Rules changes for 2023

Weirfan

Nothing crazy but a few changes:
https://www.usga.org/content/dam/usga/pdf/2022/rules/2023%20Principal%20Changes.pdf

sdandrea1

Rules? There's RULES??!!

Subsonic

We talkin bout Rules? Rules!?

Eguller

We’ll ….. suggestions ?

azgreg

We should be able to move balls from divots in the fairway.

Mattyv

azgreg

I consider sand traps extra large divots. I am all for this.🤣

sdandrea1

azgreg We should be able to move balls from divots in the fairway.

fatshot

azgreg We should be able to move balls from divots in the fairway.

We DO....!! 🤣

raggmann54

Rules??? We don’t need no stinkin Rules!!!!!

ode

Mattyv I hope my ball ends up on a divot when it goes in a sandtrap🙃

Subsonic

anything in there about mulligans or do overs?

Mattyv

Subsonic

Still not allowed if someone sees you do it.

Subsonic

Mattyv So if your playing partners close their eyes it is ago? Asking for a friend.

DonM

sdandrea1 Define divot. That’s really a big problem to solve before you write the rule. What about an old divot that’s pretty much healed? Etc.

Eguller

I’ve seen marked ground under repair not as bad as some divots. 😠

Mattyv

DonM

Any lie that is not pristine is a divot!

On a serious note. If you hit the ball in the fairway you should not have to play out of a divot if you are unlucky enough to land in one. As a player you hit the ball where you were "supposed " to. Having to play out of a divot that was most likely not repaired correctly seems like an unjust penalty. I would also petition the board to make it so you don't have to play out of a footprint in a sand trap that some lazy bastard didn't rake.

sdandrea1

DonM Define divot. That’s really a big problem to solve before you write the rule. What about an old divot that’s pretty much healed? Etc.

Exactly. It's way too hard to define and would really slow the game down at the Tour/TV level. The only valid argument in my mind is you shouldn't be punished for hitting the fairway. But, you play it where it lies. DeChambeau would want 2nd and 3rd opinions.

rsvman2

DonM This is the whole problem in a nutshell.
Only viable solution would be to allow the ball to be moved 6 inches in any direction except closer to the hole on every shot that is in the fairway. So, effectively, maximize your lie if you hit the fairway.

Then the only problem becomes defining the fairway, lol.

Par4QC

Mattyv I would also petition the board to make it so you don't have to play out of a footprint in a sand trap that some lazy bastard didn't rake.

Whoa.....now we are getting way too technical.
We have to play out of sand traps?? 😲 It's. Not. Grass.

DonM

rsvman2 Right, preferred lies.

Sneakylong

Since our small group gave up our memberships at our home course and don’t keep handicaps or play tournaments anymore we play by our own rules.

We don’t play out of divots and can wipe mud off our golf balls since we play early in the morning. We can move the ball away from tree roots etc..

We allow a breakfast ball off the first tee as well. Nobody knows all the rules anyway. And if everyone is playing by the same rules then there is no problem. In other words if everyone is cheating then no one is cheating. Lol

sdandrea1

Sneakylong

Everything you described above is a rule. I'm sure of it. Definitely.

DonM

Our 3 day a week group plays by the rules with two exceptions.
We are allowed a first tee mulligan for some reason. (We have a practice range.)
We only use the best 3 of 4 net scores per hole, so if you aren’t going to be one of the three, you can concede your own putt and move on. Even if it’s a 10 footer. You’re pretty much expected to, to keep it moving. Other than that, we don’t allow gimme’s.

In the MGA league, once you’ve hit net double bogey on a hole, you pick up. At least that one won’t affect your handicap.

Winter rules will start soon.