Is it searching for a ball, or reloading after smacking one out of bounds? Which Rules of Golf do you lean on the most? And which Local Rules appear most prominently at your club?
If you’ve ever wondered about the answers to those questions then fear not, The R&A have the answers.
Last September, the governing body asked golfers and clubs to take part in a Rules of Golf survey to give them greater insight into which rules are used most out on the course.
More than 20,000 players responded, with some 900 clubs also getting in on the act. The R&A said the four most common rules, that came up in their previous five competitive rounds, were…
Searching for a golf ball and playing a provisional
It’s no surprise we spend a bit of time ball hunting. Golf is hard! The survey revealed players on average hunted for a ball for more than a minute in 72% of the competitive rounds they played.
They also played a provisional ball in an average 59% of rounds.
We take a lot of free relief
Whether it’s a buggy path, ground under repair, or temporary water, we seem to spend a fair bit of time taking free relief from an abnormal course condition.
The survey said players on average took relief in 66% of their competitive rounds.
Penalty area relief
Splash. We find the water a lot too. Players took relief from a penalty area in 59% of rounds. Clubs told The R&A that penalty areas feature on 8.5 holes across an average 18-hole course, so there are plenty of opportunities for us to hit some wayward shots.
What are our flagstick habits?
In, out, shake it all about? Seven years after flagstick rules were relaxed in the 2019 Rules of Golf revamp, the survey revealed a mixed bag when it comes to our habits on the green.
Some three in 10 players always putted with the flagstick in, a further three in 10 putted with the flagstick out. The rest? It depended on how close they were to the hole. Given options of 20 feet, 10 feet and five feet for removing the flagstick, survey respondents were evenly split.
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What did golf clubs say?
I get into trouble with the internet crowd for suggesting that paper scorecards might soon have had their day. But lots of clubs might already be starting to lean this way, if the survey results are any guide.
The R&A reported that while paper scorecards are still accepted at the majority of those clubs that responded, 55% also accepted electronic scorecards.
We’ve already revealed there are lots of penalty areas on golf courses. Out of bounds is very prominent too. It features on 7.8 holes on average. That includes internal out of bounds.
What is the Local Rule that is used the most? Staked trees. Protection of Young Trees – also known as Model Local Rule E-10 – is seen at 56% of the clubs that responded to the R&A survey.
Lots of clubs, 38% to be precise, also bring in a Local Rule for immovable obstructions close to putting greens (Model Local Rule F-5).
Main picture: Scottie Scheffler | Source: Getty Images
Now have your say
What do you think? Are there any rules that you use a lot at your club? Do the survey results chime with your experience? Let us know in the comments below, or drop us a line on X.
