"Using the rules of golf to your advantage"

[kiawah]

36 minutes ago, Mr. Bean said:

 

So that fence was not indicating the margin of the course but was a normal Immovable Obstruction?

Yes, that's right. 

 

But hypothetically, if it was indicating margin of the course, how would that change my options? Wouldn't I be able to take stance relief? The only way I would be able to play the shot in question is flip the club over and hit it lefty, I couldn't even make a stance right handed, and my feet would be on the cart path no matter what if I were to drop on the left hand side of the cart path. My stance and shot selection wouldn't be unreasonable under the circumstances considering it would be the only way to play the shot. I wouldn't really be "choosing" a stance, it's really the only stance I could have taken to play the shot. If the cart path was dug up and replaced with grass (and the fence was indicating the margin of the course), I would be playing the shot lefty. Wouldn't I be able to get relief on the other side of the path? 

Edited May 8, 2024 by kiawah

[Mr. Bean]

50 minutes ago, kiawah said:

Yes, that's right. 

 

But hypothetically, if it was indicating margin of the course, how would that change my options? 

 

Well, as that fence having been an IO you would have been allowed to take a free relief, then an immediate lefty solution probably would not have been an option but first you would have to had take a relief from the fence. So an outright lefty may not have been a correct way.

 

If that had been an OB fence then a lefty would have been the correct way.

 

I was not there so I may be wrong but that is how I would pitcure it from what you have written.

[kiawah]

1 minute ago, Mr. Bean said:

 

Well, as that fence having been an IO you would have been allowed to take a free relief, then an immediate lefty solution probably would not have been an option but first you would have to had take a relief from the fence. So an outright lefty may not have been a correct way.

 

If that had been an OB fence then a lefty would have been the correct way.

 

I was not there so I may be wrong but that is how I would pitcure it from what you have written.

Thanks. Honestly forgot that you can get relief from fences that are considered IOs and not boundaries. Great reminder.

 

Once saw a guy who carried one lefty club with him in every round "in case he needs it." Maybe he's onto something...

[Mr. Bean]

1 minute ago, kiawah said:

Once saw a guy who carried one lefty club with him in every round "in case he needs it." Maybe he's onto something...

 

I can chip rather well with my right hand clubs as lefty with the toe downwards. No need to carry a left-handed club as I cannot make a full swing with such a club so it would be useless.

[kiawah]

Just now, Mr. Bean said:

 

I can chip rather well with my right hand clubs as lefty with the toe downwards. No need to carry a left-handed club as I cannot make a full swing with such a club so it would be useless.

Same here. I cannot hit anything special lefty (righty is difficult enough for me) but can advance it with consistent success.

 

My favorite way to play a shot near the fence (where possible) is to get down on my knees and choke all the way down so the club is about 1 foot long and I can basically make a full swing with it and get it going about 25 yards in the air. I always get some funny (and very mature) reactions from my buddies when I pull that shot out. Works like a dream though if you haven't tried it. It's actually crazy how easy it is to hit the middle of the face when the club is only 10 inches long 🤣

[sui generis]

16 hours ago, kiawah said:

I cannot hit anything special lefty (righty is difficult enough for me) but can advance it with consistent success.

 

I once knew a fellow that, when we were on the road and rented clubs, would answer the question, "Right or left handed?" His reply would be, "Either is fine."

[Mr. Bean]

2 hours ago, sui generis said:

 

I once knew a fellow that, when we were on the road and rented clubs, would answer the question, "Right or left handed?" His reply would be, "Either is fine."

 

At my home club there was this guy who had to (for whatever reason, cannot remember) switch from righty to lefty. At some point of the journey he had all the woods of the other side than the irons. Played reasonably, HI something like 7-8.

 

EDIT: I cannot resist... In mid 80's I was travelling in Italy and ended up playing guitar with a local musician in a pub. A pianist joined us and I remember when having agreed on the jazz song to play (All Of Me or Honeysuckle Rose, IIRC) I asked " which key you want?" and he answered "any key". He was pretty good with the instrument and I cherish that night.

 

Edited May 9, 2024 by Mr. Bean

[jlbos83]

I think the biggest advantage to knowing the rules is that you don't accidentally break them!

 

The most important thing I try to remember is not to pick up a ball unless I know what I am going to do with it!

[bluedot]

Off the top of my head:
 

1. Knowing when you can take an unplayable (with a penalty, of course) instead of thrashing endlessly.

 

2. Knowing the rules re a drop, which can at times result in a better outcome.

 

3. Understanding that in stroke play you can play a second ball until you can get a ruling.  (Not in match play!)
 

4. MLR E5 (when it is in effect) rather than hitting a provisional ball(s) that is/are just as bad (or worse!) than the original shot. 

[Axiom]

Using MLR E-3 (if it is in use) it is possible to take as much as one club length (depending on how the local rule is worded) from the original position and clean and place the ball. If the player chooses to, he can place it in a spot that allows free relief, such as from temporary water. After taking relief from the temporary water, he can then use E-3 again to place the ball one more club length away from that spot. In this way, the player can move the ball more than three club lengths to perhaps improve his direction of play. I don't believe however, that this is a proper use of the rules and is something that the ruling bodies should look at.

Edited May 14, 2024 by Axiom

[rogolf]

35 minutes ago, Axiom said:

Using MLR E-3 (if it is in use) it is possible to take as much as one club length (depending on how the local rule is worded) from the original position and clean and place the ball. If the player chooses to, he can place it in a spot that allows free relief, such as from temporary water. After taking relief from the temporary water, he can then use E-3 again to place the ball one more club length away from that spot. In this way, the player can move the ball more than three club lengths to perhaps improve his direction of play. I don't believe however, that this is a proper use of the rules and is something that the ruling bodies should look at.

Doubt that they will review this.  Each change (eg, LCP) presents a "new situation" to deal with, and it's standard procedure to do each situation one step at a time.

If you want to avoid what you've described, don't use the Model Local Rule, and/or limit the distance to 6 inches and the application to closely-mown areas only.

Edited May 14, 2024 by rogolf

[Mr. Bean]

58 minutes ago, Axiom said:

Using MLR E-3 (if it is in use) it is possible to take as much as one club length 

 

It can be even more than one club-length.