Not at all! I play by USGA rules below (the same ones you're quoting). But if my ball is not on private property such as on the cart path (considered "in bounds" on most courses) or another part of the course I am going to pick it up and not waist money. Wouldn't you or would you just leave the ball sitting on the cart path. And out of bounds does not "=" lost ball. They are even listed in different sub-sections of the rules. I not only play real golf I watch it every weekend and I see players taking drops a lot. Mickelson landed in a drain (unplayable) at the Masters and took a drop and I don't hear anyone calling him a cheater. I've even seen players on the PGA hit from the across a cart path (considered "out of bounds" here) and the announcers never comment that they should just write a 72 and head home. So don't comment on my character if you don't know me. All I want is for this game to not penalize me the cost of a ball just because I hit it a few yards out of bounds. I also don't care what your friend did. I am not him and would never go in someones yard to snag a ball. That's a lost ball to me. But not all "out of bounds" areas are off the course (especially here in this game). I don't think it's right that every "out of bounds" shot should cost me a ball. Someone else in this thread mentioned that the game is free but that is not entirely true. It is free if you want to play with virtual "crappy gear" and hit bogeys on every hole. But I spent money on clubs and balls which so I can play at a competitive level. That's not the definition of free to me. And when I spend money on something (no matter how cheap it is) I don't want it to just disappear because I hit it 2 yards "out of bounds." That's why I would walk over and bend down and pick the damn thing up on a real course. Only a rich fool wouldn't.
Copied from the USGA website ...
Normal.dotm
0
0
1
200
1143
University of Colorado at Denver
9
2
1403
12.0
0
false
18 pt
18 pt
0
0
false
false
false
27-1. Stroke and Distance; Ball Out of Bounds; Ball Not Found
Within Five Minutes
b. Ball Out of
Bounds
If a ball is out of bounds, the player must play a ball,
under penalty of one stroke, as nearly as possible at the spot from which the
original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5).
Rule 28. Ball Unplayable
Definitions
All defined terms are in italics and are listed
alphabetically in the Definitions section.
The player may deem his ball unplayable at any place on the
course, except when the ball is in a water hazard. The player is the sole judge
as to whether his ball is unplayable.
If the player deems his ball to be unplayable, he must,
under penalty of one stroke:
a.
Play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was
last played (see Rule 20-5); or
b.
Drop a ball behind the point where the ball lay, keeping that point directly
between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to
how far behind that point the ball may be dropped; or
c.
Drop a ball within two club-lengths of the spot where the ball lay, but not
nearer the hole.
If the unplayable ball is in a bunker, the player may
proceed under Clause a, b or c. If he elects to proceed under Clause b or c, a
ball must be dropped in the bunker.
When proceeding under this Rule, the player may lift and
clean his ball or substitute a ball.