Not Playing By The Rules
 

Thats what the pros do in practice rounds. It can especially help if you're trying to work somethings out in your game and a driving range doesn't feel like the right place to work on it.

There is nothing wrong with having fun on the golf course. I have played the way you describe on more than few occasions. When time permits, I even play 2 or 3 ball on some holes. Rules are designed to be used in sanctioned play, or otherwise with important rounds of golf. A few fun rounds of golf will help a person play better when they get to those important rounds. http://www.thehackersparadise.com/fo...lies/clapp.gif

There's rules? http://www.thehackersparadise.com/fo.../confused2.gif

I'll usually do this once every two weeks or so. I usually drive 1 ball. Drop 3 balls and practise my approach, then play those 3 in.

Of course when there is nobody behind me.

If its just a casual round, I dont see anything wrong with bending the rules a bit.

I agree with everyone above. Golf is supposed to be fun.

I played in a foursome a couple of weeks ago, we were all singles. On the first hole one of the guys putted to about 2" of the hole. Another guy swatted the ball back to him and said "nice putt." Well the guy who putted the ball got so angry and told us all not to touch his ball again! "I putt everything out and play by the rules," he told us. http://www.thehackersparadise.com/fo...ies/angry2.gifsheesh (BTW he didn't play by the rules as I saw him rolling the ball over in the rough on more than one occasion.)

I normally putt everything out, even in "casual rounds", but I try not to be a butt about it. Most of the time, people ask if I want "it" knocked to me. I will say, thanks, but I am playing for handicap, so I have to play them down and putt them out. That normally ends the discussion amicably. Most people are good about it. I guess I put off some kind of air because I have hardly ever had someone knock it back without asking.

I'm the same. It would never occur to me to touch anyone's ball anyway.

I view this a little differently. I feel there are two types of rounds (real and practice). Real rounds are played for handicap, tournaments, money, you know real play real rules. Now, practice rounds are just that practice. No rules, working on your game, hitting multiple shots.

On slow Monday mornings I like to practice with two balls one marked F and one D. I can only hit fades with the F ball no matter what and I can only hit draws with the D ball no matter what. I keep score for each ball.

Now THAT is an interesting idea!

I really like that.

I used to sometimes practice with my girlfriend in tow and to give her a reason for being with me at the range (she wasn't a golfer), I'd ask her to randomly shout out "Right", "Left" or "Straight" before my next shot and I would then try to hit the shot in whatever direction she said.

But the ball idea is interesting because no matter where each one ends up, you'd have to hit the next shot as the ball "tells you" and that would make for some very interesting practice.

Great idea, I love it!


-JP

when I play with other people I follow the rules of the game. Occasionally I play practice rounds by myself where I will play 2 balls, take mulligans and work on new shots, try out new clubs etc and just play around.

Lately i have been going to the local chip & putt with my girlfriend. Its alot of fun for both of us since she had not yet progressed to the full 18 hole course and is great short game practice for me. we both stick to the rules but I give her a mulligan or 2.

But no matter what I do...I make sure that having fun is the primary goal.

Play with friends: few rules get broken
Play with strangers: follow all rules

Today I was on the 1st tee box & I could hear the group on the 3rd tee. One of the guys messed up his drive & one of his partners told him to try another. He actually said something like "no, I already used both of my mulligans & need to play by the rules".

I laughed pretty good at that one.

Must be a local rule dyna.

Either that or it was my group you were listening to! hehe

Some people think you can use 1 mulligan on the front and 1 on the back. I have no idea where they got that idea from, but I've heard several people say that.

must be some unwritten rule...because I hear that as well

Well why didn't you give me any? http://www.thehackersparadise.com/fo...es/beat-up.png

Because each group is only allowed so many and I already used them! haha

Oh..OK..I can live with that
I know Mo Hacker didn't need any so I wondered where they went.