Last rules infringement you let slide.

[Courty]

iPhone app is the go (searchable).

[MegaWatty]

Already Got it.

[Johnny Canuck]

The decisions book is interesting. I had an illustrated book that I got from the library a while back, which made things easier.

Online rules quizzes are a fun way to learn.

[MegaWatty]

The iPhone app has a rules quiz section. I reckon I have a rules knowledge of about 7-8/10. No pop ups.

[Marto65]

Isn't waiving a rule (not calling) a penalty on yourself?

[markTHEblake]

Only if you tell someone!

[Johnny Canuck]

Correct. However, in the situation we were in, social betting game, player out of the hole, not a comp, it would have been a dickhead move to call it.

[markTHEblake]

would have been a dickhead move to call it.

true, but consider this

Golf is the only game in which precise knowledge of the rules can earn one a reputation for bad sportsmanship
-Patrick Campbell

[adlo]

Champs weekend on the Friday. A very small, still growing plant/shrub was bent out of the way so that clear contact could he made with the ball.

It had no impact on anything, so there was no need to call it.

You guys didn't tell me that Kenny Perry was at the champs on Friday!

Why didn't he hang around?

[LarryLong]

Isn't waiving a rule (not calling) a penalty on yourself?

Last time I waived a rule, the other guy agreed to waive the rule that said I had to penalise myself for waiving the rule.

I thought about making him take a penalty for that, but I let it slide.

I don't get it. You can use lead tape (which would change the club's playing characteristics ) but not protective tape (which won't)?

All golf rules are stupid.

^^
Agreed. To be completely honest, the rules of golf are in need of a major overhaul. Most of them are ridiculous.

[AndyP]

If the ball moves a nanometre when addressing it and a video camera picks it up, you deserve a penalty, as you have clearly improved your position. You may as well just place the ball in the hole.

[adlo]

Gold!

[markTHEblake]

The sarcasm is awesome Andyp, So where should the line be drawn on a 'ball moved' penalty?

Mike, I agree a lot of golf rules seem stupid, but there is a reason behind all of them, and these reasons are not explained in the rules themselves. Not allowing tape on the crown of the driver head seems irrational, but I think it is another issue of drawing a line somewhere - none at all is the line. You would think that the Golf Pro would have known that and he is really being a nob trying to protect a demo club anyway.

Perhaps one day you put a bunch of tape on the face of a driver, and hit some balls with it. What happens?
Thats why you cant put tape on a clubhead ( I guess )

[AndyP]

The sarcasm is awesome Andyp, So where should the line be drawn on a 'ball moved' penalty?

It's hard, because the rule has to be black and white. But there are too many situations that you can be penalised for where you really aren't getting any advantage. It would be nice if we could stick to the "vibe" of the rules at our level.

The situation with the tour player (Westwood?) that got done for his ball moving was embarrassing for the sport. The fact that they only changed the rule such that you won't get disqualified, doesn't make it any better. If it's not visible to the eye, then why should you be penalised? I'm sure when we place a ball after marking it isn't in the exact same spot ever, it's just not visible.

[MegaWatty]

So you're talking Mabo AndyP. I like it.

It was Paddy, not Westy.

[WBennett]

Having an Iphone on during a round of golf is a breach of the rules anyway...

[MegaWatty]

Why?

[AndyP]

You were meant to click on the link, MW.

My iPod is fine though.

[MegaWatty]

Oh.

I would debate that rule because it doesn't give you the details of where you actually are and it is also delayed information.

[markTHEblake]

Having an Iphone on during a round of golf is a breach of the rules anyway...

we have discussed this before, there is a relevant decision in the rules somewhere that talks about smartphones as GPS, and says they are OK.

[MegaWatty]

The issue however would be that it now has a compass and can measure inclines.

The weather part is not an issue as it cannot measure temperature nor wind speed or direction.

[WBennett]

To quote Thommo, who quoted the R&A

When the Local Rule is in effect, a distance measuring application may be used, provided the specific application is restricted to “distance only” and the device does not have any other “non-conforming” features. This is the case even if these other features are not being used. As above, the Rules on advice-related communications (including the use of the internet) still apply.

Conclusion
The R&A and USGA have no intention to permit the use of electronic devices to go beyond the current Rules and interpretations. This means that distance-measuring devices and applications will be limited to distance information only. If a device that is being used for distance-measuring purposes has any additional features, all such features must conform to the Rules of Golf.

So having an iphone ON is an instant disqualification, as you MAY use the other features. Just more proof that the rules may need updating to keep with the times

[andigold]

Not quite correct Benno, if you use an iPhone as a distance measuring device then you've breached the rules but if you use an iPhone to check footy scores you're OK.

Agree it needs to change though, a stipulation that if it has Internet capability that it is disabled (flight mode) should be enough.

[markTHEblake]

So having an iphone ON is an instant disqualification, as you MAY use the other features.

Absolutely Wrong. Using an iphone/smartphone is allowed, the R&A and USGA have said so.
http://www.usga.org/news/2009/Novemb...ronic-Devices/

[Moe Norman]

it's allowed Blakey, but not if you're using it as a distance measuring device - thus making the rule completely retarded.

You can use a smartphone as much as you like, but use it to measure distance (legally) and it's a DQ due to the other features of the phone.

This is pretty clear in the link you posted.