What should never change about golf? And what should have been changed years ago?
With the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills around the corner, Matt and the Professor crack open the Rules of Golf and start drafting their own version of the game. From lost-ball penalties and green-reading books to arm-lock putters, divots, and pace of play, they each pick the rule changes they love, the ones they question, the ones they'd like to see, and the ones they hope survive forever.
What starts as a conversation about golf's rulebook quickly becomes something bigger: a debate about fairness, skill, technology, tradition, and what the game is actually trying to reward.
What the conversation dives into:
- Why the 2019 Rules modernization may have been one of the most important pace-of-play initiatives in modern golf
- The forgotten experiments with out-of-bounds penalties, including eras when stroke-and-distance didn't exist
- Whether arm-lock putters, oversized grips, and modern equipment have drifted too far from the spirit of the game
- The case for enforcing pace of play as a competitive skill, not just a courtesy
- Why "play it as it lies" remains one of golf's most important ideas, even when your ball is sitting in a divot
- The original 1744 Rules of Golf, "watery filth," and the strange rulebook debates that shaped the game we play today
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Chapters
0:00 - Intro
09:54 - Rule Changes We Love
12:34 - The 14-club limit and respecting the caddie
14:34 - Pace of play, red penalty areas, and 2019's biggest wins
17:21 - Flagsticks, green-reading books, and modern putting
20:28 - Rule Changes We Hate
21:32 - Touching the line of play on the green
22:48 - The case against stroke-and-distance penalties
27:59 - Would "distance only" make golf more fun?
28:20 - Rule Changes We'd Like to See
29:24 - Arm-lock putters, equipment limits, and putting skill
33:29 - Driver heads, shaft length, and equipment regulation
34:33 - Bringing back old rules and enforcing pace of play
40:33 - Rules We'd Never Change
41:15 - Why players should keep each other's score
42:08 - Play it as it lies and the divot debate
45:34 - The original Rules of Golf and playing your own ball
49:08 - Double hits, dropping from the knee, and modern quirks
What is The Bag Drop?
The Bag Drop features weekly stories from the culture, community and characters shaping golf today. Produced by NewClub Golf Society, each episode blends authenticity and expert insights for passionate golfers at all levels. Special guests from clubs, courses and every corner of the changing landscape join us for thoughtful, inβdepth discussions on all things golf.
What is NewClub?
Founded in 2017, NewClub is the premier private golf society in the United States. It blends the community and access of a private club with the variety and affordability of public golf. Members enjoy thousands of reserved tee times, competitions and events at exceptional partner courses across our local chapters, as well as signature trips and exclusive perks. NewClub is revolutionizing golf membership, making the game more meaningful for those who love it.
