# Ok explain to me this pga/golf rule **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** golf\ **Created:** [June 12, 2021, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-explain-to-me-this-pga-golf-rule/944150 "2021-06-12T22:55:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2021, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-explain-to-me-this-pga-golf-rule/944150/22 "2021-06-23T12:02:02Z")
Sure and they probably might once ball technology has become more standardized. But they haven’t yet. It’s kind of like how those single piece swim suits that made you faster we’re briefly allowed in competition, then banned. The rules on technology and equipment always take time to catch up. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2021, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-explain-to-me-this-pga-golf-rule/944150/23 "2021-06-23T12:28:08Z")
> [@Icarus](#): > > And the rule makers could just as easily designate how many ball types could be used. Yes, they could, but they haven’t. Why should they when there are still good reasons for the rule? ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2021, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-explain-to-me-this-pga-golf-rule/944150/24 "2021-06-23T12:41:53Z")
> [@Icarus](#): > > I could say the same thing about different clubs, yah? Not really. The different clubs are critically important to the structure of the game. While it’s possible to play with just one club, it’s more a parlor trick than serious game play. I am rather less enthralled than the PGA about how important it is to use only one model of ball for an entire round of golf. To me, it’s sort of like the balk rule in baseball. The infractions are almost always unintentional, almost never incurred to generate a competitive edge, yet the penalties are very harsh. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2021, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-explain-to-me-this-pga-golf-rule/944150/25 "2021-06-23T12:48:52Z")
Golf is well known for what I consider to be picayune rules bordering on fanaticism. A famous case from years ago involved Craig Stadler. He had a lie that was extremely difficult and involved him going down to his knees in a wet and icky spot to attempt a shot. To avoid getting his pants completely soaked, he spread a towel and knelt on that. AFTER the round, and because of a phone call made by a fan who was watching on TV, Craig Stadler was disqualified for “building a stance” to attempt a shot. Now, if you Google that and see a picture of it, it’s quite obvious that Stadler wasn’t “building” anything, he was trying to keep his pants dry. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2021, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-explain-to-me-this-pga-golf-rule/944150/26 "2021-06-24T00:11:26Z")
Wasn’t there also someone disqualified for not signing their card correctly? ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2021, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-explain-to-me-this-pga-golf-rule/944150/27 "2021-06-24T00:12:57Z")
Signing an incorrect card. That’s submitting an incorrect score. It’s pretty much one of the fundamental principles of the way golf is scored. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2021, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-explain-to-me-this-pga-golf-rule/944150/28 "2021-06-24T00:14:56Z")
It was the correct score. His partner agreed it was the correct score. Thousands of people watched on tv that is was the correct score. Dumb as fuck rule. It’d be like the Bucs forfeiting the super bowl because Tom Brady forgot to sign a “you won the superbowl!” agreement. _eta_ Googled to find the incident. Apparently there are very recent ones. The one I’m thinking of was years ago and there was no question the stroke count was correct. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2021, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-explain-to-me-this-pga-golf-rule/944150/29 "2021-06-24T00:18:11Z")
Can you link to what you are talking about? ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2021, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-explain-to-me-this-pga-golf-rule/944150/30 "2021-06-24T00:20:17Z")
No. It didn’t show up in the first page of the google results and I don’t care enough to bother. Did see this [golf.com article](https://golf.com/instruction/rules/former-pga-champion-dq-incorrect-scorecard-rule/) that agrees that it’s stupid and outdated though. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2021, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-explain-to-me-this-pga-golf-rule/944150/31 "2021-06-24T00:24:59Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > The different clubs are critically important to the structure of the game. That’s only because the rules allow different clubs. If there were another version of golf that restricted players to one club, but allowed swapping among fourteen different balls, then that would be critically important. The rules and the structure of the game are tightly interwoven, but not unchangeable. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2021, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-explain-to-me-this-pga-golf-rule/944150/32 "2021-06-24T00:39:24Z")
If the baseball bat was flat and the ball a cube, the game would be endless fun. What’s the logic behind the round bay and round ball? ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2021, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-explain-to-me-this-pga-golf-rule/944150/33 "2021-06-24T00:43:10Z")
That link is EXACTLY what I said. He shot an 84 and signed for an 83. An INCORRECT score. What exactly was wrong with the incorrectly signed scorecard with the correct score? If you don’t know that, it’s a bit rich calling it stupid and expecting anyone to agree with you. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2021, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-explain-to-me-this-pga-golf-rule/944150/34 "2021-06-24T04:32:02Z")
I didn’t claim that link said it was a correct score… Weird for you to claim some sort of victory for that. It’s stupid in that there’s no reason for a player’s written score and/or signature to have anything to do with the game. Everyone knows what every player shot. There’s no benefit at all to having the players keep score. Is it about getting the ball in the hole or who can correctly write numbers? Give me a fucking break. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2021, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-explain-to-me-this-pga-golf-rule/944150/35 "2021-06-24T11:20:10Z")
Come back with some evidence of what you originally claimed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-explain-to-me-this-pga-golf-rule/944150.md?page=1)