Do we cheat?
June 3rd, 2007 by Olaf Bound.sThis is a major cause of concern for a lot of golfers. In the game of golf, this element is the greatest and severest test for every one. This game is meant for gentlemen and ladies of the highest order (used to be). This is a game where your greatest opponent happens to be not your golfing buddies or favorite weekend foursomes BUT your own self. WHY? because if you are a true lover of the game, you can call a penalty on yourself. Read up on Bobby Jones or even watching the movie itself on him. And you will find that this golfer is the perfect gentleman. Much has been written and said of the silly rules of golf. The little small rules that people often mistake as well, a silly rule! But without these rules, where are we?
For instance, why do we have to rake the bunker after we hit from there. Better still, why can’t you ground a club in the bunker? What about you hit a fine shot and it rolls in the bunker and finds that the previous person left his footprint there? Is that fair? It isn’t, that’s why you have to rake the bunker after you hit it.
But should we be buying a driver that is not USGA approved? As far as Golfnick is concerned, the COR (Coefficient of Restitution) that the USGA approves is at 0.83. But we do see a lot of manufacturers blatantly flaunting the rules. It is also printed on the club itself that “this is a non-conforming club” and does not conform to the USGA regulations. Does that constitute to cheating? The great Arnold Palmer, many years ago believes it is not. But isn’t he what the entire golf world adores. But again, how much can it help the weekend golfers? I believe as long as everyone is allowed to use the same club, it should be approved. Lengthening a course will not help to justify the advances of technology. As long as the course is set up for different levels of play, the level of technology can’t help much.
But will golfers cheat? It depends on what you deem as cheating. If you are well versed enough in the rules, you do sometimes bend it a little. For instance, if any part of your stance is in the least interfered by the buggy track. You may seek relief. And I have seen that rule bent a 270 degree! Is that cheating? You can form your own opinion but that’s golf and the game I love!