New Rules - Are they improving the game?

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By AntD

  • 1 Like
  • 12 Replies
  1. AntD

    AntD
    Hampshire, UK

    Once again the new 2019 rules have been in the news with the Pro's, This week Rickie Fowlers drop from shoulder height cost him ...which wouldn't have happened with a Pro V1 (ha ha).

    I my club comp today a playing partner was just about to take a stroke and distance drop as we couldn't find his ball in the trees. We were all sure where the ball was last seen as it hit a tree so didn't search for the full 3 minutes. As he was getting another ball from his bag his ball was spotted 20 yards back from said tree and up against another which meant he had to take a drop under penalty and could only play out sideways. Now playing 4 from a spot 30 yards from where he would have taken a S&D drop with a clear line to the green. How fair would that S&D have been?

    We also have adopted S&D on our first hole where the range is down the right and OOB. There's mounding between fairway and the OOB but its annoying that a player going OOB can drop on the flat and not in the rough on the mounding which for a less wayward drive will often cost you a shot. In the past I've seen people playing 5 off the tee because of 2 drives OOB.

    In todays comp my 3 ball did putt with the flag in on longer putts but no one left it in to hole out.

    I don't see how all the new rules are going to simplify or speed up play, and the S&D rule is one I personally disagree with 100%.

    What are your thought TT members?

    Ant

  2. Stuart M

    Stuart M
    Dundee

    Leaving the flag if deffo speeds things up, as for the s&d it really means nothing as it not permissible in qualifiers so only really match play or 4bbb and only if your club introduces it as a local rule, which we haven't.
  3. AntD

    AntD
    Hampshire, UK

    Stuart,

    My club has added S&D as a local rule that can be used in Qualifiers, which I challenged as CONGU say it can't be used. I was told that the Handicap Committee had permitted it's adoption after consultation and that it was permitted.

    I'm hoping this gets cleared up before I pay my CONGU subs next month as I don't want my handicap invalidated.

    I agree on the flag in rule but I think the drop from knee height should be changed to between knee and shoulder.

    Ant
  4. Adam H

    Adam H
    Chorley, 0

    By S&D are you referring to the alternative of Stroke & Distance where you have a 2 shot penalty for going OOB or a lost ball?

    If so, then this is not allowed to be used for CONGU handicap qualifying comps (not too sure if we can put hyperlinks on here, but I'll paste it anyway - if they don't allow them then a very quick google of "local rule to drop lost ball? congu qualifying?" ).

    www.congu.co.uk/.../CONGU-Advice-New-Rules-of-Golf.pdf (page 2)

    I can't see them allowing just one club to have it and no one else.
  5. Stuart M

    Stuart M
    Dundee

    It's my understanding that CONGU have ruled it out in qualifiers, how your club can then overrule them I have no idea.
  6. MattH

    MattH
    Peterborough, England

    Neither of the clubs I play at have adopted the S&D rule due to potential confusion between qualifying and non-qualifying usage. One of the clubs has turned every penalty area red and I like that the club can now be grounded.

    We leave the flag in when we would previously had it attended but take it out as per before. People are dropping from shoulder height but a re-drop is free - so long as someone in the group remembers before the shot is hit. But my favourite change is being able to repair damage on greens without fear of penalty.
  7. blair

    blair
    Scotland

    I like most of the rule changes but the flag rule is not speeding up time. In a recent match I played against 2 guys that always had the pin in so we were putting the pin in and out up to 4 times a hole it was so frustrating. The knee high drop should have stayed at a drop any height as long as it is above ground.
    I hope the have another look at the rules
  8. APhillips

    APhillips

    I’m a fan of the rule changes, like anything takes a while to get used to them. I can see what they have introduced the rules to speed up the round. When your putting 40 footers then having the flag in is a great help rather than someone in the group taking and attending the flag.

    As for the ball drop incident. I can see them moving to place in the future, as DJ dropped this weekend and then ended up placing the ball. Pros are scared of the new rules as it costs them money if they make a mistake. For us weekend amateurs nothing a discussion with your playing group can’t fix.

    Play well guys.
  9. JT TITLEISTUSER

    JT TITLEISTUSER
    Wirral

    Seems it's a bit of a curate's egg at present. Some bits are OK while others seem poorly thought through.
    Other than the ball hunting 2min reduction, few of the new measures are guaranteed to speed up play, and the potential debates associated with lost ball make even that one doubtful.
    I agree with Blair on dropping - Knee does seem a bit arbitrary. It was originally going to be waist, which would have been more comfortable and dignified if nothing else..
    I do have to say I'm in favour of the no penalty for a double hit rule - I can barely achieve that playing keepy-uppy with my lob wedge so I'm pretty certain I couldn't do it to order.
    JT
  10. Deno

    Deno
    New Jersey

    Military
    I hope the drop rule will change to dropping anywhere between the knee and shoulders depending on slope of the ground according to approval of playing partners.
  11. Stuart M

    Stuart M
    Dundee

    In match play having the pin put in and out may be an issue but in strokeplay it is unquestionably quicker.
  12. Steve W

    Steve W
    Tooting, London

    My club hasn't adopted the S&D so no effect there. I love the fact that you can now repair all damage on the greens - some people have heavy feet and must almost shuffle across greens! This repair can usually be done whilst waiting for others to putt, so no wasting of time.
    I think the flag in saves time as you can putt without having to walk up to remove the flag, tend it instead of preparing for your putt etc. I'm liking it in for longer putts and where there is a chance that hitting the pin may help - a quick downhiller for example. Anything within 6 feet though, I find it a distraction.
    Ball drop is just silly and doesn't feel natural to me. I'd prefer to go back to arms length at shoulder height...
  13. AntD

    AntD
    Hampshire, UK

    Got to agree with the green repair of spike marks although didn't help me earlier this week as the greens had been hollow tine in prep for a top dressing, which cost me in the stapleford. My best tee to green round for a while and came 3rd with 36 points losing by 2 points, but took 40 putts nearly 9 more that usual (5 x 3 stabs) and 3 easy birdies turned into bogeys....

    After reading the reports on flag in vs flag out I'm still a flag out for short and uphill, but I can see the case for IN for the long downhillers.

    Ant

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