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Golf’s Leaf Rule Explained: What PGA Professionals Say You Should Do
Published on
We're right in the heart of fall golf season.
The air is cooler, you've pulled out your favorite hoodie and the colors are downright magical. Example A? The golf scene in Vermont, where we've highlighted a perfect fall golf trip for those interested.
Although we love a good fall ball session on the course, one of the downsides is... where do all those pretty leaves go?
The answer golfers know quite well: all over the ground. To the point where they become crunchy, ball-covering nuisances right off the fairway. Many a ball has been lost to the leaves; some golfers feel it's unfair to hit a decent shot and decide just to take a free drop, while others play a lost ball penalty.
It's the annual debate around the Leaf Rule: what should you do when your ball rolls into piles of leaves and you can't find it?
We asked a number of PGA of America Golf Professionals about their thoughts but one returned with about as good of an answer as you could ask for.
Eric Hogge, a PGA Senior Education Faculty Member at the PGA of America in Frisco, Texas, had these excellent thoughts about the Leaf Rule.
"As far as the rules go with leaves and the like - I'm a big fan of accommodation and friendly play as long as all are on the same page," Hogge says. "Be sure to set the expectations on the first tee to avoid uncomfortable conversations after play has begun. No college scholarships will be handed out today, so to keep play moving on a cold day, a leaf rule is a good idea."
Hogge emphasizes that players remember a core part of golf is enjoyment, so if the Leaf Rule helps everyone have a better time, all the more to use it.
"Again, everyone has to be on the same page with these "looser" rule play days," he says. "Have more fun, don't take the scorecard as seriously and keep play moving so you can warm up inside with a few friends after the round is over."
And, of course, as a PGA Coach, Eric shared some helpful keys for hitting out of the leaves:
- Leaves may limit compression and shorten distance.
- Remember footing, too. In leaves, or at times wet Fall conditions, our balance is compromised in much the same way as hitting a fairway bunker shot would be and centered contact is more difficult. Take more club; swing with more control.
- An added benefit is that often in the Fall, the ground is softer than in the hot and dry Summer months and the ground accept the ball and not take as many crazy bounces once the ball has landed.
