Let's say the context is informal league play. Friends of friends - everyone has a 1st degree connection to each other. Very little money at stake - mostly just ego.
Some guys know the rules better than other guys.

The guys who cheat know the rules and intentionally cheat.

Cheating comes in the form of free drops, fashioning lies in hazards, and misreporting scores.

In one case, I let it happen a few times. Then with the match to go dormi, I spotted another infraction. I handled it by quietly saying "you are taking loss of hole, right?" so no one else could hear. I got an "ahhh... ahhh... yeah." I didn't want to shame the guy publically. I thought that was pretty cool. However, then he wants me to change the scorecard afterward, so no one sees his X.

The stories I have are crazy, but I'm better off coming up with more coping strategies. I don't need to fly off the handle around friends or get hot under the collar. However, I don't want to lose to a cheater, because he is cheating.

Anyone experience this and have ideas?

Don't sign their card. They will have to explain why to the professional.

But if the whole league is taking liberties, find another league.

It sounds like you already understand that calling a player an outright cheater in front of everyone can cause more problems than it solves. It also sounds like you already have a good method for dealing with the issue - being vigilant and quietly suggesting the appropriate penalty when you catch the cheater cheating. If the cheater objects, you can gently bring up the issue with the other members of the foursome by phrasing the issue such that is sounds like you are merely asking for clarification on a rule.

I do have to agree with one of stage's comments - though it is can be easier said than done - and that is to not play with the cheaters in the first place.

Over the course of the past few years I have noticed that a swift kick to the pants usually takes care of that.


In all honesty you did the right thing by not starting more trouble than there already was. Good work.

This guy is talking the p*** out of you and everyone else, if you know him well I would take him to one side and point this out to him. If that doesn't work I would refuse to play with him and make sure everyone knows why. It is only because he gets away with it that he does it stand up for what is right and put him straight

There is no place for cheats in any sport but especially golf because it is self policed to a point.

Free drops (when none is warranted): "I had a 6 on that hole." Me: "It was a 7, you took a penalty drop"
Moving ball in hazard: act as if they guy doesn't know the rules (maybe he doesn't). "Hey bill, you're not allowed to roll the ball in a hazard"*

*Note, on many golf leagues, rolling the ball is perfectly fine, which is why I specifically mentioned hazards.

I can't ever imagine allowing someone to put down a score they didn't really get, except for when it's match play, they've lost the hole, and the only thing they're doing is artificially lowering their handicap!

The line I've used many times when someone gets p'ed at me for pointing out a rule is "I didn't write the rules, I just play by 'em"

Note, I don't go out of my way to be a rules Nazi.