GOLF INFORMATION ARTICLES

Cheating in Golf

Golf is a game that requires a lot of honesty and sportmanship. In a normal game between you and your Golf partners, there are no referees or umpires to watch your every move. So it's all up to you and your partner to call penalties on yourself. The moment you are caught cheating, your buddies will never trust you again so even when the time comes that you make a legitimate good score, they will not believe you. A good score is not everything in Golf. Here are some common ways to cheat in Golf. Knowing them is a good way of spotting a cheater:

Cheating in Golf

Ball Bumping
It is always tempting to put your ball in a better lie especially when it lands in a divot or in a Golf Hazard. Ball Bumping is hard to detect. Your partner may be improving the lie of his ball while you are busy looking for yours and minding the next shot you will take.

Ball Marking Magic
In cases when you are allowed to lift your ball and just put a Ball Marker in its place, it is required to put your ball back to where your marker lies. Some use this ball marking to put their ball nearer to the Hole. This is most commonly done when you ask your partner to move his ball from your line. The legal distance is about the size of the Clubhead from the original position. Cheaters move it closer to the hole. A few inches isn't so much to bother about during long Putts, but it can surely make the difference between hitting the hole and missing it by a bit.

Swapping Balls
This one requires a lot of trust. You can't follow your partner in the woods in case his ball got in there to make sure he really finds his ball and plays with it. This means he may just drop a new ball and use it in the game.

Counting the Strokes
You are also allowed to practice your Golf Swing. Doing this means you set up at the side of your ball. Some, on the other hand, may play as a whiffer. That is to take a real shot and say it was only a practice swing when you actually see him set up over the ball and take a shot but completely miss the target. This form of cheating is highly recognizable but if the whiffer insists it's just a practice shot, just move on.

Out of Bounds or Not
If your opponent bumps a ball that is Out of Bounds, you actually can't do anything unless you actually see him do it. Out of bounds line runs between the white stakes. If your partner's ball is not on the fair side of that imaginary line, it's time to go back to the tee and take a penalty.

Recording of Scores
Recording scores is the responsibility of the players themselves. Only in tournaments are there other people who keep track. So pay attention to what is written down.

Cheating in Golf may be tempting, but it is never really worth it. Learning the guidelines in order to spot cheating in Golf can really help you have a fair and wonderful game of Golf.

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