Are You A Cheater?
In my opinion, one of the greatest attributes about the game of golf is the integrity expected of it’s players. The game is designed that a player administers penalties on themselves. Well, at least they are supposed to.
When I am playing casual rounds of golf with amateur players, and occasionally some of the pros that I play with, I see numerous infractions on the rules of golf that go without penalty. Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t overlook the rules, but since these are just casual rounds, I will typically make a snide comment about the infraction. If this was a tournament round, you better believe that I will call someone out and make sure that the rules are upheld.
Most of you are probably guilty of breaking the rules here and there. Some of the most common violations….
– Rolling the ball to improve your lie. Don’t be shy, you know you’ve done this.
– Improper drop for an out of bounds penalty. Most players neglect to take the stroke and DISTANCE that the breach dictates
– Grounding the club in a hazard. Yup, you can’t have the club hit the sand before you start making your swing.
– Not holing out. Everyone accepts the “gimmie” when it’s offered.
I challenge all golfers to play by the rules. What you are going to find is that your scores might be a little higher at first, but eventually they will come back down. More importantly, you are going to become a better golfer.
How does this work you ask? For example, by playing the ball as it lies, not rolling it around to improve how it’s sitting, you will learn to become a more improved ball striker. Having the ball sit down in the grass a little, playing from a bare lie, out of the thick rough. If you are able to hit the ball well from the not so good lies, imagine how much easier it will be for you when you have the great lies.
Now get out there and start playing by the rules. If your unsure about the rules, go buy yourself a book on the rules of golf. They’re small and will easily fit in your bag. Besides that, the book is full of useful information. Learn the rules, play by them and don’t be a cheater.