[barbajo]

GolfSpy T, on 29 January 2013 - 05:20 PM, said:

• Two sets of rules would force so called "serious" golfers to stop looking down their noses as the recreational guys trying to have fun (incidentally I've found that anybody who frequently uses the phrase "seriously golfer" is almost always a serious *******). You want to grow the game? Get rid of the arrogance.
• The rules as written are impractical for weekend play. Return to the tee after a lost ball? At 10AM on a Saturday on a crowded Muni? No f'n chance. Let's make the stakes one color, stroke is enough of a penalty. The distance piece punishes everyone else on the course. It makes sense on tour, but not for most other situations.
• Bifurcation already exists. I can't wear metal spikes. Pros can. I can wear shorts. They can't. I can take a cart. They can't. I can use a ragnefinder or GPS, they can't. PGA Pros have galleries and search parties - essentially a perpetual forecaddie to help them find the ball - the average guy gets to eat the stroke. That's hardly a just and equal application of the rules.There's a serious case of denial here.

These three bullets (plus that divot rule) should be written in petition form, circulated, signed and shipped to the powers that be at the USGA. Might want to leave the "serious *******" comment out - not sure how that would be received at HQ.

We play a different game from the pros. If the standard of "what any reasonable man or woman would conclude" would apply - it's ridiculously obvious there are two completely different games here, and there should be two different sets of rules. Any USGA sanctioned event, pro or amateur, can use the "strict" rules, while the rest of us can play by the "regular" rules - like you say, we do anyway....