| It is estimated that there are more than 60 million | | | | know, or they think they know, the Rules better |
| people around the world who play golf more than | | | | than you. |
| once a year. It is likely that only a very small | | | | - Fifth, Rule 1-3 specifies that, “players shall |
| percentage of these have a good knowledge of | | | | not agree to exclude the operation of any Rule, |
| the Rules and probably only a handful that have a | | | | or to waive any penalty incurred.” The |
| detailed understanding of all 34 Rules, 126 | | | | penalty for doing so in both match play and |
| sub-sections and over 1200 Decisions made by | | | | stroke play is disqualification. |
| golf’s governing bodies, the R&A and | | | | Of course, there are many golfers that find the |
| USGA. But why is it important to learn the Rules? | | | | Rules an irritation and claim that they are a |
| Well, I suggest that there are at least five good | | | | deterrent to being able to enjoy a social game |
| reasons why players should continually strive to | | | | with their friends. What difference does it make if |
| improve their knowledge of the Rules of this | | | | someone places their ball when they should be |
| great game; | | | | dropping it, or rolls their ball to the side when it |
| - First, Rule 6-1 specifies that, “the player and | | | | comes to rest in a divot? If players want to play |
| his caddie are responsible for knowing the | | | | the game that way, who is to stop them? The |
| Rules” | | | | answer is that no-one will stop them, they are |
| - Second, a good working knowledge of the Rules | | | | free to play however they choose, but it is not |
| can often be to your advantage, saving you | | | | golf they are playing. I am sure that if you have |
| strokes by avoiding unnecessary penalties. For | | | | watched or played any game regularly, such as |
| example, knowing when relief without penalty is | | | | soccer, pool, trivial pursuits or poker, you will have |
| available and how to take it. Eliminating penalty | | | | been party to arguments as to whether a |
| strokes will help you to enjoy your sport more. | | | | particular play is valid, or not. Sooner or later |
| - Third, when playing in stroke play competitions | | | | players will have to check, or establish, rules so |
| you have a responsibility to every other entrant | | | | that they can compete fairly against each other |
| to ensure that anyone that you are playing with | | | | on a level playing field. There is only one game of |
| fully complies with all the Rules. Players aren’t | | | | golf, with a universal set of Rules, and if that is |
| permitted to disregard any breach of the Rules | | | | the game that you want to play then you have |
| by a fellow competitor, or they are disqualified. | | | | to respect and abide by all of them, so as to |
| - Fourth, in match play you don’t want your | | | | preserve the integrity of this wonderful game. |
| opponent(s) to take an advantage because they | | | | |