Cheating Survey

[Harry Longshanks]

FanNation | Truth&Rumors | Tour players aware of cheaters?

Tour players aware of cheaters?

In a recent online poll of more than 7,000 golfers, 70 percent said they cheated on the course. A 2002 survey of 400 top business executives reported that 82 percent admitted to cheating at golf. Around the same time, PGA Tour caddies were questioned about cheating, and 26 percent said they had seen players cheat on tour. And who hasn't heard a story about some American president who took frequent liberties with the Rules of Golf? In many golf circles, there is no more damaging aspersion than to be labeled a cheat. And yet, Wayne Glad, an Illinois clinical psychologist who has worked extensively with college and pro athletes, including golfers said the PGA Tour players he deals with are aware of colleagues who cheat. "They'll talk to each other about certain guys," Glad said. "They'll say, 'You ever notice how often so-and-so coughs in your backswing.' "

Wow. Just wow.

[JEFF4i]

Don't doubt that for a second.

Had someone try and cheat in my group last Sunday in a tournament. Called him on it, got bad and heated, but I had the proof and witnesses.

[eclark53520]

if you havent cheated at golf, you havent played the game.

There are so many rules about golf that you are going to break one of them.

Does it make it right...probably not...

[Eracer]

if you havent cheated at golf, you havent played the game.

There are so many rules about golf that you are going to break one of them.

Does it make it right...probably not...

And that begs the question - what defines a cheater? I try to play by the rules as much as possible. I know I've broken some rules inadvertently, and broken some rules intentionally, almost always in the interest of speeding up play. So I have cheated. But I don't think of myself as a cheater. No one is perfect, and I think intent has a lot to do with it.

[mddubya]

Have I used a toe wedge in a practice round, of course. I'd never do it in tournament play. But I don't have a tour van following me around if I break a shaft trying to hit around a tree, My home course's driving range doesn't open till 3pm for some insane reason, so the general rule on it with most everyone I've played with here is, you're allowed a freebie on the 1st tee if your 1st drive blows. Is this cheating? Of course, but as long as everyone agrees in advance, no biggie.

[Par7]

I'd like to know what defines a cheater as well. If you've ever asked someone what they just used on a shot, or went bunker to bunker, and raked the first one, you're a "cheater"

[ualtim]

And that begs the question - what defines a cheater? I try to play by the rules as much as possible. I know I've broken some rules inadvertently, and broken some rules intentionally, almost always in the interest of speeding up play. So I have cheated. But I don't think of myself as a cheater. No one is perfect, and I think intent has a lot to do with it.

I am pretty much in the same boat with Eracer.

If you hit a ball and find it just on the other side of OB and there is a group waiting on the tee behind you, do you go back an re-hit it from the tee or play it like a lateral hazard? Only one way is not cheating, but I see the latter method used most often to speed up play.

[wirehair]

According to a strict interpretation of the rules of golf I "cheated" twice yesterday.

My drive fell into an area between fairways and I could clearly see it from the tee. Before I could get to the ball to hit, another group from the other fairway went through and when I got there the ball was "lost". One of those bastids picked it up. I dropped & didn't take a lost ball penalty.

Ball was lying on a patch of gravel, I moved it to some grass so I didn't ruin a club.

[SplooGe]

The more I learn about the rules the more I find myself cheating, or playin by local rules as we call it.

[Harry Longshanks]

According to a strict interpretation of the rules of golf I "cheated" twice yesterday.

My drive fell into an area between fairways and I could clearly see it from the tee. Before I could get to the ball to hit, another group from the other fairway went through and when I got there the ball was "lost". One of those bastids picked it up. I dropped & didn't take a lost ball penalty.

Ball was lying on a patch of gravel, I moved it to some grass so I didn't ruin a club.

The rules/decisions on rules provide for both of those situations.

Free drop for ball removed by another group.

"Ball unplayable" penalty for the gravel (unless it was g.u.r. or cart path or some other obstruction entitling you to free relief.)

[JEFF4i]

A "cheater" is someone who knowingly breaks the rules in a competitive (tournament) play.

Everyone's used the foot wedge and so forth, and frankly I don't see the big deal of doing it in non-competitive play.

[mont86]

A "cheater" is someone who knowingly breaks the rules in a competitive (tournament) play.

Everyone's used the foot wedge and so forth, and frankly I don't see the big deal of doing it in non-competitive play.

If someone keeps their score for the purpose of keeping track of their progress, but does't count penalty strokes for waterballs and lost balls just to name two thats also cheating.

As far as I cheat I think Eracer said it pretty well, my violations occur for the speed of the game.

[JEFF4i]

If someone keeps their score for the purpose of keeping track of their progress, but does't count penalty strokes for waterballs and lost balls just to name two thats also cheating.

As far as I cheat I think Eracer said it pretty well, my violations occur for the speed of the game.

See, I agree in principle, but I don't really care out of pragmatism.

They're only hurting themselves after all.

Also don't forget equitable stroke control, which generally tosses out most water balls and such anyway.

[mont86]

Ok Jeff you got me there...lol...

[Stooonne]

I can't tell you how many times I've seen somebody cheat in the middle of a tournament. Somebody I was keeping score for said he got a 7 on a hole when he really got an 8. I went through his shots (You drove it into the woods, punched out, hit into a bunker, hit a shot from the bunker that stayed in the bunker, hit a shot out of the bunker short of the green, duffed a cheap 2 yards, chipped onto the green, sunk the putt) and he nodded his head 'yes' for every shot. Then when I said that adds up to 8...he said "I never duffed a chip?" I just laughed and said "you even threw your club out of anger because of it". His response "I never duffed the chip though".

Everybody else in the group agreed with me, I gave him an 8 and he said "whatever". He signed it later on. What a bastard.