Incorrect use of the rules from Fred December 2021

December 2021. I have been asked for an opinion on the following subject, namely the incorrect use of rules. The game of golf is based upon etiquette and equity, to this end a set of R&A rules have been applied to the game, rules which over time may have been revisited and updated. The more recent update gives examples for social games as opposed to competition. Social golf to me is the booking of a tee time slot and playing with a few friends for a round of golf. Competition golf where a committee representative has reserved a series of tee times and/or arranged the playing order. Kitty comps fall into this bracket. Social golf is often played with a relaxation of golf rules, perhaps to keep up the pace of play, the pace of play being the consideration for the official social golf ruling applied to a ball played out of bounds. This and other relaxations in social golf for some, become the norm and are applied in competitive golf, the consequences being equity has gone out of the window and technically false scores submitted. If your ball is out of bounds in social golf, there is now a specific rule that may be used and I am told some are applying this rule in competitive golf. I must remind you that in competitive golf your only option is “stroke and distance”, forget the social rules when in competition. Sheriff