Old topic but new post, I have played with a lot of folks whom I have watched do really well on non water holes, but when it comes to a water hole followed by a non water hole will put it in every single time claiming the meter messed up and I do mean all the time. When they win I feel like the whole group has been cheated. And when I observe, they are always playing with WGT free golf balls. They will have generally a great set of clubs, a really good ranking, which means they will not be using free ball for the most part. Anyone investing in good clubs and competing on a regular basis will get better balls to use, just as I have.
What this means to me is for the sake of winning, some folks use to their advantage any and everything. Although I understand why WGT felt they wanted to give a reward to players for certain things, coming back on the next hole, hitting a stick among others with it being a online game, look at real life. You put a ball in the water and do great on the next hole, the PGA or USGA gives you nothing for doing better after a water ball previous hole. Hit the flag? Well good for you and hope you make the putt, but nothing extra.
Yes I myself have hit the flag and won because of it, have had folks drop out after doing so , with me saying I was sorry for it happening, personally I hate to win that way, oh yes I know I made a good shot, had a good line and all that, but to me it feels like I have cheated folks. I know they have the same chance to do it as I do, but it takes the wind out of some folks sails and when I do it I feel it is unfair, I get no bonus when I do it in real life, with the exception of a chance for a birdie.
But that is either a really good shot or by luck. The folks playing to water holes and putting it in and coming back all the time and never seem to have any trouble on back to back non water holes to me is frustrating. If it was once, I could see that it was a meter issue as a reason, but over and over? I am not a rocket scientist, but I am not blind either.
Will any thing ever be done to change this cheating and bending of rules, I seriously doubt it. I imagine that the biggest majority of players here do not take advantage and do this on purpose, but for the ones that do, some days it makes me just want to disconnect and move on, I don't bail on others but when abuse it obvious, but I get very, very tempted to do so.