From the Clubhouse: Why do we get so angry when we see a ruling we don’t like?

What is it about golf rules that get us so hot under the collar? Tree-gate, as it’s now being called, divided opinion among commentators and spectators as Patrick Reed’s every movement was analysed and criticised at the Dubai Desert Classic.

Steve Carroll, who has passed the R&A’s top rules exam, is joined by Tom Irwin in this week’s From the Clubhouse podcast and the pair break down events in the palm tree during the third round of the DP World Tour event.

Steve thinks he might have found something in how a ball is identified that can offer some further insight into how the decision was reached.

We chat generally about golf’s moral code and why we get so wound up when rulings come under the microscope, both in the pro game and at our own clubs.

After Steve set tongues wagging with his ‘solution’ to some of the World Handicap System’s perceived ills, he doubles down on his reasoning for making every score count, while Tom thinks some our WHS complaints are not going to be settled in the short term.

Tom describes it as an “insightful discussion”. But we’ll let you be the judge! Happy listening…

Listen to us break down the Rules of Golf and World Handicap System

You can listen in the player below, or click the button to be taken directly to your preferred podcast platform…

What did you think of the incident with Patrick Reed at the Dubai Desert Classic? Tweet me and let me know.

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