What do you think?

I was sent a very interesting and humorous email this week by one of our members that I would like to share with you outlining some suggested Rule Changes which might be adopted (or might already be adopted) by some of our more Senior members. Let’s see what you think.......

The following rules changes have been received from the USGA and have been approved by the commissioner’s office.

They will go into effect on October 1, 2018 and all players shall abide by these new directives.

Rule changes in effect for all senior golfers

Rule 9.k.34(a)

If a tree is between the ball and the hole, and the tree is deemed to be younger than the player, then the ball can be moved without penalty.. This is so because this is simply a question of timing; when the player was younger, the tree was not there so the player is being penalized because of his age.

Rule 1.a.5 

A ball sliced or hooked into the Rough shall be lifted and placed on the Fairway at a point equal to the distance it carried or rolled into the Rough with no penalty.

The senior player should not be penalized for tall grass which ground keepers failed to mow.

Rule 2.d.6 (B) 

A ball hitting a tree shall be deemed NOT to have hit the tree.

This is simply bad luck and luck has no place in a scientific game.

The senior player must estimate the distance the ball would have travelled if it had not hit the tree, and play the ball from there.

Rule 3.B.3(G) 

There shall be no such thing as a lost ball. The missing ball is on or near the course and will eventually be found and pocketed by someone else, thereby making it a stolen ball. The senior player is not to compound the felony by charging himself with a penalty.

Rule 4.c.7(h) 

If a putt passes over a hole without dropping, it is deemed to have dropped. The Law of Gravity supersedes the Rules of Golf.

Rule 5. 

Putts that stop close enough to the cup that they could be blown in, may be blown in. This does not apply to balls more than three inches from the Hole. No one wants to make a mockery of the game.

Rule 6.a.9(k) 

There is no penalty for so-called “out of bounds.” If penny-pinching golf course owners bought sufficient land, this would not occur.

The senior player deserves an apology, not a penalty.

Rule 7.G.15(z)

There is no penalty for a ball in a water hazard, as golf balls should float. Senior players should not be penalized for any shortcomings of the manufacturers.

Rule 8.k.9(S) 

Advertisements claim that golf scores can be improved by purchasing new golf equipment. Since this is financially impractical for many senior players, one-half stroke per hole may be subtracted for using old equipment.

Pass on the Message 

Please advise all your senior friends of these important rule changes and keep multiple copies in your golf bag. Those not following the rules need to be provided a copy.

Golf is.... above all.... a game of integrity.

My particular favourite of these is the additional 9 shots a round that you could get by playing with old equipment- Many a true word is spoken in jest, Ha Ha!- Brilliant.