serious tournament officials are about certain rules, no matter the circumstances. After hitting a putt close to the pin on the 13th hole, Wicks picked his ball, placed it in his pocket and put down his marker. Moments later, Wicks went to check his scorecard causing him to accidentally drop his ball off his shoe. The ball ended up rolling into the drink, meaning that unless Wicks was able to retrieve his ball, he would face a penalty shot.

So Wicks did what any good team player would do…he took his clothes off and jumped into the lake.

“Wicks stripped down to his underwear and dove in with a five-minute time limit. “David probably found 20 balls in the stretch of five minutes, but he never could find his,” said Blackburn. “It was just a stroke of bad luck. After the five minute period ended the rules officials gave him a two-stroke penalty, which really could’ve hampered our comeback. But David rebounded, finishing the day with five straight pars to keep us in the race.” (JUDolphins.com)

While we understand that rules are rules, that rule just seems a bit silly. Careful of mistakes on the golf course…some can cause you to have to jump in a lake.

(H/T: FTW USA Today)