I think you should be able to play any way you want, as long as you aren't posting the score for your handicap index or playing in a tournament.

Personally, I like to play by the rules, with the exception of going back to the tee to rehit after a lost ball, of which you expected to easily find. I typically hit a provisional if there is any question, but sometimes, even when you thought you saw right where it ended up, when you get there, it just isn't there. Going back to the tee is just not realistic on a busy golf course, unless it is in a tournament.

I am not a fan of two sets of rules.

Much like Monopoly, I think there are as many variations on the rules of golf. In my opinion, if you're playing with your buddies or on your own, the rules are whatever you and the group feel comfortable with.

However, if you're turning in your scores for handicap purposes or in a tournament, I think the rules of golf should be followed as closely as time allows.

I say it totally fine to play as you please as long as it's ok with your group. I don't think it should be regarded as one set of rules or another , but more a different rules for certain groups or outings.

As an amateur golf who competes I try to play by the book to prepare for tournaments or for handicap purposes , but in the fall or early spring we more or less play by a different set of rules.

Golf is a game that allows you and your group to play in a manner that makes the game quicker and more enjoyable for you.

For me- NO, there should not be another set of rules. While I do not agree with having two sets of rules, there are rules that exist within the current rules that actually helps to speed up play- for instance the lost ball from a tee shot- you can declare to hit another ball if you think your ball maybe out of bound or could be lost- a "provisional ball" or just let your opponent/competitor be aware that you are invoking Rule 27-2. That's just an example to answer your example.

In addition to the reason for not having two sets of rules, I just want to point out that it is difficult enough to learn all of the rules in one set, having two sets will be double the efforts.

If I may, what you are doing as you go with your group in agreement to create your own rules, as your own local rules per say, that's fine on your own. But time may come when one of you might play in a competition governed under the USGA rules and the same rules across the field shall be followed.

A question was raised by a young boy (he could have been no more than 10 years of age) when a group of three were joined together in the last few holes on a busy course. The boy observed the three gents moving tee markers, removing and replacing OB stakes, dropping a ball from an OB boundaries...etc. The boy was curious as to what the gents were doing/playing/game... "Are you guys still playing golf?"

I am all for the "Local Rules govern course play" because there is nothing more soul crushing and momentum killing as the long excruciating wait on slower players in front. Nothing worse than making a birdie and then waiting 10 mins on the tee watching guys line up putts like it's the 72nd hole at Augusta. I don't believe the answer is a complete different set of rules, but common sense should never be O.B. If you know you can't hit the green in 2 on a 5 par, then don't wait until the group is off the green. Golf should be fun and played in under 4 hours. Next time you go out, set up some unofficial rules, have some fun and keep play moving. I think I may have strayed from the original question but slow play is killing the game.

I have been playing since 1968. I would walk with my 4 some 18 hole in less than 4hrs. Now you are surprised when they let you walk on weekends. (CARTS SPEED UP PLAY). I can hear a lot of you laughing. The tv coverage of golf has helped kill the 4 hr round. Mark your ball from 1 foot. Really? Look at your putt from all sides? Discuss who is away.? Hit the ball,your ready. Take a drop your in the weeds you found the damn ball anyway. Stop trolling the lake edges for that Top flight. Besides that ball knows where to find water. Good day play well and when ready.

John C
I could not agree more. You hit it right on the head, 231 pages, the pros and officials do not know all or understand all.
Right on John C
Jerry Wood

Carl,

Like the other commenters I don't have a problem with the weekend group playing according to a set of "rules" agreeable to all, but if you're posting a score for a handicap or tournament then the Rules of Golf should be followed to preserve fairness to all of the competitors.

However, I would like to suggest that while there is only one set of Rules, there is in fact two different games played by Pros/high Ams versus the weekend player. I'll give a couple of examples. When the Pros hit their drive way off line and into the trees, there is usually a couple of spotters and/or a large gallery to help find their ball. Maybe there should not be spotters/gallery allowed along the fairways so that the Pros have to look for their errant shot and if it takes longer than the time allowed, assess a penalty. Another example would be the boulder situation that Tiger had a number of years ago. I want to say that I am not a Tiger hater but am just using this as an example. The official ruled that the boulder was a loose impediment and could be moved. Fortunately there was a large gallery there and a group of people pushed the boulder away and Tiger played on toward the green. I would suggest that any of the members that happened to be behind that boulder in the weeks before would have been forced to play out sideways before going for the green. One more example would be the bleachers that surround the greens at the various tournaments. If a Pro hits his ball into the bleachers, he gets a free drop which still puts him fairly close to the green for an up and down. But if the casual player hits a similar shot, his ball probably would go another 10 or so yards further away from the green making the recovery just that much harder.

So, all of that being said, I don't know if two sets of rules would make much of a difference, but with the different "games" of golf I feel that a little bending (agreed to by all players in your group) of the rules is not really that bad.

Mark F.

Doug E. nailed it: Do whatever you and your group agree to as long as you're not posting your score for handicap purposes or playing in a tournament.

I think for weekend or just casual rounds of golf with friends, any rules or guidelines are fine providing it doesn't slow down the speed of play. As for rules and two sets. I agree it's hard enough to remember the current ones that govern the game of golf. Provisional balls off the tee are there to help and not hinder the game. But I have played several times for fun where we play stroke and distance instead of heading back to a tee to re-hit.

I myself even putt everything because in tournament or handicap scoring round I have to anyway plus I think playing by the rules can actually help your game with certain shots because you're not improving your situation.

I know guys who won't take more than Double bogey on a hole to help speed up play as well.

I'd say for fun with friends play what makes it fun and fast for you.

Do whatever floats your boat. It's just some buds getting together, have fun.

If you'rer playing for fun with your friends and not posting scores then make whatever rules you want. If you're playing and posting scores then play by the rules. Golf is such a pure sport based on honesty, integrity and skill that having multiple sets of rules would take away from that.

I have friends that are learning and I'll tell them to tee the ball up no matter where they are, except for on the green. As I want to promote ball contact as they learn. If we're playing fast enough I'll tell them to hit another ball but making sure they don't get into the habit of hitting another ball after a bad shot. We'll look for a ball and if we can't find it I'll tell them to drop one and hit. I also tell them that their "par" is one more stroke than what's posted because they are learning. They don't post scores and enjoy the game more when with me. I...play by the rules.

From the few responses so far I get the idea that most golfers do not adhere to the Rules of Golf when playing with their buddies but not posting scores for handicap. I question this as a lot of games played in casual rounds with friends are based on the player's handicap. I know the group I play with which consist of about 40 players post their scores after our games. We adhere to most of the rules of golf but not all, e.g., mulligan on the first tee if wanted, not going back to the tee or where the last stroke taken when a ball is lost. I'm not talking about a stroke that sends a ball out into the boonies but one that one feels he can reasonably find but for what ever reason, the ball is lost. Gimme putts that are inside the leather, etc. During the winter months there has been much discussion to whether scores should be posted due cold, wet conditions and the ball played down or rolled. Our head pro puts out a bulleting every year to keep posting scores and encourages that balls be rolled under these conditions. The improved lie is off set by the harsh conditions of winter. I understand when playing in a sanctioned tournament that the USGA rules of golf are played but in casual games across the country not all of the rules are played by the book and handicap scores are posted non the less. When not playing in a sanctioned tournament but playing golf with your buddies, should there be another set of rules similar to the USGA but modified where if you played a casual round in another state you would know what the rules would be with the locals before you hit your first shot ? I have been playing golf for over 50 years and it is a rare round where the USGA rules of golf are adhered to in a casual round.

If you are turning in your score, the Rules of Golf must be followed. In the group I play with preferred lies are allowed every where ie: roll the ball over, set it up on a tuff of grass. My Better Ball partner and I were playing a practice round for a tournament so we played are balls down. Our score was almost 10 shots higher. The Rules of Golf are to insure we all play by the same set of rules, if you don't follow them, you're not playing golf. You're playing something, it just isn't golf.

I agree w/ Doug. When in doubt, hit a provisional.
Here is my argument: playing by the rules prepares one for tournaments, even monthly club outings. One’s “rules” often become a habit; the norm. Switching back to playing by the rules becomes difficult.
How often do you see the following: picking up a putt w/in the leather, “winter rules” year-round, mulligans, dropping at the site of an OB or lost ball, dropping even with where a ball lands in a hazard (not at the margin).
A casual game is one thing, especially if the entire group agrees to the “rules”. A tournament is something else.

I was quite amused playing in our senior club championship again this year. Those guys can't make a 2' putt because they never have to putt them. They give each other anything "inside the leather". Our pro sends us out with "We're playing summer rules. And make sure you putt everything out". He repeats the second sentence. As someone else commented before me, the scores were considerably higher than what we see from them during league or Saturday morning casual rounds.

I read an interesting article in the local paper written by Craig Dolch who writes for the Treasure Coast newspapers down here in FL. Jerry Tucker who is a longtime PGA Club pro down here, runs a South FL Senior tournament series. If you hit a ball out of bounds, they play it by placing a ball at the nearest point of entry and proceed under a 1 stroke penalty. No 5 minute search either. To quote Jerry " when the Scots invented this game, there were no Condos or Houses on the golf course. They just played the ball from wherever it lay". Jerry also has players place the ball rather than drop it. "Dropping is another time wasting rule", said Jerry. " I once saw Jordan Spieth take almost 20 minutes on a cart path drop, from the time they got the rules official until they finally let him place the ball. Ridiculous." He feels that the USGA needs to have a serious sit down on streamlining the rules. I also read Jack Nicklaus echoing these same sentiments. I happen to agree. Golf is losing players. We need to keep it fun by having fair-minded rules and keeping players moving around the course

The reality is that the majority of recreational golfers that post handicaps do not strictly adhere to the rules of golf. When these same golfers play in a sanctioned tournament they do play by the rules of golf. I am not saying this right or wrong but just an observation of over 50 years of golf. I have been stuck on bad teams in our club's monthly men's golf tournaments with our A player in reality is a C player due to posting low scores for handicap and boosting his ego. Just the opposite of sandbagging. I am sure other have seen this also. Another point I would like to bring out for considering rules for casual rounds are allowing anchored putting, move balls out of fairway divots, taking a penalty stroke for a lost ball similar to a ball in a lateral hazard, mulligans off the first tee, when your ball has a glob of mud, lift, clean and place, raking a bunker that would be deemed as ground under repair after a heavy rain storm or where other golfer failed to rake their foot prints to name a few. I am glad that there are still golfers who would not post a score for handicap that have done some of the above rule violations but I would say they are in the minority of the recreational golfers that I have played with.

I like this discussion; glad someone brought it up. Play for the fun of it however you see fit as long as it doesn't intrude on someone else's enjoyment (excessive slow play, tears up the course, etc.) Shouldn't affect handicap however as several others mentioned.

Hello Carl T, Golf is golf and rules are rules. At the end of the day you have to look at yourself in the mirror. Did you play golf?
Play Well,
Steve S.

One set of rules is hard enough for all golfers to comprehend and interpret. No need for two sets thus allowing for more confusion. USGA can't even handle one set of rules; what makes you think a weekend warrior can handle with two. One may play local rules, but USGA Rules do take precedence.

My USGA official rule book is 231 pages. Think about that for a minute, 231 pages. Just to cover the rules of Golf ! The original 13 rules of Golf written in 1745 at Muirfield Scotland fit on a single sheet of paper. I don't think the USGA or the R&A have done an effective job of managing the rules of Golf. They have created a monster. Perhaps its time to throw out the current set of rules and start over with a clean slate. Get the rules down to 2 or 3 sheets of paper.
Play the ball as it lies, play all lost and OB balls as laterals, hole out all putts. How hard is that ? Pace of play would improve also.

1 set of rules, use local rules when in play. Have fun. For most of us this is not our day job.