Golf : Putting : Flag Left in the Hole - Page 2

jseth · #16 07-13-2020, 11:38 AM

It is a change in the rules, but, after decades of DON'T HIT THE FLAGSTICK!!!, it's very difficult for me to shift that perspective and make it "okay" to do so...

And, regardless of the "research", having the flag in the hole doesn't help the ball go in; how could it? The hole is only SO big, so you want to put something in there with it? And you actually think that's going to help the ball go in the (now more crowded) hole?

I know the players have mixed feelings on this, but I remember the quote from Lee Trevino about having the flag in the hole for chipping; "... only keeps a good chip/putt OUT..."

Pace of play is SUCH A HUGE ISSUE!!! And one that seems fairly easy to fix, if quite painful at first (for many players)... just put the clock on them and assess penalty strokes if they are outside the time limit... this would enrage players at first, but very quickly the Pros would play much faster... and, in my own experience, score much lower...

There would have to an "exceptions" contingency plan in place, as there are certain instances when an inordinate amount of time may be required for a particular shot/situation...

I realize that doing this would likely put some announcers out of a job...

MartinGibsonFan · #17 07-13-2020, 12:02 PM

They don't let you touch the flag stick or rakes due to COVID?

Oh my goodness, I got a good laugh on that regulation.

The golf courses will prohibit touching the flag stick and rake, while everyone in a grocery store is touching produce, cans, milk, yogurt, pasta.

Okay, a bit off topic but I found that very amusing.

Off topic, let's get back to golf.

J

sayheyjeff · #18 07-13-2020, 12:18 PM

Here in Md., and I believe in other places, courses have taken away the rakes away and the ball washers too. Where I play, the range has taken away every other mat to help with distancing. They have also increased the time between tee off times for the same reason. There are fewer holes on the practice greens and only so many are permitted on at a time. It was only recently that it is no longer required to where masks on the practice greens. The course where our league plays has put plastic shields in the carts so people can share a cart. The data that suggests these changes have slowed play, made the game more difficult, less pleasurable, or raised handicaps has proven hard to verify. Looking forward to playing tomorrow.

Jeff

MartinGibsonFan · #19 07-13-2020, 03:21 PM

Doing anything with precautions, be it hand sanitizing, wearing masks, not being allowed to touch things, change of previously behavior will absolutely diminish the pleasure experience.

This is the ' NEW NORMAL '

Jim

Lkristians · #20 07-13-2020, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sayheyjeff

Where I play, the The data that suggests these changes have slowed play, made the game more difficult, less pleasurable, or raised handicaps has proven hard to verify. Looking forward to playing tomorrow.

Jeff

A bad day of golf is better than a good day at work!

MartinGibsonFan · #21 07-13-2020, 03:28 PM

TRUE

Unless you are 100 over par

HA HA

BrunoBlack · #22 07-13-2020, 04:13 PM

Walked 9 with my buds after lunch today. First round of the year. No rain, no (super) heat, no touching, great fun. One of the guys just had cataract surgery, so he had an excuse

AX17609 · #23 07-14-2020, 04:29 AM

I play virtually every day, and I haven't noticed much difference. I walk, so there are no cart issues. I never removed the flag, anyway, so there's no issue there. Sand traps without rakes? They're supposed to be penal, and now they are. Seems like an improvement to me. Short of wearing a mask in the clubhouse, my involvement with the game hasn't been diminished at all.

As for some of the Covid-specific rules, those came from the state and county. Some of them now seem out of touch, but they were going on the information they had at the time. Failing to follow the guidelines would have impacted the course's insurance coverage.

jseth · #24 07-14-2020, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MartinGibsonFan

TRUE

Unless you are 100 over par

HA HA

Funny, but in my experience, folks who are absolute duffers tend to have WAY MORE FUN than the ones that "get better and better'.

As a lifetime low to scratch handicapper, one realization I've had about the game is that it actually gets HARDER to have fun and remember that it's a GAME the more advanced one's skill set becomes...

Golf is like an onion, in that regard; the more layers you peel off, the more there is to discover, digest and implement in order to continue progressing...

MartinGibsonFan · #25 07-14-2020, 11:48 AM

So JSeth, golf is like learning guitar???

HA HA

I hope not.

J

Gitfiddlemann · #26 07-14-2020, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jseth

Golf is like an onion...

It can drive you to tears in a heartbeat...but can also taste so sweet.

frankmcr · #27 07-14-2020, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jseth

Golf is like an onion, in that regard; the more layers you peel off, the more there is to discover, digest and implement in order to continue progressing...

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndreF

It can drive you to tears in a heartbeat...but can also taste so sweet.

Looking through a golf onion . . .

tinnitus · #28 07-14-2020, 02:05 PM

Works for me. Not a golfer - I'm a hack with a set of clubs. I play with others who're okay with going to find our own balls and hit in any order to keep the play moving. This works for groups behind since the best among us might par 4 holes out of 9. Dispensing with all the flag handling protocols (Do you want me to pull it if your chip's looking good?") is another welcome expedient, for me anyway.

Sorry to be so glib about a hobby with rules bordering on sacrosanct for serious players. I'm just elated to find a sport where it's perfectly acceptable to hold a steering wheel in one hand and a beer in the other.

jseth · #29 07-16-2020, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tinnitus

Works for me. Not a golfer - I'm a hack with a set of clubs. I play with others who're okay with going to find our own balls and hit in any order to keep the play moving. This works for groups behind since the best among us might par 4 holes out of 9. Dispensing with all the flag handling protocols (Do you want me to pull it if your chip's looking good?") is another welcome expedient, for me anyway.

Sorry to be so glib about a hobby with rules bordering on sacrosanct for serious players. I'm just elated to find a sport where it's perfectly acceptable to hold a steering wheel in one hand and a beer in the other.

That's perfect.... and one of the many wonderful aspects of golf... if all you do is whack the ball around with some buddies drinking a few beers, it's a ball, just a lot of fun!

And however "deep" you want to go with it, you can... it's one fo those REALLY interesting "rabbit holes" to follow...