There should be a separate set of Rules for us 18-handicappers who play infrequently. These suggestions are practical and help speed up play. We do many of them already:
1. No stroke and distance for lost ball. You want to really slow up a Saturday morning? Drop/place near by and keep playing.
2. Two club lengths (even better, 10 yards) for all other drops. And don't drop; place the ball.
3. Repair all damage to the green before and after you putt. Heaven knows no one else repairs the greens.
4. Lift and clean whenever necessary. We hit plenty of bad shots using clean golf balls, more less dirty ones.
5. Replace the ball when you feel like it. We all putt with a new ball and play with a different one.
6. If you can move it move it. Obstructions and Loose Impediments anywhere they occur.
7. Play when ready no waiting for the farthest from the green/hole to play.
8. Advice: Take it anywhere and from anyone you can get it!
9. Anything else that makes sense. For example, a player drives deeply into a stand of trees and the ball may be lost. If he hits a Provisional, it will likely end up close to the same spot. Instead, after the first drive, go to where the ball entered the trees, look quickly, if not found, or if it is unplayable, drop or place one near where the original ball entered and keep playing, one stroke penalty.
Think about the delay of returning to the tee where two foursomes are waiting, and hitting another drive (probably into the trees again). Club pros do a great job of helping us amateurs play better and understand the Rules, but until I have a single-digit handicap and am playing in regional tournaments, make golf more fun, play faster and get more people interested in the game.
Dave Savage
New Jersey
Thanks, Dave. Good list. You up for a couple of tweaks? First, we think your suggestion about placing the ball instead of dropping will lead to lots of time-wasting spent looking for the perfect lie. Just drop it. Ditto for "lift and clean everywhere." How about: "Don't touch it; hit it!" Finally, we wonder whether accepting advice really helps anyone to play better, but let's say it has to be a single sentence. "Play the ball back in your stance." No homilies. But we love your No. 3--not repairing your pitch mark on a green should be a penalty. All in all, we're on the same page. As my friend Kelly says, "Hit 'em and hunt 'em--and don't spend too much time on that."
Bob Carney
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