Why Do Recreational Golfers Need a Separate Rulebook?

Golf is fun if you like to tee off on a Sunday afternoon with like-minded friends, business associates or companions. However, the existing rules of the game are meant for professional golfers, and they don't apply much to the amateur players who play slow to the annoyance of other recreational golfers. The United States Golf Association (USGA) rules doesn't govern amateur players. The rules are primarily meant for professional golfers teeing off in one of the top golf courses in the US. Here are a few reasons why recreational golfers need a separate rulebook for themselves.

Speeding Up the Game

Whether it's the pro tours or a local match, slow play is pretty common in golf. It's one of the biggest concerns of recreational golfers, and they blame the USGA rulebook for it. A simple rulebook for amateur golfers will help to speed up the game to a considerable extent. What's the need of out-of-bounds, after all? If your golf ball gets into a wooded area, simply drop one close to where the ball went in, hit a shot, and continue playing. What's the use of the "tend the flag" practice? A player should leave the flag in its place, and if the golf ball hits it, it counts as in. There is no point in waiting for a golfer far from the hole to hit the ball. A simple rulebook will make the game faster, and golfers will not have to break the USGA rules to play better.

The USGA Rules Unfit for Recreational Players

The USGA rules make sense for the professional golfers, but what about the recreational players? The biggest problem with the rulebook is the fact that it generalizes. In other words, all players irrespective of age or expertise have to follow the same set of rules. This concept is alien to the other recreational sports. Take for example, your best friend's softball team. Are the rules as stringent as those of Major League Baseball? Not at all. The rules are simpler to attract new players, and players play the game for the sheer fun of it.

Encourage More Participation

Simple and uncomplicated rules will encourage more participation in golf, especially the recreational players, who constitute the large majority of the participants. Simply observe the newbie golfers' reaction when you tell them to ground their clubs in a water hazard. Ask them how they would feel if you told them that they cannot touch the golf ball until they reach the green. There are more complicated rules than these. A golfer has to walk back to the tee and hit the ball again if he or she loses the drive. Nobody would love these rules, not even the experienced golfers who know the USGA rules by heart.

Creating a separate rulebook for recreational golfers may not simplify all the rules of the game or solve all the problems, but it will definitely help to make the game more enjoyable. Rigid rules will not let you enjoy the game even if you're playing in one of the top golf courses of the country. Simple rules are also easy to implement, as several organizations encourage recreational golf.