At some point during your career, you have likely felt the temptation to cheat on the golf course. Although it is considered a gentleman’s game, there are plenty of opportunities to do so. Preserving the integrity of the game of golf is what makes the sport so sacred. When most individuals play for fun, an occasional mulligan or “hand-wedge” out of the thick cut isn’t the end of the world. But it’s professional golf’s worst-kept secret – there are known cheaters on the PGA Tour.
Known Cheaters on the Tour
Although names were not mentioned specifically, one anonymous golfer on the Tour accused a peer of cheating. The anonymous golfer stated, “There’s exactly one guy who is known to mismark his ball by two or three inches. Ask any player about cheating, and they’ll all tell you the same name.”
Phil Mickelson commented on the issue, stating, “I know a number of guys on tour that are loose with how they mark the ball and haven’t been called on it. I mean, they will move the ball two, three inches in front of their mark, and this is an intentional way to get it out of any type of impression and so forth and I think that kind of stuff needs to stop.”
Cheating, as it Applies to Amateurs
Consider these five misunderstood rules of golf. Many amateurs abide by them, including those that play at Westlake. The following are all believed to be correct by the average golfer but are actually untrue.
- If you knock the ball off the tee when addressing it, the stroke counts
- Actual Rule – So long as you weren’t making a stroke, just re-tee the ball. You still haven’t played your first shot.
- If you hit a shot you know is in a water hazard, you can hit a provisional ball
- Actual Rule – Your only options are to play the ball as it lies, or take a penalty and proceed under the water hazard rules
- You can intentionally stand behind your partner’s putting line as he or she makes a stroke – especially in scrambles
- Actual Rule – You can’t intentionally stand on or near a spot behind your partner’s line of putt. You can look at your partner’s putt from the other side of the hole.
- You can remove an out-of-bounds stake, or take relief from any course boundary if it interferes with your next shot.
- Actual Rule – Things defining course boundaries are deemed to be fixed. You can’t take relief without penalty. Stakes marking water hazards can be removed if they interfere with your stance, ball or swing.
- A golfer who is off the green must play a shot before any golfer who is on the green
- Actual Rule – The ball farthest from the hole plays first, no matter where it’s located.
Challenge Yourself During your Next Round
Try to make it through your next round without a single slip up or instance of cheating. The course at Westlake is open year-round. Book your next tee time today!