The Lazy Mans 17 Rules of Golf that need to be Changed!

Written by Mel Sole on June 27, 2016. Posted in Rules of Golf

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My opponent hits the ball 20 yards off-line to the left and finds a lateral water hazard. He can drop where the ball entered the hazard and play 3 from there. I drive the ball 20 yards off-line to the right, and my ball goes out of bounds. I have to play 3 off the tee. Now that is just so unfair! We could all make a lengthy list of the golf rules we don’t like or would like to see modified or changed completely. Alex Myers of Golf Digest has created his own list. How many of these do you agree with?

1. Play OB as a lateral hazard

The Lazy Mans 17 Rules of Golf that need to be Changed!

Hitting a ball out of bounds brings golf’s worst punishment: loss of stroke and distance. By playing OB as a lateral hazard, you can cut down on people going through their whole pre-shot routine before hitting a provisional ball that’s likely to suffer the same fate. You also remove the possibility of a real stickler for the rules insisting that the player walk all the way back to the tee to hit again after discovering his tee shot wound up out of bounds. Tell him instead to estimate where his ball crossed OB, take a drop in the rough and hit his third shot from there. The people playing in the group behind will thank you.

2. Move Your Ball Out Of A Footprint

The Lazy Mans 17 Rules of Golf that need to be Changed!

A basic rule of golf is to play the ball as it lies, but why should you pay the penalty for someone else’s carelessness? Move the ball onto a smoother surface, hit your shot, and then take care of the mess made by both you and Bigfoot.

3. Play Winter Rules When Applicable

The sticklers call this “lift, clean and cheat,” but if even the pros do it from time to time, why shouldn’t you? If a course is really wet, has just been aerated, or just has spots where it’s in lousy condition, move your ball a few inches, no closer to the hole. And if there isn’t a huge patch of mud on it, don’t worry about going through the whole cleaning and dropping process. Just use your club to nudge it a few inches.

To see the other 14 rules of golf that need to be revised, go here!

Source: Alex Myers Golf Digest

Pictures: Christian Iooss

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The Lazy Mans 17 Rules of Golf that need to be Changed!

1. Play OB as a lateral hazard

2. Move Your Ball Out Of A Footprint

3. Play Winter Rules When Applicable

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