Are all golf games a competition?

Do you play all games of golf like it is a competition?  I started playing golf in my late-30's with my Dad who had himself has been playing the game for over 40 years.  He installed into me that all rounds when played against someone else were a competition and therefore the full rules of golf always apply.  So that's how I have played ever since.  

Now when I play the game with other people, some seem much more relaxed on the rules; sometimes I wonder if they know the rules at all.  But a vast majority of them are experienced players who obviously know the rules, but play 'in the spirit of the rules' rather than to the letter.  i.e. mulligans are not unheard of, dropping balls where they were lost,  improving lays, gimmies on stroke play, etc.  I have in the past become  unpopular with some playing partners when I point out the rules they have just broken and the penalties they should incur.

So after years of playing now, I have come to realise there are roughly four kinds of golfers:

1/  Those who play the game seriously and strictly to the rules.
2/  Those who play what they refer as 'club rules', where most of the rules are adhered to, but with lots of flexability.
3/  Those who just like hitting a ball around a golf course and sort-of know some of the rules.  Maybe not even keeping a score.
4/  Those who play golf because they feel it is the thing blokes should do.  Bragging rights etc.  Hoping to bluff their way around the rules if asked.

What I'm really asking is:  have I been taking the rules to seriously when I don't play in competitions?  Is there such a thing as 'club golf' rules and is that how you play? It appears that the rules are stacked in favour of tour pros anyway and the best argument I've heard on 'club rules' is that if myself and three mates went to the park with a football, would we really play to FA rules.  The answer is obviously "no", and we would have a lot of fun.  So why have I not been playing golf in the same way.  

Keith, It is a penalty to agree to waive a rule in golf, and I am pleased that you have been respecting them.

No point in playing, if one cannot adhere to the rules, as all one is doing is cheating themselves and their playing partners.

No one can enforce it, Keith, as you know golf is self regulating and if you feel happy coming in with a good score which you know has only been obtained by bending the rules, where is the satisfaction in that?

Greensomes, texas scramles (Of which there are many versions) and skins are all played under the rules of golf, it is only the format that is different.

Now to your argument with your three footballing mates, Being only three of you it is only a kickabout and the rules would not apply in this situation, so go and enjoy yourself.

The problem with your point of view, Keith is that players are still entering scores on this website whilst not strictly playing to the rules. Handicap rounds are only recognised if they are off the back tees in a properly organised competition.

Greensomes is a great competition and it is the best drive on each hole that is taken and played onwards from there with alternate strokes, rules of golf apply as usual.

Texas scrambles have many different formats, but basically three/four players in a team all drive and the best drive is selected and all the players take a second shot from that point and so on till the completion of the hole. The rules of golf still apply.

It is not a question of being strict, you either play the game as it was intended or not bother.

We used to allow one mulligan per nine on our Sunday round.  Now they are hardly ever used so we have binned the agreement.  If a ball is lost when you haven't played provisional, we do still take a drop where the ball was lost but take a penalty.  This is mainly to prevent holding others up on the course.  We also still give putts that we know the other will get.  This is generally anything from 2 feet in unless the person is have a stinker with their putting (me at the moment).  We also never give par putts, no matter how short they are. 

We found that our 'local rules' became less and less used as our game started improving.  The three of us generally shoot within 4 shots of each other and can finish in any order on any given day.  The feeling now is we are too good to cheat (though we're not Tiger we're not exactly beginners anymore either) and should follow the rules and, with the exception of taking a drop instead of going back and the odd gimmie as stated before, we do. 

Putts can only be conceded in Matchplay, think of the one that Jack Nicklaus gave to Tony Jacklin. Now that was a tremendous gesture.

Wayne, we normally do take a provisional if it looks ropey, but sometimes you see where it went but the golf goblins nick it while you're walking up there.  I've seen a ball pitch in the middle of the fairway (occaisionally!!!) and when I've got up there it's nowhere to be found.  I'm sure we've all been in that position. 

I agree with you Steven W, you can’t take every round of golf as a comp. I say this for the following reasons.

1. Not all courses allow you to play off the white tee's (my local municipal is very strict with this rule and only allows the white tees to be played from during a organized comp)

2. no matter how much you practice on the range the course is going to be different, there for if you change equipment or your swing for example, how can you play this as a handicap/competition as your game will undoubtedly suffer/change for a few rounds? (a recent change of ball proved this to me)

3. most holes on a golf course play themselves with regard to shot selection however you will always have a few on every course where you have options, now I any comp you will usually take the safest option so if you played every round as a comp when would you ever try to "make the green from the tee" on that short par 4 or "go over the dog leg"?. Therefore when would you ever try and attack the course and get that great round, or just prove that its possible for you to do it?

4.And finally and most importantly for me anyway golf is about enjoying the sport that you spend a lot of time and money partaking in. sometimes I feel that people get wrapped up in the rules and regulations of the game and forget to enjoy it. I understand that the rules are there for a reason, but the reality is that if every group on your average municipal golf course followed the rules to the T, your 4 hour round would turn into a 8 hour round and where's the enjoyment in that!

Because of the above reasons, this is why you can’t play every round like it’s a comp, however if you submit every rounds as your handicap when the most basic rules have been broken, you are only cheating yourself!

and breathe