a. A player hitting the fairway should have an advantage over the player hitting the rough. (Any part of a player’s ball touching the fairway denotes a fairway hit and he can move his ball.)
b. Allowing the ball to be rolled in the rough does NOT penalize the player for not hitting the fairway.
c. A player rolling his ball in the rough often gets a lie as good as, if not better, than in the fairway by sitting his ball on top of the grass.
d. A player hitting his ball in the rough and the ball rolling up next to a tree or tree root gets to roll his ball away (scorecard length) instead of having to take a drop and a one-stroke penalty.
We don't play on PGA courses and we don't hit it like PGA players! We are out here to have some fun and not lose TOO much money. This game is hard enough ! Leave this alone!
Following and enforcing the rules are part of playing golf. Yes, if a player observes an infraction and doesn't call it out I believe the rules of golf call for him to be penalized as well. In addition, if a player sees an infraction about to occur and doesn't call it out beforehand, he can be penalized as well. Yes it will take time for us all to get used to doing it because it's become a habit. But, again, in all fairness a player who hits the Fairway should have a distinct advantage over someone hitting in the rough. Think about hole number one on the south. A player who hits into the rough behind that big oak tree will have an impossible shot to try to hit over the tree from the rough. But since we are able to roll the ball, most players can sit the ball on top of the rough and be able to hit over the tree. To me that's unfair.
I agree with Mike. And I'm confident that rolling the ball has been in affect for so long that it would be violated continuously...mostly from habit but by the ones who think they can get away with it or have a good excuse. I don't think it would be enforced by playing partners but instead will cause grumbling behind the offenders back causing animosity towards that person. Besides, if we're all playing by the same rules will it make a difference in results?
I have mixed feelings with this. Rolling the ball in the rough is a pretty radical departure from the Rules of Golf. On the other hand, the rough on our course is worse than most and many of our players have been playing preferred lies for a very long time. If this rule is implemented, I'm afraid it will be uncomfortable to confront anyone not complying. I'm sure there will be plenty of discussion on this one before I have to decide on how to vote.