Stu1961
Rules only matter if you are maintaining a GHIN handicap for competition purposes. That is a very small %age of golfers.
For the majority who do not need or want to track a handicap, play by whatever rules you like and just have fun.
Personally, I play a lot of competitive golf so need to enter every score and maintain a valid handicap. In fact the one amateur tour that I play on will often investigate players to ensure they put in scores. One fellow got turfed a couple years back because he played in an invitational event , put up great scores but did not enter them in our equivalent of GHIN. The tour h/c committee called him and said you need to enter those 2 scores, he didn't so was removed.
90% of the folks I play with don't keep a h/c and they all play differently, some fluff up every ball in the rough, they hit it OB and drop at point of entry and add only 1, they give them selves 3 foot putts etc. it doesnt bother me, I simply play by the rules, hit provisionals as required and so on and do my thing
As for Faldo's comments. While he might be correct that technology has overtaken some skill ( not all) those changes Wont ever happen. Golf isn't the only sport where technology enhancements have changed the game.
Tour seems determined to limit distance, and i definitely can why that is ....because players are hitting mid irons into 550 yard par 5's and wedges into 460 yard par 4's. In the end whether the winning score is -35 or -5, its the same for everyone
