What’s Your Favorite Golf Rules Cheat?

Beginner Questions Forum
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Hey golf lovers,

I’m curious—what’s your favorite golf rules cheat? I’m talking about those little tweaks we make to keep the game flowing and more enjoyable. For example, in Canada, we use mulligans where you can retake a bad drive with no penalty.

My personal favorite is what I call the “PGA gallery exception.” If I hit a ball into rough or among trees and can’t find it, but it seems like a pro tour gallery or marshal could have spotted it, I’ll drop a new ball and take a penalty, but I won’t stress over the lost ball in less obvious spots. I’ll just drop it where I think it likely ended up and play from there.

I have a buddy who always adjusts his ball’s lie in the fairway without even noticing he’s doing it. Another friend grounds his club in sand traps, and no matter how much we try to explain, he just won’t change his ways.

What about you? Do you have any rules you bend regularly to keep the game more fun?

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Your PGA gallery exception is a clever way to handle the frustration of lost balls while keeping the game enjoyable.

While I can’t officially endorse bending the rules, I get why you might want to find ways to keep things fun.

Here’s a common “cheat” I’ve noticed:

The “Grounding in the Bunker” Exception: Many golfers, myself included, sometimes accidentally ground their club in the bunker, despite knowing it’s a penalty. The temptation to avoid a penalty stroke can be strong.

Remember, the true spirit of golf lies in playing honestly. These little “adjustments” might add to the fun, but it’s important to uphold the integrity and respect for the rules of the game.

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Golfers are encouraged by a nearby course to use an electric leaf blower as their “15th club” in order to combat fallen leaves on the fairway.