Book Review: Do I Get A Drop?

When the guys from Golfstinks get together to play a round, we typically allow gimme putts; don’t care much if you take a Mulligan; and don’t mind if you drop a ball instead of walking back to re-tee.

I’d say we’re pretty normal golfers. Look, it’s not the Tour, we’re just out there to have fun. But I’d be lying if I said we just play however we want. The truth is we care about the rules of golf far more than we let on.

For example, no one in our foursome takes a Mulligan…ever. It’s not that we don’t allow them, it’s just that over the years, we simply stopped taking them. Gimme putts are rare too. And when we’re unsure of a ruling, I’ll typically pull out my phone, open up my USGA Rules app, and try to find out what to do.

I’d say most of the time, we just want to get it right (except for walking back to re-tee – that’s just not practical on most crowded public courses). But getting it right can be a challenge too. Have you ever flipped through the USGA rule book? Many times finding what you’re looking for is impractical in-and-of itself.

Enter the ingenious book by Doug Anderson: Do I Get A Drop? Mr. Anderson is an Australian accountant who decided the golf world needed a guide book for the rule book!

The book works by asking a simple question: Where is your ball? If it’s on the tee, turn to the “Tee” section. If it’s in a bunker, turn to the “Bunker” section. On the fairway or in the rough? Turn to the “Through the Green” section. There are also sections for the green, water hazards, OB and ground under repair too.

You literally just flip to the section that pertains to your situation and your answer will be found within seconds. This book will give you your ruling and get you on your way far quicker than the real rule book – and that’s good news both for you and the group behind you!

But “Do I Get A Drop?” is more than just a quick reference guide. If you read it from start to finish, it’s a quick and easy way to learn the rules. It’s packed with humorous cartoons that help explain different ruling situations – from grounding the club in a bunker to your options in casual water – it amuses as it teaches and as a result, you learn extremely quickly.

Plus, it helps you understand all those crazy rules too – for example, I never knew that you CAN’T ask your playing partner what club they used – a stupid rule, I know – but when money is on the line, it might come in handy!

“Do I Get A Drop?” is the perfect way to instantly find the ruling you need while on the course and a great way to learn the rules of golf while you’re in the living room. And as part of this post, Mr. Anderson has graciously provided us three copies to giveaway!

Just head on over to our Facebook page (“Like” us if you haven’t already) and Like the post on our wall entitled “Win a Free copy of the book Do I Get A Drop?” – that’s it! We’ll select three random people to get their very own copy of this useful book!

Good luck!