Back in 1828, the Burntisland Golf Club had a wild rule on the books. If your ball landed in sand, mud, or rubbish and you couldn’t play it, your opponent could hijack your ball and play it themselves. Yes, you read that right—your adversary could steal your ball mid-round and use it against you. Fortunately, the rule didn’t last.

Golf’s rulebook is littered with bizarre regulations that seemed permanent until they weren’t. We’re exploring the top five golf rules that no longer exist—rules that were once gospel but are now relegated to history books.

The USGA and R&A’s Stymie Rule (Eliminated 1952)

Picture this nightmare scenario. Your opponent’s ball sits directly between your ball and the hole on the putting green. Can you mark it and move it? Not if the balls are more than six inches apart. You’re stymied. You have to chip over it or putt around it.

The stymie rule has been in place since golf’s earliest days. The USGA attempted to modify it between 1920 and 1941, but no changes were implemented. In 1938, they softened it slightly—you could lift a ball within six inches of the hole regardless of the distance between balls. Still brutal.

Most golfers hated it. The rule introduced pure luck into a game supposed to reward skill. Players could deliberately lay stymies to their opponents. Joe Kirkwood Sr., a Philadelphia golf pro, actually kept the rule alive for 30 extra years. His trick shot demonstrations in the 1920s convinced USGA President Howard Whitney to retain it.

Finally, in 1952, the first joint USGA and R&A Rules eliminated the stymie. Golf became about skill, not fortunate ball positioning.

Sam Snead’s Croquet-Style Putting Ban (1968)

Sam Snead had a problem. The yips were destroying his putting. So in 1966, the aging legend tried something radical—he straddled his putting line and swung the putter between his legs like a croquet mallet.

It worked spectacularly. Snead posted a T-6 finish at the 1966 PGA Championship. He dominated the 1967 Senior PGA Championship by nine shots. At the 1967 Masters, at 54 years old, he finished T-10.

Bobby Jones wasn’t amused. The Augusta co-founder reportedly complained to USGA executive director Joseph C. Dey Jr. Officials declared it “didn’t look like golf” and was making “the game bizarre.”

The ban came swiftly. Effective January 1, 1968, the new rule stated: “On the putting green a player shall not make a stroke from astride, or with either foot touching the line of the putt.” Snead later claimed, “Bob Jones got that banned, I’m sure of it. I would’ve won Augusta again if they let me putt that way.”

The R&A’s British vs American Small Ball Rule (Eliminated 1990)

For decades, golfers couldn’t even agree on ball size. The British ball measured just 1.62 inches in diameter. The American ball was 1.68 inches. Same weight, different sizes.

The smaller British ball flew straighter and provided an estimated 20 extra yards under normal conditions. American pros like Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus would switch to the smaller ball when competing in The Open Championship—strategic advantage, pure and simple.

The R&A finally barred the small ball from The Open in 1974. However, the two-ball system persisted until January 1, 1990, when the R&A completely outlawed the smaller ball. Golf finally achieved worldwide uniformity. Players lost their competitive edge solely due to the ball choice.

The USGA’s Over-the-Shoulder Ball Drop Method (Changed 1984)

Need to drop a ball? Face the hole, stand erect, and drop it over your shoulder. Seriously. Like tossing salt for good luck.

This comical procedure existed in various forms since at least 1776. It became official in 1909. Sam Snead demonstrated it perfectly in old footage—turning away from the target and blindly tossing the ball behind him.

The problems were obvious. Players couldn’t see where the ball was going. Redrops became common because balls rolled outside the allowable area. Drops in long grass? Good luck finding your ball.

In 1984, sanity prevailed. The new rule required players to “stand erect and holding the ball at arm’s length and shoulder height.” Players could finally see what was happening during drops. The 2019 rules refined it further to knee-height drops.

The USGA and R&A’s Flagstick Penalty Rule Evolution (1956-2019)

This rule’s history reads like a soap opera. In 1956, the penalty for hitting an unattended flagstick from the putting green was eliminated. Victory for common sense, right?

Wrong. By 1968, both governing bodies restored the penalty. It remained until January 1, 2019. The rule created massive confusion—different penalties for match play versus stroke play, various distance requirements, pand ace-of-play nightmares.

Modern pros had mixed reactions to the 2019 elimination. Bryson DeChambeau analyzed it scientifically: “It depends on the COR, the coefficient of restitution of the flagstick. In U.S. Opens, I’ll take it out, and every other Tour event, when it’s fiberglass, I’ll leave it in.” Tiger Woods found the changes “weird.” Stewart Cink recommended leaving it in for putts over 30 feet.

The practical impact? Approximately 40 seconds saved per green. That’s 12 minutes per round for recreational golfers.

While these five rules were eliminated for good reason, golf still maintains plenty of bizarre regulations that shape how professionals navigate courses today. The game continues evolving, balancing tradition with practicality.

Golf’s governing bodies continue to refine the rules. They release updated versions every four years, constantly working to improve the playing experience. These five discontinued rules remind us that even golf’s most sacred traditions aren’t permanent. The sport adapts, even when it takes decades to admit a rule makes no sense.

What’s your take? Which eliminated rule was golf’s biggest mistake? Let us know in the comments below!