Rare is the golfer who doesn’t follow the Rules of Golf, but to what degree varies from match to match and foursome to foursome.
Whereas one golfer might subscribe to first-tee mulligans, another might cringe at the thought of them. Whereas one golfer might be OK with rolling a ball out of divot hole in the fairway, another might lose sleep over such behavior. And whereas one golfer might be just fine with scooping up 2-footers, another might insist on seeing every putt holed, no matter its length.
To get a better understanding of how everyday golfers feel about the rules and, more specifically, rules-following, we asked nearly 10,000 of them, as part of our sweeping audience survey. (Earlier this week, we released another batch of survey results, relating to how golfers feel about their games.) Among our findings: how you feel about mulligans, acceptable “gimme” lengths and what rules you’d like to see amended (or banished!).
Stay tuned for more survey results in the coming days!
The following results are from an audience survey GOLF.com conducted earlier this year. The survey attracted nearly 10,000 respondents.
Do you play by the Rules of Golf?
Yes, always: 38%
Yes, mostly: 61%
No: 1%
How often do you knowingly bend the rules or flat-out cheat?
Never: 57%
Once every few rounds: 32%
Once or twice per round: 10%
As many chances as I get: 1%
How frequently do you improve your lie?
Never: 48%
Once or twice per round: 32%
Handful of shots per round: 15%
Most shots: 5%
Do you make a good faith effort to hole out every putt?
Yes, always: 48%
Yes, but only if I’m playing a match: 41%
No: 11%
Are you OK with first-tee mulligans?
Yes: 68%
No: 32%
What length of putt is acceptable to scoop up as a “gimme”?
Within 5 feet: 3%
Within 4 feet: 1%
Within 3 feet: 13%
Within 2 feet: 40%
Within 1 foot: 31%
No length. You should hole out everything: 12%
If your ball lands in a divot hole in the fairway, do you roll it over and give yourself a better lie?
Yes, nearly always: 30%
Yes, occasionally: 39%
No: 31%
Would you support a rules change that would permit players to remove their balls from fairway divot holes without penalty?
Yes: 87%
No. “Play it as it lies” is a central tenet of the game: 13%
To reduce the impact that increased hitting distances are having on golf’s long-term sustainability, the governing bodies are planning to officially “roll back” the golf ball. The new standards, which are scheduled to take effect for pros and elite amateurs in 2028 and recreational players in 2030, will reduce driving distances by 3–5 yards for the “average” male amateurs and 9-11 yards for pros and elite amateurs, according to the governing bodies. Do you support the new rule?
Yes: 41%
No: 59%
When the rollback is implemented, which best describes how you think you will approach the new rule?
I plan to immediately heed it: 13%
I plan to use my “old” balls until they run out: 75%
I plan to stockpile “old” balls and use them for as long as possible: 12%
What 1 golf rule would you like to see amended, implemented or eliminated?
(Ed. note: These responses, which are a representative sampling from the thousands we received, have been lightly edited for brevity and clarity.)
“No penalty for a lost ball that is clearly in play, for example in the rough. Pros do not have this problem because there are spotters out there looking for the ball and marking its location before the pro arrives. This is unfair for the rest of us!”
“You should be able to take a free drop from tree roots. Why risk injury to yourself or your clubs?”
“I would like to be permitted to clean mud off my ball in the fairway.”
“Stroke and distance needs to go. When you hit a ball O.B., you should drop a ball where it last crossed and take one penalty stroke. Just like red-stake rules. Simple.”
“I would widen the hole. At least 6 inches in diameter.”
“If a ball hits a sprinkler head by the green, you should have the option to replay the shot with no penalty.”
“You should get free relief from divot holes in the fairway. My league treats them as ground under repair.”
“Golfers should be required to play tees that are demarked by handicaps/abilities.”
“I would ban AimPoint green reading. It slows down play and makes imprints on the green.”
“No more than triple bogey — for any level of player. It would speed up play.”
“If your ball rolls into a footprint or animal print in a bunker, you should get relief (in the bunker). Why should I have to pay for someone else’s negligence?”
“Free relief from hardpan areas around greens.”
“First-tee mulligans should be permitted under the rules. Everyone uses them, especially at courses with no ranges.”
“If you fall more than a hole and a half behind, you must skip a hole and move up.”
“Your putter must be the shortest club in your bag.”
“14 clubs is too many — 12 club max.”
“Pitch marks in closely mown areas should be legal to repair.”
“This isn’t a rule, but shouting ‘mashed potatoes’ should be a capital crime.”
“Player who makes an ace should not buy drinks for others. The player should have drinks purchased for them.”
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