Jordan Spieth and a rules official in July at the Open Championship.
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You had jokes. A sample :
“You have to count every shot.”
“You can’t take another shot after a bad shot.”
“All.”
Funny!.
“‘Em” referred to the rules, as the jokes answered this question, posed this week on GOLF’s Instagram, Facebook and X accounts: What is the most boring rule of golf? There were, however, serious answers. Many of them.
And we talked about it often. One reader even wrote their response over and over again, 12 times in total.
“The cracks in the fairway.
“The cracks in the fairway.
“The cracks in the fairway.
“The cracks in the fairway.
“The cracks in the fairway.
“The cracks in the fairway.
“The cracks in the fairway.
“The cracks in the fairway.
“The cracks in the fairway.
“The cracks in the fairway.
“The cracks in the fairway.
“Fairway divots.” »
We hear you. Notably, and perhaps out of sympathy for the person above, the subject of fairway divots, and more specifically the lack of relief from them, was discussed this week at the highest level. After this week’s first round Bermuda ChampionshipCameron Percy posted the following on his X account:
“Anyone who was 71 yards ahead of 9 today in the middle left of the fairway should be ashamed to call themselves a pro for leaving the divot I finished in.”
Percy then double-bogeyed the hole at Port Royal Golf Course.
With that, here are some of your responses (slightly edited), taken from Instagram, X And Facebook. For each of these, we’ve divided the responses into two categories: the split rule (to give you an idea of how frustrating it is) and the no-divot rule (to give you an idea of the variety) .
What is the most boring rule of golf? Instagram
— Sharing rule
“Divots (clap emoji) should (clap emoji) be (clap emoji) on the ground (clap emoji) under the repair (clap emoji) (clap emojis).”
“This is a play on a divot in the fairway. We all decided that was it. You can all stop asking the question like it’s up for debate.
“I second all the comments about divots. You should NEVER be penalized for hitting a shot down the center of the fairway.
“Fairway divots should be GUP.”
“I want to know who actually makes it out of a divot, in a non-competitive round. You play for fun or to practice. Move the damn ball. This comment should be banned because I know no one else is going after their local municipality. Also, I wouldn’t be mad if OB was played as a hazard instead of reloading from the same spot.
“Looks like we’re playing with wins on divots (clapping emoji). Now we have to change the rules.
“The only answer is to play from a divot in the fairway. It’s complete garbage that you can scratch one down the middle but have to play with another clown’s divot. Easily the worst rule in golf and will remain the worst rule in golf until it changes. Ask any professional and they will tell you the same thing.
“Fairway Divots…a story as old as time. »
“Defo divots, or ball in an indentation in the bunker.”
“Divots in the fairways should be a free relief. You shouldn’t be penalized for a good shot! »
— No-divot rule
“That the LPGA plays for such small purses compared to the PGA. Oh, that seems like an unwritten rule, but it’s the truth to me.
“Buy drinks after getting an ace!” »
“O.B. Just make everything play out like a side hazard.
“You have to count every shot.”
“Why should I get an extra penalty stroke because I lost my ball? I didn’t gain an advantage AND I now lost a ball. I swear only golf gives you penalties when you actually do something that puts you at a disadvantage.
“Divots in fairways that aren’t GUR are definitely No. 1, but balls are hit and the distance when lost in the rough or leaves is close. Having to go back and measure the shot and distance is a horrible rule for regular golfers without spotters, cameras and spectators to find your ball. If it is not clearly hit in the hazard or OB, you should be able to fall at the point closest to where you last saw the ball.
“Slow game. This is not applied by many.
“Not knowing the rules”
“Shots and distances out of bounds”
“No relief when stance/swing is hampered by OB (human construction) limitations, especially fences.”
What is the most boring rule of golf? X
— Sharing rule
“I play from a divot in the fairway.”
“No relief from a divot.”
“Perfect drive and the ball lands in a divot. It should be a drop. The OB should also be abolished. Simply make everything a red stake hazard and you have to lose two club lengths, with a one-stroke penalty.
“The cracks in the fairway.
“The cracks in the fairway.
“The cracks in the fairway.
“The cracks in the fairway.
“The cracks in the fairway.
“The cracks in the fairway.
“The cracks in the fairway.
“The cracks in the fairway.
“The cracks in the fairway.
“The cracks in the fairway.
“The cracks in the fairway.
“Fairway divots.” »
“No ball divot relief.”
“No relief for divots in fairways.”
“The ball in a fairway divot must be played as is.”
“I play from a divot in the fairway.”
“Not being able to get relief from a divot. »
“Can’t get free relief in the fairway when your ball finds a divot.”
— No-divot rule
“At no time should more than 20 handicappers be penalized in terms of course and distance. This should speed up the game a lot. Go down the fairway.
“Driver length and putter anchoring ban.”
“That an animal print in a bunker must be in an animal hole in a bunker to get relief. I play on a course full of kangaroos that leave deep footprints but don’t dig holes. Insane rule!
“Lost bullet where you swear it’s here.” I have to return to the tee while adding two damn strokes to your score.
“Hit and distance penalties. I’m not sure what they should be, but something only close to a stroke loss. Lost bullet ? Just press number 2 again from the original location instead of number 3. OB? Same thing, or if you find the ball, treat it like a red obstacle. Otherwise, hit #2 from last place.
“All.”
“O.B. Do it like red pegs. Two club lengths from where he entered with a penalty stroke. Now you hit three (after a tee shot).
“The lost ball rule (when the ball is clearly in play and not in some type of hazard or wooded area) needs to be reconsidered. The punishment for hitting an OB ball and the punishment for hitting it into a long rough/green area and not finding it should not be the same.
“Elevator. Cleaning. Location.”
“O.B. It’s not even close. Play it where it is.
What is the most boring rule of golf? Facebook
— Sharing rule
“Playing from a divot in the fairway should yield a drop.”
“Not being able to get a ball off a fairway divot!” »
“Having to play a ball in a divot. »
“Playing on a playground.”
“I agree with most here about not being able to get your ball out of a divot in the fairway!”
“I play from a divot in the middle of the fairway.”
— No-divot rule
“Penalty difference for a bad shot. Out of bounds, there is the shot and the distance. In the water, you have the opportunity to move away from the shot.
“Off-limits.”
“I can’t make my own rules as the round goes on!!!”
“Water obstacles with red and yellow stakes! A rule please.
“That I can’t make my own score.” »
“You have to play another ball after hitting overhead power lines. You should have the option to play another one or take the “lucky” bounce if that is the case.
“Rules? There are rules? Not in my game!
“You can’t take another shot after a bad shot.”
” Off-limits. I’m still there.
“You have to count every shot.”
“All.”
“Count every shot.”
“Keep score.”
“I have to count all your shots!” Where’s the fun in that?
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