USGA Rules are more what you’d call "Guidelines"

I was watching Pirates of the Caribbean – the part where they are talking about the “Pirate Code Book” and Barbossa says: “…the Code is more what you call guidelines than actual rules.” You know, this makes a lot of sense when you apply it to the rules of golf too.

Think about it – the vast majority of golf rounds played in the world bend the rules in some way, shape or form. Don’t believe me? Ever take a “gimmie” putt? How about a mulligan? Ever drop a ball in the fairway instead of going back to the tee to re-hit? In fact, the rule book is packed with crazy rules we probably don’t even know about!

Let me state this for the record: The USGA rules are only taken seriously when money is on the line (or during amateur competitive play). Most other times, the rules are treated more as guidelines – and these guidelines become more liberal the less serious the player or foursome is.

For example, some players accept mulligans, while others don’t. But a non-mulligan foursome may allow gimmie putts (within a certain distance of course). In other instances (especially on a muni course) it’s simply poor etiquette to go all the way back to the tee to re-hit – instead you just drop a ball and move on (completely illegal of course, but who really throws a fit over this if money isn’t on the line)?

So it’s with a chuckle in my belly (pardon the pun) that I approach the proposed 14-1b rule (the belly putter rule). I can’t believe golfers are so outspoken over this issue! Some people are outraged at the new rule, while others have already begun calling golfers still using the putter cheaters (we addressed that HERE).

Perhaps the most comical rant I read about this was from the inventor of the Polara golf ball (AKA the cheater’s ball), who actually issued a press release sharply criticizing the proposed rule!

So my question is this: Why are we, as recreational golfers, going through such lengths to complain about a rule we can just choose to ignore? Sure the tour players should have a say and, according to the proposed rule, they will. But as for the rest of us – who gives a crap?

Will the golfing gods swoop down and confiscate your clubs? Will they ban you from stepping foot on a tee box? This is completely absurd. You know what level of rule-bending you will tolerate and you’ve accepted playing the game that way – be it allowing gimmies or mulligans or even so far as using an illegal ball or putter. The choice (as non-tour members) has always been ours. We choose to accept the rule book as either scripture or mere guidelines.

Let the pro-tours and governing bodies sort this one out. Whatever their decision, I’ll consider the rules and decide for myself – after all, I golf for fun.