The USGA Rule Book: Etiquette

January 16, 2013 | By Greg D'Andrea | 1 Comment

Let me go out on a limb and state that most weekend golfers probably try to follow the USGA rules. Sure, we might not walk back to the tee to re-hit a ball that’s gone OB (or play a provisional). And we sometimes take mulligans and gimmies, but for the most part, we try to play the game right.

But do we really know the rules? I’m sure many of you have thumbed-through the USGA rule book, but have you read it cover to cover? Probably not. So in this continuing series, I’m going to write about stuff you find in the rule book – perhaps about things you’ve never even realized.

For example, did you know there is a section in the rule book about etiquette? It’s purpose is to explain how the game “should” be played. In fact, there’s a subsection entitled “The Spirit of the Game” that explains since there are no umpires or referees, it’s up to individual players to take on the responsibility of playing the game correctly.

Under the etiquette section, there are subsections on safety; distractions; and how to act on the green. There is also a good amount of space devoted to keeping the course in good condition – including in the bunkers. I mention bunkers because I always assumed you had to use a rake. But according to the rule book, you just need to “smooth over all holes and footprints.” Only if a rake is “within reasonable proximity” should it be used. Granted, I’ll probably still always use a rake, but it’s interesting to know if you’re in a rush, you can technically smooth the sand out with your foot (and not feel guilty about it).

One common sore spot in golf is slow play. Players (especially weekend hacks like me) are always feeling pressure to keep up the pace – either from the group behind me or from the ranger. I’m constantly striving to catch that elusive 4-hour round. In fact, I’ve written about how a comfortable pace is probably more like 5 hours.

But golf courses tell you it should be 4 hours – why? They make it sound like that’s what it’s supposed to be. But the interesting thing is the rule book doesn’t put a time limit on it! In fact, no where in the rules of golf does it say a round has to take 4 hours (or anywhere close to 4 hours). It simply says, “it is a group’s responsibility to keep up with the group in front.” Further, it defines not keeping up when the group ahead has one full hole between you. So if you’re putting-out on the 5th and the group in front is putting-out on the 6th, you’re still good!

But the rules do suggest some things I rarely employ. For example, how often do you allow the group behind you to play through? Do you do it if you’re looking for a lost ball? According to the rules, not only should you allow the group to play through, you should allow them to play through before you even begin your search! Yep, if you think you might use all of your allotted 5 minutes to search for a ball (and the group is on the tee behind you), you should allow them to play through immediately, not after you’ve been searching for a few minutes.

So while we tend to think of etiquette as the unspoken rules in golf, the USGA obviously has a lot to say about it. In fact, it’s the first section of their rule book! The definition of golf terms, which we’ll discuss in a separate post, is Section 2. Golf is a complicated game – but it’s still meant to be enjoyed. Know your etiquette!

Related Posts: The USGA Rule Book: Definitions

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

December 5, 2012 | By Greg D'Andrea | Leave a Comment

Does it really matter what type of putter recreational golfers use? — Does it really matter what type of putter non-pro golfers use?

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.

Number 5

5 Reasons Why They Hate Golf – Some people just don’t like golf – it’s sad but true. In 2011, we tried to explain why anyone could possibly hate this great game!

Number 4

Is USGA Membership Worth It? – After years of trashing his annual membership form, Stinky Golfer Greg explained why 2010 was the year he finally joined the USGA!

Number 3

Custom Fitting Golf Clubs: Worth It? – In June of 2010, Stinky Golfer Chris went to get custom fit for new clubs. In this candid post (and his follow-up posts), he explains if it was all worth it.

Number 2

10 Golf Etiquette Rules Most Jackasses Ignore – In this April 2011 post, Stinky Golfer Greg lists his biggest golfer pet peeves in a no-holds-barred rant about cell-phone use; playing from the wrong tee-box; and giving unwanted swing advice.

Number 1

Male-Only Golf Clubs; Sexist Bastards or Constitutional Right? – We opened up a can of worms with this post from 2009 on the rights of private golf clubs vs. the sentiments of the 21st-century.

Book Review: Do I Get A Drop?

May 30, 2012 | By Greg D'Andrea | 2 Comments

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!

Could The Future of Golf Rely On Video Games?

February 20, 2012 | By Chris Chirico | 1 Comment

Can video games about golf drum-up interest? — Can video games drum-up interest in golf?

I grew up playing video games. I distinctly remember me and my friends from the neighborhood gathering at each others houses to play Atari, Intellivision and Coleco as soon as one of us got a new game. I remember the craze when Nintendo first hit stores, and I remember being the first of my friends to have it. It was like Christmas for everyone in my neighborhood!

All these years later, things aren’t so different. I still play games myself sometimes, although my Playstation 3 is used equally as much by me for Netflix and Blu-Ray movies. But my kids…that’s another story.

They love the video games just as much as I did when I was a kid. I have three different gaming systems in my house right now, not including anything portable. Seems silly, right? Well, not really. Each of them serves a bit of a different purpose. Besides a game system, my PS3, as mentioned earlier, is a Blu-Ray player and Netflix streamer. The Wii is for the more “active” games and is probably the most fun of the three systems. The XBox 360 is pretty much strictly for gaming. But I’ll tell you what else the games are – the Wii specifically, was used as a tool to get my boys interested in the game of golf.

People freak out and think that video games have a negative effect on kids. Many people feel if kids see violence in a game, they’re going to think violence is OK in real life. Well, I’m not saying these people are wrong, but if your kids play Grand Theft Auto for a few hours, then go out and steal a car and beat up a hooker…sorry, but it’s not the game. You’re failing as a parent. You’ve got bigger problems than video games.

Me, I’ve used my Wii to influence my kids. No, I didn’t buy Call of Duty so I can get them to buy guns…although, it seems to have influenced me a bit. Rather, it started out with Wii Sports (a “sampler” game that comes with the Wii). Included in this game is a cartoon-like 9-hole golf course. But the idea that you use the controller as a club is what intrigued my kids, as well as myself which is why I bought the system to begin with. And guess what…it helped!

My boys had no interest at all in watching golf on TV. And even though I play golf, they didn’t really seem to share my interest. That is, until they swung the controller on the Wii. Somehow, that seemed to open the door. Next thing you know, they want to go to a real driving range. Soon after, my oldest uses his birthday money to buy a starter set of clubs. The next season, we’re out on the course. Now, my youngest boy is interested in buying his own set of clubs! And I have to say, a golf video game is partially responsible for this.

So what could this mean for the future of this sport? Could golf video games help influence kids to pick up a real driver rather than just a virtual one? Should the USGA or PGA take this into consideration and do more to work these games into the sports promotion? I don’t have any real proof or statistics to show that a video game can influence this behavior, but I do know of two instances when it has.

Now it remains to be seen if golf does continue to hold my boys interest. For now, basketball is still first on the list for both, as well as baseball for one and soccer for the other. But the golf seed has been planted. And if it’s true that video games do have this “effect” on kids, then why not use it to your advantage rather than just complain about it? Get them influenced by something positive rather than some “shoot ’em up” game. You never know, you may end up with a future playing partner for years to come!

Swing ’til you’re happy, even if it’s with a virtual club!

The USGA Rule Book: Etiquette

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

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