New Golf Rules

[Berzerker]

http://www.golf.com/tour-news/2017/02/28/rules-golf-proposed-changes

Player accidentally moves his or her ball during search
Current rule: 1-stroke penalty.
New rule: No penalty.

Player accidentally moves his or her ball or ball-marker on the putting green
Current rule: 1-stroke penalty (with exceptions).
New rule: No penalty.

Standard for deciding whether the player caused his or her ball to move
Current rule: Weight of the evidence/more likely than not.
New rule: The player will be found to be the cause only when it is known or virtually certain (meaning at least 95%) to be the case.

there's more, and for the most part I like the changes. Unfortunately we're supposed to wait until 2019 for the changes to take effect

but I dont understand those rule changes, #3 seems to be in conflict with #1 & #2

[rah]

Yeah, rules governing this type of thing do need to be tweeked. I'll have to read up a bit more on them.

[Berzerker]

they'll let us pick stuff out of the bunker I hate looking down at my ball only to see a pebble right behind it

I think we should be able to play the ball up everywhere... why should we be punished because the ball ended up in somebody's divot or footprint?

[rah]

I'd be afraid that it would really slow down play. In tournaments, players requesting relief for any marginal lie and having to wait for an official to rule on it. Worse for people like us waiting on the public links for guys in front of us arguing over whether a lie is deserving of relief. Relief from divots I wouldn't mind because that one is pretty obvious and wouldn't require verification.

[Thoth]

bah. Just play it as it lies.

[SlowwHand]

Yeah! The Scots don't whine about it!

[Berzerker]

I dont know how the scots played golf 400 years ago

I cant imagine using a literal crooked stick to hit a bunch of feathers and a rock sewed up into a little ball (or whatever they used)

[SlowwHand]

Oh sure. Cite technicalities.

[giblets]

This is just a sport for old people who can't play actual sports any more, why are there so many rules?

[rah]

Actually there are only 34 rules. The new proposal will recommend taking it down to 24.

And yes, I admit that I'm just too old for Football

[Berzerker]

well, I could play softball but I'd take forever to round the bases and a torn knee is just one wrong step or dive away

problem is finding and keeping a team, becomes even harder for old farts... dont need a bunch of people for golf

[Aeson]

This is just a sport for old people who can't play actual sports any more, why are there so many rules?

Im getting to the age I am considering taking up the sport, so I now understand the logic of all the rules. Standing around discussing whether or not this or that would result in a penalty helps golfers catch their breath from all the exertion of getting in and out of the golf cart.

[SlowwHand]

Softball isn't for me. I kept stretching doubles onto singles.

[pchang]

How about a 30 second shot clock?

[Berzerker]

The pga does penalize players for slow play but they're given a warning first so they just speed up. I never liked the rule because they're punishing the entire group when its usually 1-2 people who are slow. A shot clock would target the guilty party but its unenforceable for us hackers