Golf’s strangest rules
The golfing powers have finally decided to give the game a long-overdue makeover.
Golf’s laws, on the whole, make sense, and the majority of serious golfers will feel confident they can come up with a solution for whatever a round throws at them.
But would you know what to do if, say, your ball somehow ended up in the clubhouse? Or if your drive became lodged in an orange? (Yes, really.)
Well, wonder no more, as Quick 9 examines some of the strangest golf rules and how you can be penalised…
Club damage
If your clubhead falls off during your backswing, and you complete the swing but miss the ball, it doesn’t count as a stroke. But if your clubhead falls off during your downswing, and you complete the swing but miss the ball, it counts as a stroke. Eh?
Spitting
It is acceptable for golfers to employ a bit of spit shine when cleaning golf clubs. However, not if you’re trying to reduce spin to hit a straighter shot. I am not sure how this rule can be enforced but I will now be deeply suspicious of anyone spitting on their clubs (and slightly disgusted too).
Cactus cover
The rules allow you to wrap an arm or leg in a towel to protect yourself from the needles of a cactus should the ball come to rest next to one of these prickly blighters. But you can’t cover the cactus with a towel apparently, just in case that idea ever pops into your head.
