In this Part 2 of the Basic Rules of Golf, I will review some golf rules that are broken quite often by golfers, whether they don’t know them or just choose to ignore these, I don’t know. I suppose in my over optimistic zeal I am hoping that by bringing these to everyone’s attention, we’ll see more adherence to them.

Rule 16-lc ---You may repair ball marks and old hole plugs on the line but not spike marks.. This rule is referring to golf ball marks and other items on the greens when putting. The major one that is ignored is the reference to repairing spike marks. Of course many golfers don’t seem to worry about leaving spike marks as they leave the green and not repairing them. So a lot of us use this as rationalization to repair them without second thought. I had done this many times until a fellow golfer, and very good friend, kindly chastised me in the golf cart just after I had done this.

Rule 13-2.--Play the course as you find it. Don’t improve your lie, the area of your intended swing or your line of play or a reasonable extension of that line beyond the hole by moving, bending or breaking anything fixed or growing except in fairly taking your stance or making your swing. Don’t press anything down. In breaking this rule, many golfers use their golf club to bend or break grass, branches, other growing things to clear an area to stand and swing. As a result, this rule is broken all the time. I truly believe that this is one rule that a lot of amateur golfers are just not aware of. They say ignorance is no excuse, but I’m just trying to help.

Rule 13-1-- Play the ball as it lies. On just about every golf course I hear “winter rules”, “local rules”, and “roll ‘em in the fairway” way too often. What ever happened to feeling challenged by a golf ball in a divot or just into the fringe? Are we too focused on winning? I don’t know, I don’t let it drive me crazy on the golf course but I really wish more golfers would take the time to learn the rules AND observe them.

I’ve always felt that part of the attraction of golf was the history and tradition, including the honor system and close observation of the rules of golf. Call me old fashioned, but I think we’ve lost some of that recently and I’d love to see it come back into style on the golf course. I’d be interested in your thoughts.