Sep
27
2007

More Advice: The Forbidden Kind

Posted by Double Eagle in Rules

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Yesterday, I talked a little about some misunderstood swing advice. That led me to think about the other kind of bad advice: the kind forbidden by the Rules of Golf.

Golf is a difficult game already. As if that isn’t enough, the rules pretty much leave us on an island to fend for ourselves.

Rule 8 states that a player must not give advice to any other player in the competition aside from his partner, and must not ask for advice from anyone besides his partner or caddie. The Committee may also appoint an individual who is permitted to give advice during competition, such as a coach or team captain.

forbidden.jpg

Some examples of advice:

  • Asking for help with club selection
  • Giving unsolicited help with club selection
  • Asking which club a player hit from the tee (a note here: decision 8-1/6 states that asking a player which clubs she played on a previous hole is not a violation of Rule 8).

It should be mentioned that certain information is not considered advice. Any information that is considered factual is not considered advice. This includes distances, hole locations, hazard locations, and anything else that is public information or that is available on a score card, sign, etc. In general, advice is information which is not fact but that might affect a player’s decisions.

One final note: indicating line of play when off the green is permissible for anyone, even a competitor, according to Rule 8-2. On the green, it’s back to the partner or caddie only for indication of the line of play.

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There are currently 7 responses to “More Advice: The Forbidden Kind”

  1. 1

    DeMerchant said:

    I’ll need to bring along my rule book next time I’m out… get my buddies a few penalty strokes and I might not have to buy the beer for once

    Posted on September 27th, 2007 at 1:24 pm

  2. 2

    Double Eagle said:

    There you go, DeMerchant. Employ a little gamesmanship and let the rules work in your favor.

    Posted on September 27th, 2007 at 2:08 pm

  3. 3

    Tim said:

    It’s rules like these that will transform me from a hack-job golfer to that pro I always admire from afar. Thanks for the reminders!

    Posted on September 27th, 2007 at 6:22 pm

  4. 4

    Double Eagle said:

    My theory is, if you can’t beat ‘em outright, then drag your opponents down with rule technicalities.

    Posted on September 27th, 2007 at 7:11 pm

  5. 5

    Mike Pedersen Golf said:

    Rules, rules and more rules! Play with honesty and ethics and call it good! Hey Mike, head on over to my blog and comment on today’s post eh?

    Posted on September 27th, 2007 at 10:09 pm

  6. 6

    Brian said:

    One of the biggest single nuisances in club golf is parents escorting their progeny round the course.
    As soon as you see the draw you know you are in for a morning, afternoon or whole day of dad, mum and various family members popping up incessantly all round the course.
    Preventing them talking to, or even feeeding and watering their son or daughter, is impossible and the whole business generates a lot of bad feeling and frustration.
    And at the end of the round the junior sits or, more often, simply disappears, with their family.
    As the saying has it, “something must be done”.

    Posted on October 12th, 2007 at 10:01 am

  7. 7

    Double Eagle said:

    Brian,

    Unfortunately, the Rules only cover shot advice, not annoying parent interactions.

    However, could providing water and food be considered a breach, if the parents could then be considered caddies? (I need to research that further)

    Sounds like more of an issue that needs to be addressed at the club level. I haven’t run into it personally, but it sounds like a very annoying, preventable situation.

    Posted on October 12th, 2007 at 11:08 am

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