Why golf rules should be changed for a free drop from a divot in the fairway and WHAT constitutes a divot.

[MarathonMike]

There are two parts to this proposed rule change. I realize I'm barking at the moon, but hear me out.
First, I contend that a divot is a man-made obstruction. Current rules allow drops from man-made obstructions like cart paths or temporary scoreboards. So the pretext is already established. Now the second part is "What constitutes a divot?" This is the tricky part because divots can be a gouge deep enough to bury a squirrel or a very shallow skimmer. The solution is simple! Lay your scorecard on the grass next to the ball in the divot. If any part of the ball is below the scorecard, you get a drop. If not you play it as it lies.

 

[Darkwind]

There are two parts to this proposed rule change. I realize I'm barking at the moon, but hear me out.
First, I contend that a divot is a man-made obstruction. Current rules allow drops from man-made obstructions like cart paths or temporary scoreboards. So the pretext is already established. Now the second part is "What constitutes a divot?" This is the tricky part because divots can be a gouge deep enough to bury a squirrel or a very shallow skimmer. The solution is simple! Lay your scorecard on the grass next to the ball in the divot. If any part of the ball is below the scorecard, you get a drop. If not you play it as it lies.

No. Just man up and play it where it lays.

 

[MarathonMike]

No. Just man up and play it where it lays.

I always do, that's not what the discussion is about.

 

[Darkwind]

I always do, that's not what the discussion is about.

Sure, it is. No rule change. man up, braugh. lol

 

[MarathonMike]

Sure, it is. No rule change. man up, braugh. lol

Ah I see you just want to troll. Next

 

[wamose]

When I hit 70, that's years old, I gave up trying to play golf by strict rules. I'll roll that ball out of the divot, no problem, no penalty. I guess it just gets easier to justify cheating when you get older. But you shouldn't go around crowing about what you hit when you cheat. Embrace it but don't brag about it. So for me, I'm mostly in the 80s on paper but probably in the 90s in reality. And I enjoy the shit out of the game.

 

[Darkwind]

Ah I see you just want to troll. Next

Naw man. Just yanking your chain.

 

[MarathonMike]

When I hit 70, that's years old, I gave up trying to play golf by strict rules. I'll roll that ball out of the divot, no problem, no penalty. I guess it just gets easier to justify cheating when you get older. But you shouldn't go around crowing about what you hit when you cheat. Embrace it but don't brag about it. So for me, I'm mostly in the 80s on paper but probably in the 90s in reality. And I enjoy the shit out of the game.

Fair enough. I'm talking about the inconsistent "philosophy" as it pertains to man-made obstructions. For instance there was a recent official rules change with regards to getting a free drop if you are near the green and a sprinkler is in your line. A sprinkler is another form of a "divot"; it is a man-made depression in the ground. If the rules were changed for sprinklers then that is a clear precedent for changes the rules with respect to a ball in a divot in the fairway.

 

[wamose]

Fair enough. I'm talking about the inconsistent "philosophy" as it pertains to man-made obstructions. For instance there was a recent official rules change with regards to getting a free drop if you are near the green and a sprinkler is in your line. A sprinkler is another form of a "divot"; it is a man-made depression in the ground. If the rules were changed for sprinklers then that is a clear precedent for changes the rules with respect to a ball in a divot in the fairway.

I'm not going to disagree with that. It makes perfect sense. Then again, us old ***** tend to favor leniency where rules are concerned. Personally, I'm not bad from tee to green, and I actually got pretty good at bad lies because I used to spray the ball into some real bad spots. I was a scrambler. Nowadays, I'm just a shitty putter.

 

[MarathonMike]

I'm not going to disagree with that. It makes perfect sense. Then again, us old ***** tend to favor leniency where rules are concerned. Personally, I'm not bad from tee to green, and I actually got pretty good at bad lies because I used to spray the ball into some real bad spots. I was a scrambler. Nowadays, I'm just a shitty putter.

That's cool, not too many old guys play from the blue tees right? As I've stated already, I play out of divots and I can usually get the ball out and up near the green. The USGA has modified quite a few rules to make the game more "fair". For some reason the fairway divot is a bit of a sacred cow the USGA won't touch.

 

[DGS49]

The overriding rule is this: In ANY sort of golf competition, everyone plays by the same rules.

"Play it where it lies" is only appropriate for those who strike the ball properly, which is a tiny fraction of the total of all golfers.

The suggested rule change makes perfect sense because the results of a competition should not be determined by serendipity - one guy lands in a divot and the competitors do not. But honestly, in my years of watching pro's on television, I don't think I have ever seen a pro screw up a shot because he landed in a divot. The announcers make a big deal of it on the rare times when it happens, but once the shot is executed, it was a non-factor.

Send your suggestion up to the Pope of golf. Who knows, maybe it will fly.

 

[wamose]

That's cool, not too many old guys play from the blue tees right? As I've stated already, I play out of divots and I can usually get the ball out and up near the green. The USGA has modified quite a few rules to make the game more "fair". For some reason the fairway divot is a bit of a sacred cow the USGA won't touch.

I don't play the blues very much. I'm around 260-270 off the tee so I can play the blues, but I prefer the whites. And then sometimes I play with some of my other old **** friends, and they want to play the senior tees. I go along but it's really a different game and I don't really like it. I belong on the whites.

 

[MarathonMike]

I don't play the blues very much. I'm around 260-270 off the tee so I can play the blues, but I prefer the whites. And then sometimes I play with some of my other old **** friends, and they want to play the senior tees. I go along but it's really a different game and I don't really like it. I belong on the whites.

Yeah when I play with my son and his friend who totally bombs the ball I'll play the tips. Otherwise whites are good for me.

 

[wamose]

Yeah when I play with my son and his friend who totally bombs the ball I'll play the tips. Otherwise whites are good for me.

Yeah, there's no replacement for that young blood. Just now I was down on the beach, here in Cancun, (vacation) watching some young kids take on those waves and remembering the old days. Well, at least I'm not stupid enough to try it now. I'll stick to golf.

 

[DGS49]

An unfortunate part of golf is that you can measure your deterioration with age. I didn't golf as a young man - I started at 50 - but I have seen my drive go from 250 to 200 (I'm 76) despite constant stretching and exercising to maintain my swing speed. Mother Nature always wins.