re: New Rules of Golf Finalized, Jan 2019 go into effect

I like pretty much all the changes.

The flag deal doesn't really matter to me. I'm probably going to prefer to take it out on any putt that I wouldn't have normally had someone tend for me though. Unless it's something extremely fast that I could use it as a backstop kind of.

I do see the annoying argument though. If everyone wants it out, and the last or second to last person wants it back in for his two putt, someone has to go get it and put it back in. Then what if the next person wants it back out again? Just going to be weird I guess. I did like being able to pull the pin when everyone was on and not have to worry about it unless it needed tending.

I really like how they are adapting some of the rules though. Some of them needed changing.

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I almost never lose a ball

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That's the opposite of what the rules is for. You don't have to tend the flag.


So, if a guy in your foursome decides they want it in, you’re gonna tell him to frick off?

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you been dp'd one too many times?

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Just not sure if that's what they mean by calling it a local rule

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They probably would for club competitions, but I’d imagine your foursome could apply it for a friendly game... just like we do for “in the leather” and breakfast balls.

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I guess I just don’t like the idea of a “local rule.” It’s not clear to me. If I’m playing a game with buddies at Beaver creek, we aren’t going to discuss “local rules” beforehand. And when someone goes OB, we aren’t calling the club house to see if they have “adopted” the rule. Just tell us what the rule is

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There are local rules at every golf course you play. They're normally listed on the scorecard like this will be.

Embedded ball rule through the green is actually a local rule. We have a local rule about pampas grass played as a hazard, but during higher level tournaments, that local rule is not in effect.

I played an awful lot on a very narrow course.

Getting one in the fairway is easy. It's those pesky greens that add strokes.

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If I never had to hit a tee shot I would be a scratch golfer.

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This was me this past weekend and most other days.

I would imagine that almost all the clubs would adopt the local rule for normal play. The possible exception being some of the elite clubs that will buck the trend just for the sake of traditional rules. The clubs would also be able to specifically state in tournament rules that the “local rule” does not apply when it chooses to host a tournament, such as a club championship, and it wants the rules to be the same as prior years events.

OB rule and new rule allowing dropping behind bunker should both be one stroke penalty. Otherwise unplayable lie should be two strokes, they are all basically the same imo.

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You should highlight the part that says the new rules are not intended for pro/elite golfers

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That's only the stroke and distance local rule. The rest of the rules will be in effect