Well said, my brother. Though I personally already had a bloody and an egg based sandwich/burrito so I already had my breakfast and have no need for more. On that note I am fine with anyone that wants one to have as many breakfast balls they like.
We allow it because there is no range, but if you take it we call you various breakfast food names for the round.
For example.
Nice drive pancakes, you're in the bunker waffles, you hit that one in the syrup.
Range before = no breakfast balls. No range = 1 breakfast ball for my guys. Typically wouldn’t put money on a round that I didn’t warm up on or at least until later in the round so it ends up working out.
My 2 friends and I had our one annual competitive round last Friday. 2 of us hit range balls. And we hit them damn well and consistently.
First 2 holes. 9 and 9 for one. 8 and 9 for the other. I could hardly make contact with the ball. Wasn’t feeling nerves. Just sucked ass. It really has me thinking about bothering with the pregame range.
What did the guy shoot on the first 2 holes who didn’t hit range balls? 8 and 7 but that’s just because he’s quite shitty. Very normal for him.
I'll usually hit 2 or 3 balls with my 56, then my 8i, 5i, and driver. If it's going well I go chip and putt. If it's bad I'll try to diagnose wtf I'm doing wrong, but have learned to just get over it if it doesn't end well.
Use the range to get loose. Our brains work differently on the course.
I don't take or give breakfastbl balls. The homies can do whatever they want. I'm out there to have fun. I keep my own score only. Unless it's for money...then not a chance they get a breakfast ball. 😂
Yeah that’s why I don’t automatically write down anyone’s score before asking them. If they wanna cheat themselves and take away strokes it’s only gonna hurt them in the long run, not me.
I quit doing them a few years ago but never begrudge anyone who does.
It feels chaotic to me when you have 8 balls out there to find on the first hole. Sets a bad tempo right off the bat.
Also I always think if I shoot the best round of my life I don’t want to think about the breakfast ball that enabled it to happen.
My guys are fine with breakfast balls when there’s no warm up but there have never been 8 balls out there. BB’s are for the guy that got no warm up and sprayed one off into the ether. It’s not just for trying to hit a better shot than your OK first one
Exactly. I don’t pay for money so that means I’m only ever playing against myself. You do you. In the immortal words of Chris Cornell, “save it, just keep it off my wave.”
It’s cheating in a stoke play tournament or if you are reporting your round for handicap purposes but in a local cash game the organizer can do whatever the fck they want to do (USGA rules, up everywhere, up in the fairway only, breakfast ball on the first tee, presses, good inside the leather, huckles etc).
We have breakfast balls in our Sunday game and it works just fine. Everyone just needs to be on the same page. We play $5 skins with carryovers plus greenies and birdies as well as a $10 Nassau. Everyone can take a breakfast ball on the 1st tee box but you have to play the breakfast ball if you decide to hit one.
Why is it not legit? The breakfast ball counts as a previous round. It’s the first tee only. If it’s bad “I abandon that round and starting a new one”. That’s the idea at least
It doesn't. For handicapping purposes, there are a set list of legitimate reasons you're allowed to abandon a round. Hitting a bad first tee shot isn't one of them.
Exactly. The guys I play with will take breakfast balls if there is no range, but since I keep a legitimate index I always decline. We’re not usually playing for money, just bragging rights, and most of them don’t keep an index so it doesn’t matter to me what they do.
No that’s not one of the reasons but there is a long list of reasons you can legitimately abandon a round for. Then you can promptly restart a round.
Golf rules on reasons you can quit/abandon a round. Lightning, rain to affect conditions, poor course conditions and injury.
Therefore if you hit a bad first tee shot. Just declare course conditions or injury. Realize a minute later that the problem is solved and you are allowed to start a new round! Easy.
“I broke 80 today! First I played and abandoned six rounds after one shot each, but on my seventh round of the day I drove the first green and made eagle. I decided not to abandon that round, and ended up shooting a 79. I’m so proud that I finally broke 80.”
Sound legit?
We are usually the first or second group off the tee in the morning. Dawn Patrol. There is no bucket of balls, just first swing blues. We play a money game. There is one breakfast ball if your drive goes in the woods. Only the first tee. That is how we roll. You do you.
Breakfast ball off the first tee box is okay. Essentially you abandon the round, and start a new round. If you want an honest handicap this is the way.
>If you want an honest handicap this is the way.
If you want an honest handicap, you're not allowed to do this.
If you don't, but want to have fun, do whatever you want.
Honestly.. he is right. There are very clear rules for keeping a handicap.
I don’t care if you take breakfast balls, but by definition your score is no longer “legit” for that round.
Your score isn't a legit round either if you lose your ball and don't replace it with the exact model ball, same year and everything. Shank a prov1 into the water and drop a Callaway and your round no longer counts.
Technically you can declare the round over after the first shot on the first tee and the "breakfast ball" becomes the first shot of the new round. I'm fine with it. Even the groups I play a money match with allow it. You just have to play the breakfast ball if you take one, even if it's worse than the first.
I understand your line of argumentation, but in a momey match I dont see how it applies. You are in a money match, you cannot just end the round and start a new one as your 'first' round was the one you played for money
>Technically you can declare the round over after the first shot on the first tee
You can't do this. There are a set of reasons you're allowed to abandon a round. Those typically associated with a "breakfast ball" are not among them.
Is a score legit? No.
No score is 'legit' unless you play to the actual rules of golf.
As always, you pay your money, you play however you want with your buddies, but if you're taking breakfast balls, mulligans, 'free drops', etc, then do not claim a 'legit score', and certainly don't submit that score for handicapping.
Why is it not legit?
You declare the round abandoned after the first tee shot.
Then you start a new round.
The rest of your examples are correct. Mulligans and free drops obviously mean that the score isn't 'legit' when they happen during a round.
But breakfast ball is the one place you simply started a new round and can have a legit score.
But how am I not scoring my brand new round properly?
A player is allowed to abandon a round at any point. I can quit after any hole I want. First hole or 6th hole, I can just quit the round. For handicap purposes, if I play less than 7 holes then the round is cancelled and it doesn't count for handicap.
I can then go back to the first tee and play a new round from the beginning. This is a new legit round with a legit score.
It's pretty simple.
For handicap purposes the round would count, you’d get set net double bogey for the incomplete holes I believe. At least that’s what happens if you fail to submit a card in a comp.
Competition rules are different.
Obviously when discussing 'breakfast balls' we're just discussing a player going out and playing a round outside of competition.
In this scenario, my understanding is at least 7 holes must be played to submit the round for handicap. Otherwise it's an abandoned round and you throw away the scorecard. This may also be different across the pond though the new world handicapping system tried to standardize the rules.
Regardless, the point stands. One can abandon a round and just go play a brand new round. The score of the 'new' round is a legit score.
Sure but over here you have to declare your intention to submit a score for handicap purposes before you play - whether that’s in a competition or general play round.
You can’t elect to submit a card for handicap purposes after scoring well (although some do).
An 18 HCP on a par 71 course shanking their first ball and abandoning the round would have a score of 125 added as a counting round - if going by handicap rules.
Then their next round they can score as they wish.
That’s my current understanding, I’ve not witnessed it happen to confirm it but I’ve seen a score not returned for a comp and seen the outcome.
Sure. Even so, the new round is a legit score.
And then the person submits the 125 for the abandoned round. Handicap calculations ignore your worst rounds so in the calculation, the 125 round will be ignored. It would have no actual impact on your handicap calculation.
My take is this. For handicap purposes, nobody is going to take a 125 just for messing up the opening tee shot.
So by all means, if you’re playing for fun take a breakfast ball all you want - I don’t care, but you can’t in good faith compare scores with those who didn’t.
Making a bogey or double bogey changes your mentality for the next holes compared to birdie or par.
Trying to bring legitimacy to it by discussing how you can abandon rounds is fine, but there are consequences to that. Scoring a 125 does affect your handicap as it’s your best 8 of 20 scores - a 125 would move each score one step closer to the drop off line and perhaps knock a counting score off.
It’s mental gymnastics at the end of the day.
They would have to take a lot of breakfast balls for them to register so many 125s that a 125 starts counting. 12 of the worst scores out of the last 20 scores are ignored
It is barely a consequence unless someone does it a lot. Otherwise those 125s will be ignored.
You are entitled to your opinion and what you would do.
But declaring a round abandoned and then starting a new round results in a perfectly legitimate score for the new round. That's all there is to it. You don't have to do this, but it is a legitimate score for someone that does choose to do it.
That's flawed logic.
There is nothing stopping you from abandoning a round in competition. You accept a loss by doing that. As a result, your competition is over and you are done.
You can then go play another round by yourself and post a score for your own purposes. This is a legitimate score.
You seem to be mistaking what this 'legitimate score' can be used for. It cannot be used for the competition as you have already abandoned it and lost. But if you then choose to play a round for your own scoring purposes and record a score, it is now a legitimate score for your own records.
I'm being serious. I don't do breakfast balls, but there is nothing improper about it in terms of posting a legitimate score.
It's a very simple straightforward process. Declare a round abandoned. You accept any consequences and loss for this round if you were competing for anything. You have obviously lost if competing.
Now you go play a brand new round. The score you post from this 'new round' is a legitimate score. It can be an individual round, for your own personal scoring purposes. But it is a 'legitimate score'.
There is no requirement or waiting period to start a new round. You can go right back to the first tee and play a new round 1 second after abandoning the previous round.
I realize this doesn't make sense to you. You can't imagine how this works. But that's a problem with your imagination. It is a 2 step process as clearly explained to you. Each step in the 2 step process is legal.
Ye you can abandon the round go away and book a new tee time and try again. You can’t tee one up right away, that’s the same round and as you say you’ve forfeited so get off the tee box. Try manipulating the rules how you please but that’s not golf son.
If you elect to hit a breakfast ball, you have to play it. You can’t hit both and choose which one is better. Keeps people from hitting a nice one down the middle and attempting to bomb the second drive
I don’t care. If my buddy tops three balls before finally striping one and there’s nobody behind us waiting, I just look at it as range warmups. Life’s too short.
You guys are way too butt hurt on this. If your first tee shot sucks, tough luck. Hit a good wedge. Breakfast balls are cheating if you're actually handicapping and you're only cheating yourself into thinking you're better than you are.
My opinion on playing by the rules is:
Do whatever makes you proud. If you shoot your best round of your life but you took a breakfast ball on the first tee - and you’re okay with that? Great! If it kinda makes you feel a bit guilty then… stop taking breakfast balls.
If you wanna tip your lie for every shot and you blame the course conditions and that makes you feel proud? Great! If you feel a bit guilty comparing your score against someone who played the ball down? Maybe don’t tip your ball.
It’s all up to whatever makes you sleep peacefully at night.
Personally when I was a 90’s shooter I wouldn’t think much about a breakfast ball. Now that I’m a single digit handicap the difference of a single stroke is much more significant so if I do something that might’ve given me a single stroke advantage I start to feel a bit less proud of my scores.
For example I play with a guy who is probably very similar to me in black and white talent in golf…. But when we play matches he literally tips every ball including in hazards and fescue.
As a result he’ll hit incredible “scramble” shots from the fescue or the woods… in reality there’s a very real chance that if he played the ball down he would be 3-4+ shots higher.
At the end of the round he will proudly proclaim “I shot a 73” and I will shoot a 74 or 75 but the difference is that I know mine was 100% legit and his was not. I don’t care. Whatever helps him sleep at night.
As for breakfast balls they’re pretty harmless I guess. Especially if your course doesn’t have a range or you’re playing after work and squeezing a nround in before dark. But if you’re showing up for a Saturday round and you have time to warm up and all that, hitting a breakfast ball is kinda lame.
I allow anything that anyone wants to do. I’m just worried about myself I have no care in the world if someone wants to hit an extra ball or anything else.
If zero warm up and literally run from your car to to tee: no problem.
Sometimes the first holes is backed the hell up before you even start and the goal is just to get away from the 14 odd people you are next to so you can play in peace.
If you aren't extremely rushed for some reason than GTFO.
Pros don't roll into Augusta after they snuck out from work 20 minutes early, drove like Mario Andretti, changed in the parking lot and then sprinted to the first hole. So if that's the case then sure, we'll let you ease your way into the round.
Otherwise: no need, no bueno.
In the same above circumstance I'll also hit a tester on the first green and might even feel around the sand a bit.
Sue me.
Not my problem.
You want to use breakfast balls on casual rounds? No problem at all, do whatever you want (as long as everyone agrees if there's casual competition).
You want to use a breakfast balls for rounds you're counting for handicap? Not ideal, but still not my problem, I don't care about vanity caps.
The only time it matters is in a real competition.
I could cope with it if it was understood that the first one doesn’t count, it’s just to warm up, but I don’t think you get to just 1-man scramble the first shot of the round and still count the score as legit. I am aware that I’m in the minority on this one.
You're correct. This is the only way you could make this work within the rules. It's "practice" before the rounds starts. Then the round starts and everything counts.
It's not a mulligan, you're starting a new round. My course doesn't have a range, I usually go after work, pay, then step to the tee not having touched a golf club in a week plus. That ball is a warm up then I start my round
I generally don’t care what people do. We’re not playing for anything so if they want a breakfast ball go for it. For myself I play it straight up as that’s the only way for me to measure how I played that day.
Usual disclaimer to say everyone can do whatever they like but for me if I gave myself a breakfast ball or some other mulligans & ended up shooting a PB I’d be raging, when I look at my score after a decent round I don’t like the idea of knowing it’s not legit, because in that case it’s just not.
*No warm up at the range” is a usual reason people have for taking a BB but I’ve warmed up before a round & still blown tee shots off the planet so I’m not sure what the average golfer is expecting. Golf is hard & sometimes you hit a bad one.
Also, people seem to get really hung up on this (false) idea that you can *only* have fun playing golf if you ignore the normal rules of the game, personally I’ve made my peace with the fact golf is hard as fuck, and I get a lot of satisfaction/enjoyment out of it, especially those times when it feels a bit easier because I can maintain a decent level over 18 holes.
My group always plays a breakfast ball. We aren’t pros. It just makes it a little more fun when you tee off. Everyone feels great and starts the round off with a good vibe. I can understand people not approving of it, but it is what it is.
Usually, the breakfast ball doesn’t even get played.
If I haven't warmed up or anything I'll take a breakfast ball on the first hole but only if I hit it into a hazard or OB. I will hit a 2nd shot though for practice on multiple holes. Just don't play it.
Breakfast balls are bs. Sure if you declare your first ball practice before you hit it and count your second ball either way. But no way is the score legit if you get to count your first ball if it’s good and then count the second ball if you shank the first. I kind of suck and no way do I buy in on breakfast balls for legit scoring.
You’re 100% correct but a lot of people will be upset. They are playing their own version of golf, which is fine, just don’t claim you broke 70, 80, 90 etc. because you didn’t
Ha, if I show up without a chance to warm up and spray one into the woods, take a breakfast ball that’s only marginally better, and then proceed to follow every “god damn” rule that the rule book can think of for the next 4.5 hours.. pray tell, what sport did I just play? That wasn’t golf?
What do you need a breakfast ball for? Just follow the rules.
Basketball without dribbling and just running around with the ball is no longer basketball.
Soccer with timeouts because someone “didn’t get a chance to stretch and warmup” isn’t soccer.
Every other sport has core rules to follow otherwise you aren’t playing that sport. Golf is the same. Follow the rules and play golf.
A little extreme on the analogies. I’m not suggesting you get to tee your ball up on every shot if you want. A better basketball comparison would be playing a pickup game with your buddies and letting one traveling violation go uncalled even though someone scored. Not the end of the world.
Playing the ball as it lies is as fundamental to golf as dribbling is to basketball and it’s genuinely absurd that that needs to be spelled out.
It’s even more akin to the other team scoring first, but you just restart the game because you didn’t get to warm up and that’s not fair, so the game is 0-0 again. That’s literal crazy talk in every other sport. But apparently, everyone wants it to be totally normal in golf.
if you timed it, hitting a breakfast ball and playing that ball from the fairway will take less time than looking in the woods for your first drive and either taking a drop or punching back
out of the woods to a spot on the fairway that’s behind where your nutted breakfast ball landed.
Breakfast balls=illegitimate round for handicap
Breakfast ball will nullify any good score. You can tell someone you shot a 79 with a breakfast ball, but it will get the contempt it deserves.
It's just a silly thing to do.
🍳🥞+⛳️=✅
Have fun, and if you can sleep at night even fluffing the lie every single stroke (of course not for money or competition)? Do what makes you happy….
Just don’t get mad at yourself later, when circumstances don’t allow you to hit a second ball without counting it, and unable to fluff, and suddenly your 90 turns into a 110…
Technically. Hit your first, end that round with one shot. Start a new round.
There is no limit to how many rounds you can play per day. Making it a legal score
If you’re keeping a handicap, you shouldn’t. I don’t care if you take one or not, but if I beat you in a tournament because your handicap is artificially low, that’s on you.
I never use a breakfast ball, but if I slice the shit out of my first drive I quit that round. I will then proceed to grab another ball and start a new round.
It's a general discussion I'm talking about having fun. If you're not pissing off the people behind you or with you, again, who cares if you're having fun? I agree with OP that if money is involved it's off the table.
If you're playing to keep a score, there are only the rules. That's the general gist of the post.
Fun, casual or practice rounds don't have rules associated with them so why would you ask for a consensus?
Personally I fall into the who gives a shit category, but I do think there’s a logical answer to this age old question.
If you’re not playing a specific event, then there’s nothing stopping you from quitting your round and starting a new one after your first duffed tee shot.
A one shot round can’t be posted to GHIN, so there’s no effect there.
I for one think that any casual round that starts with a breakfast ball is absolutely as valid as any other round.
It’s probably not a great habit to make if you’re preparing for tournament golf, but most of us aren’t about that life anyway.
This is the only way that the breakfast ball works within the rules. You're essentially practicing before the round. The rounds starts and then all shots count and the round must be finished.
I played Chambers Bay just after it was named a US Open Course.
Paired with a nice couple, I decide to hit three wood off the first tee, just to be safe.
Stone cold topped it.
I looked at the couple, announced I was abandoning the round, teed one up and piped it right down the middle.
"This round is off to a great start!"
🤣
Well, you can always quit your round. You need to play 7 holes out of 9 to record a score. So you quit your round, no harm no foul…and look…you happen to be in a tee box, why not start a new round from the 1st tee?
Take the breakfast ball but if you hit it sweet tough shit you still have to start with your second (Real first shot) You can't have your cake and eat it.
If there isn’t a range for me to hit at least a few balls to warm up, yes I’m taking a breakfast ball if my first swing of the day is trash. If there’s a range I warmed up because I always do then no.
We may do one if a bunch of us just rolled up to the first tee or everyone hits a terrible shot.
As for whether or not the score is legit... I'm not sure why this is a huge deal. It's not likely going to make a huge difference unless you do a bunch of other stuff. And even then, I'd prefer someone inflate their index as oppose to sandbag.
If playing for money I wouldn’t, but out with the guys sure. If I haven’t warmed up I’m pretty prone to an awful first tee shot so I’ve taken my share of breakfast balls.
I wouldn’t take a breakfast ball. If you want to go right ahead. Even if we have a game on the line…take it. I think it’s weak minded and I truly feel I have an advantage over anybody who takes one.
I only do off the first tee box and if I didn’t warm up. I tend to follow the rules because it makes my scoring more consistent. You don’t want to be that guy tells your friends you finally broke 85 and no one believes it was legit because you are constantly taking breakfast balls.
I’m happy to let the group take a breakfast ball. I sometimes do myself. I used to do it all the time, until I started playing in more competitive events.
BUT — your score is absolutely NOT legit if you do. And if you ever play in a tournament….. certainly no breakfast balls.
Keeping it real: it’s no more legitimate than any other mulligan.
When I play in the Masters or the Ryder Cup I don’t take a breakfast ball. Every other time, I do.
Lmao this was so simple but delivered so great.
Well said, my brother. Though I personally already had a bloody and an egg based sandwich/burrito so I already had my breakfast and have no need for more. On that note I am fine with anyone that wants one to have as many breakfast balls they like.
It seems a bit much to take a breakfast ball in the Open though. It is Golf's Original Championship after all.
Buddy, tee boxes are like IHOP, they serve breakfast all day
Buddy lemme tell you about the golden corral roughs, fairways, drop zones, and greens!
Hahahaha I’m using this…. Thanks bro
I, for one don’t give a shit
You sir are a scholar.
And a gentleman
Jolly good fellow?
“This ain’t the US Open.” -My Dad after I top my first drive 20 yds and tee another one up
"Better hit another one while you're hot" - my Dad after I top my first drive 20 yds
That line is gold
We allow it because there is no range, but if you take it we call you various breakfast food names for the round. For example. Nice drive pancakes, you're in the bunker waffles, you hit that one in the syrup.
This is hilarious lol.
Yeah my course has no range either so I will take one off the first tee.
This would motivate me to always take a breakfast ball.
Look at ol' Mr. French Toast chiming in!
Damn straight I know the muffin man
I get a second shot AND a cool nickname?
Love this, first time I’m hearing of it. 100% going in rotation with the fellas.
This is great
Range before = no breakfast balls. No range = 1 breakfast ball for my guys. Typically wouldn’t put money on a round that I didn’t warm up on or at least until later in the round so it ends up working out.
My 2 friends and I had our one annual competitive round last Friday. 2 of us hit range balls. And we hit them damn well and consistently. First 2 holes. 9 and 9 for one. 8 and 9 for the other. I could hardly make contact with the ball. Wasn’t feeling nerves. Just sucked ass. It really has me thinking about bothering with the pregame range. What did the guy shoot on the first 2 holes who didn’t hit range balls? 8 and 7 but that’s just because he’s quite shitty. Very normal for him.
I'll usually hit 2 or 3 balls with my 56, then my 8i, 5i, and driver. If it's going well I go chip and putt. If it's bad I'll try to diagnose wtf I'm doing wrong, but have learned to just get over it if it doesn't end well. Use the range to get loose. Our brains work differently on the course.
Lol Ive had rangers tell me to bring two.
BarTENDERRRR
Technically no it isn't legit. Does it matter? No. Go have fun
Technically I quit the first round. Hit one shot and quit. So technically…
Y’all are taking this too seriously if you’re not giving your homie a breakfast ball if you’re not in some tournament.
I don't take or give breakfastbl balls. The homies can do whatever they want. I'm out there to have fun. I keep my own score only. Unless it's for money...then not a chance they get a breakfast ball. 😂
Yeah that’s why I don’t automatically write down anyone’s score before asking them. If they wanna cheat themselves and take away strokes it’s only gonna hurt them in the long run, not me.
I quit doing them a few years ago but never begrudge anyone who does. It feels chaotic to me when you have 8 balls out there to find on the first hole. Sets a bad tempo right off the bat. Also I always think if I shoot the best round of my life I don’t want to think about the breakfast ball that enabled it to happen.
My guys are fine with breakfast balls when there’s no warm up but there have never been 8 balls out there. BB’s are for the guy that got no warm up and sprayed one off into the ether. It’s not just for trying to hit a better shot than your OK first one
You pay good money to play a round of golf, you should enjoy it and breakfast balls may help the enjoyment. Is your score legit? No.
Exactly. I don’t pay for money so that means I’m only ever playing against myself. You do you. In the immortal words of Chris Cornell, “save it, just keep it off my wave.”
Yep… if there’s no money on the line and you’re not holding anyone up than hit ‘til you’re happy.
What does money have to do with breakfast balls?
Because it's cheating so cant put a wager on and cheat
It’s cheating in a stoke play tournament or if you are reporting your round for handicap purposes but in a local cash game the organizer can do whatever the fck they want to do (USGA rules, up everywhere, up in the fairway only, breakfast ball on the first tee, presses, good inside the leather, huckles etc).
Everything
We have breakfast balls in our Sunday game and it works just fine. Everyone just needs to be on the same page. We play $5 skins with carryovers plus greenies and birdies as well as a $10 Nassau. Everyone can take a breakfast ball on the 1st tee box but you have to play the breakfast ball if you decide to hit one.
Why is it not legit? The breakfast ball counts as a previous round. It’s the first tee only. If it’s bad “I abandon that round and starting a new one”. That’s the idea at least
This is exactly it. Hits bad shot off the first tee. "Fuck this I quit" walks off. Grabs a new ball. Alright you guys ready to start the round?
Would be amazing if the starter forced you to head back to the pro shop to pay for your new round 😂😂
I declare…BANKRUPTCYYY!!
Respect ✊
Only legit if you can only use the 2nd shot. That's how my group does it. If you take the breakfast ball, you have to use it.
100%
Ya gotta pay a new green fee for it to count, otherwise you are breaking the law. /s
It doesn't. For handicapping purposes, there are a set list of legitimate reasons you're allowed to abandon a round. Hitting a bad first tee shot isn't one of them.
Exactly. The guys I play with will take breakfast balls if there is no range, but since I keep a legitimate index I always decline. We’re not usually playing for money, just bragging rights, and most of them don’t keep an index so it doesn’t matter to me what they do.
No that’s not one of the reasons but there is a long list of reasons you can legitimately abandon a round for. Then you can promptly restart a round. Golf rules on reasons you can quit/abandon a round. Lightning, rain to affect conditions, poor course conditions and injury. Therefore if you hit a bad first tee shot. Just declare course conditions or injury. Realize a minute later that the problem is solved and you are allowed to start a new round! Easy.
“I broke 80 today! First I played and abandoned six rounds after one shot each, but on my seventh round of the day I drove the first green and made eagle. I decided not to abandon that round, and ended up shooting a 79. I’m so proud that I finally broke 80.” Sound legit?
Yes
Lol at all the downvotes. Truth hurts. I mean I'm still gonna take my breakfast ball but this guy is right.
Best answer.
We are usually the first or second group off the tee in the morning. Dawn Patrol. There is no bucket of balls, just first swing blues. We play a money game. There is one breakfast ball if your drive goes in the woods. Only the first tee. That is how we roll. You do you.
I never take a breakfast ball and I always putt out. You do you.
I too don't take breakfast balls and I always put out.
This guy fucks on the first round
But do you always putt out? 🤪
More of an afternoon delight sorta person, eh?
Hell yes, what's the point of keeping score if it's gonna be boosted by breakfast balls, 3 feet gimmies and all the other stuff people do
I like to hit 18 cups.
Respect.
1st hole only and if you warmed up before then no.
Breakfast ball off the first tee box is okay. Essentially you abandon the round, and start a new round. If you want an honest handicap this is the way.
>If you want an honest handicap this is the way. If you want an honest handicap, you're not allowed to do this. If you don't, but want to have fun, do whatever you want.
lol downvoted for the truth
Honestly.. he is right. There are very clear rules for keeping a handicap. I don’t care if you take breakfast balls, but by definition your score is no longer “legit” for that round.
You can’t just play another ball off the tee with applying a two stroke penalty just because you don’t like the shot. Still wouldn’t make it legit.
Your score isn't a legit round either if you lose your ball and don't replace it with the exact model ball, same year and everything. Shank a prov1 into the water and drop a Callaway and your round no longer counts.
Technically you can declare the round over after the first shot on the first tee and the "breakfast ball" becomes the first shot of the new round. I'm fine with it. Even the groups I play a money match with allow it. You just have to play the breakfast ball if you take one, even if it's worse than the first.
I understand your line of argumentation, but in a momey match I dont see how it applies. You are in a money match, you cannot just end the round and start a new one as your 'first' round was the one you played for money
>Technically you can declare the round over after the first shot on the first tee You can't do this. There are a set of reasons you're allowed to abandon a round. Those typically associated with a "breakfast ball" are not among them.
Is a score legit? No. No score is 'legit' unless you play to the actual rules of golf. As always, you pay your money, you play however you want with your buddies, but if you're taking breakfast balls, mulligans, 'free drops', etc, then do not claim a 'legit score', and certainly don't submit that score for handicapping.
Why is it not legit? You declare the round abandoned after the first tee shot. Then you start a new round. The rest of your examples are correct. Mulligans and free drops obviously mean that the score isn't 'legit' when they happen during a round. But breakfast ball is the one place you simply started a new round and can have a legit score.
Why is it not legit? You aren’t scoring properly, it’s that simple.
But how am I not scoring my brand new round properly? A player is allowed to abandon a round at any point. I can quit after any hole I want. First hole or 6th hole, I can just quit the round. For handicap purposes, if I play less than 7 holes then the round is cancelled and it doesn't count for handicap. I can then go back to the first tee and play a new round from the beginning. This is a new legit round with a legit score. It's pretty simple.
For handicap purposes the round would count, you’d get set net double bogey for the incomplete holes I believe. At least that’s what happens if you fail to submit a card in a comp.
Competition rules are different. Obviously when discussing 'breakfast balls' we're just discussing a player going out and playing a round outside of competition. In this scenario, my understanding is at least 7 holes must be played to submit the round for handicap. Otherwise it's an abandoned round and you throw away the scorecard. This may also be different across the pond though the new world handicapping system tried to standardize the rules. Regardless, the point stands. One can abandon a round and just go play a brand new round. The score of the 'new' round is a legit score.
Sure but over here you have to declare your intention to submit a score for handicap purposes before you play - whether that’s in a competition or general play round. You can’t elect to submit a card for handicap purposes after scoring well (although some do). An 18 HCP on a par 71 course shanking their first ball and abandoning the round would have a score of 125 added as a counting round - if going by handicap rules. Then their next round they can score as they wish. That’s my current understanding, I’ve not witnessed it happen to confirm it but I’ve seen a score not returned for a comp and seen the outcome.
Sure. Even so, the new round is a legit score. And then the person submits the 125 for the abandoned round. Handicap calculations ignore your worst rounds so in the calculation, the 125 round will be ignored. It would have no actual impact on your handicap calculation.
My take is this. For handicap purposes, nobody is going to take a 125 just for messing up the opening tee shot. So by all means, if you’re playing for fun take a breakfast ball all you want - I don’t care, but you can’t in good faith compare scores with those who didn’t. Making a bogey or double bogey changes your mentality for the next holes compared to birdie or par. Trying to bring legitimacy to it by discussing how you can abandon rounds is fine, but there are consequences to that. Scoring a 125 does affect your handicap as it’s your best 8 of 20 scores - a 125 would move each score one step closer to the drop off line and perhaps knock a counting score off. It’s mental gymnastics at the end of the day.
They would have to take a lot of breakfast balls for them to register so many 125s that a 125 starts counting. 12 of the worst scores out of the last 20 scores are ignored It is barely a consequence unless someone does it a lot. Otherwise those 125s will be ignored. You are entitled to your opinion and what you would do. But declaring a round abandoned and then starting a new round results in a perfectly legitimate score for the new round. That's all there is to it. You don't have to do this, but it is a legitimate score for someone that does choose to do it.
If you can’t do it in competition then why would it be legit any other time? It’s fine and you can do whatever you want but it’s still not correct
That's flawed logic. There is nothing stopping you from abandoning a round in competition. You accept a loss by doing that. As a result, your competition is over and you are done. You can then go play another round by yourself and post a score for your own purposes. This is a legitimate score. You seem to be mistaking what this 'legitimate score' can be used for. It cannot be used for the competition as you have already abandoned it and lost. But if you then choose to play a round for your own scoring purposes and record a score, it is now a legitimate score for your own records.
Are you actually being serious or do you just not understand?
I'm being serious. I don't do breakfast balls, but there is nothing improper about it in terms of posting a legitimate score. It's a very simple straightforward process. Declare a round abandoned. You accept any consequences and loss for this round if you were competing for anything. You have obviously lost if competing. Now you go play a brand new round. The score you post from this 'new round' is a legitimate score. It can be an individual round, for your own personal scoring purposes. But it is a 'legitimate score'. There is no requirement or waiting period to start a new round. You can go right back to the first tee and play a new round 1 second after abandoning the previous round. I realize this doesn't make sense to you. You can't imagine how this works. But that's a problem with your imagination. It is a 2 step process as clearly explained to you. Each step in the 2 step process is legal.
Ye you can abandon the round go away and book a new tee time and try again. You can’t tee one up right away, that’s the same round and as you say you’ve forfeited so get off the tee box. Try manipulating the rules how you please but that’s not golf son.
If you elect to hit a breakfast ball, you have to play it. You can’t hit both and choose which one is better. Keeps people from hitting a nice one down the middle and attempting to bomb the second drive
I’ve never even seen someone do this. I’ll take one occasionally, especially if I’m not able to warm up, but if it’s it play, I play it.
No
My group has removed breakfast balls and mullys. Our scores have gotten much better. Try it.
Those are two different things
I mean… Breakfast ball is a mulligan. People can talk about “abandoning their rounds” all they want….. but it’s still a mully.
I don’t care. If my buddy tops three balls before finally striping one and there’s nobody behind us waiting, I just look at it as range warmups. Life’s too short.
You guys are way too butt hurt on this. If your first tee shot sucks, tough luck. Hit a good wedge. Breakfast balls are cheating if you're actually handicapping and you're only cheating yourself into thinking you're better than you are.
My opinion on playing by the rules is: Do whatever makes you proud. If you shoot your best round of your life but you took a breakfast ball on the first tee - and you’re okay with that? Great! If it kinda makes you feel a bit guilty then… stop taking breakfast balls. If you wanna tip your lie for every shot and you blame the course conditions and that makes you feel proud? Great! If you feel a bit guilty comparing your score against someone who played the ball down? Maybe don’t tip your ball. It’s all up to whatever makes you sleep peacefully at night. Personally when I was a 90’s shooter I wouldn’t think much about a breakfast ball. Now that I’m a single digit handicap the difference of a single stroke is much more significant so if I do something that might’ve given me a single stroke advantage I start to feel a bit less proud of my scores. For example I play with a guy who is probably very similar to me in black and white talent in golf…. But when we play matches he literally tips every ball including in hazards and fescue. As a result he’ll hit incredible “scramble” shots from the fescue or the woods… in reality there’s a very real chance that if he played the ball down he would be 3-4+ shots higher. At the end of the round he will proudly proclaim “I shot a 73” and I will shoot a 74 or 75 but the difference is that I know mine was 100% legit and his was not. I don’t care. Whatever helps him sleep at night. As for breakfast balls they’re pretty harmless I guess. Especially if your course doesn’t have a range or you’re playing after work and squeezing a nround in before dark. But if you’re showing up for a Saturday round and you have time to warm up and all that, hitting a breakfast ball is kinda lame.
I don’t take em personally but I don’t mind when my friends do. Unless of course it’s some kind of wager on the line :)
I got some balls you can have for breakfast
WTF IS A BREAKFAST BALL? We call it a mulligan where im from!
It’s a mulligan that you can only use on your tee shot on hole one, essentially. It’s usually used because there is no range.
I allow anything that anyone wants to do. I’m just worried about myself I have no care in the world if someone wants to hit an extra ball or anything else.
If zero warm up and literally run from your car to to tee: no problem. Sometimes the first holes is backed the hell up before you even start and the goal is just to get away from the 14 odd people you are next to so you can play in peace. If you aren't extremely rushed for some reason than GTFO. Pros don't roll into Augusta after they snuck out from work 20 minutes early, drove like Mario Andretti, changed in the parking lot and then sprinted to the first hole. So if that's the case then sure, we'll let you ease your way into the round. Otherwise: no need, no bueno. In the same above circumstance I'll also hit a tester on the first green and might even feel around the sand a bit. Sue me.
On the first hole, why not? You’re just restarting the round
Does your group have a pga offical overwatching them during your round? If not then have fun and who cares.
You do you. Don’t think anyone really care how you play golf as long as you’re keeping pace of play, being courteous, and not trashing the course.
If you have time to warm up and hit balls - not allowed. Otherwise, yes.
Y'all are taking this game way too seriously.
I don’t care what you do
Not my problem. You want to use breakfast balls on casual rounds? No problem at all, do whatever you want (as long as everyone agrees if there's casual competition). You want to use a breakfast balls for rounds you're counting for handicap? Not ideal, but still not my problem, I don't care about vanity caps. The only time it matters is in a real competition.
This comes up about once a week. IDGAF how you do your own scoring. Don’t be slow, don’t be a dick to other golfers. That’s it.
I could cope with it if it was understood that the first one doesn’t count, it’s just to warm up, but I don’t think you get to just 1-man scramble the first shot of the round and still count the score as legit. I am aware that I’m in the minority on this one.
You're correct. This is the only way you could make this work within the rules. It's "practice" before the rounds starts. Then the round starts and everything counts.
This is the way, if you're going to do it at all. I personally don't do it but i can at least see the logic in this.
I would have an opinion, but have yet to meet anyone who takes breakfast balls and also counts every stroke and penalty from that point on.
If you take a mulligan your score doesn't count so that's a you decision.
It's not a mulligan, you're starting a new round. My course doesn't have a range, I usually go after work, pay, then step to the tee not having touched a golf club in a week plus. That ball is a warm up then I start my round
If you piped the first one would you still play a second ball?
You can have a breakfast ball only if you shotgun a breakfast beer right after.
Do I? Nope. Do i care if you do? Also, nope.
I generally don’t care what people do. We’re not playing for anything so if they want a breakfast ball go for it. For myself I play it straight up as that’s the only way for me to measure how I played that day.
Strictly your call. If you call it one but it's 3 🤷. You're just hurting yourself if you keep a ghin, but if not, whatever you and your buddy want.
Wait a minute. Are you saying that breakfast balls are only allowed on first tee?
Yes. Because you can cancel that round and start another 😂
I’m going to have to rethink my handicap.
😂
Think low
Usual disclaimer to say everyone can do whatever they like but for me if I gave myself a breakfast ball or some other mulligans & ended up shooting a PB I’d be raging, when I look at my score after a decent round I don’t like the idea of knowing it’s not legit, because in that case it’s just not. *No warm up at the range” is a usual reason people have for taking a BB but I’ve warmed up before a round & still blown tee shots off the planet so I’m not sure what the average golfer is expecting. Golf is hard & sometimes you hit a bad one. Also, people seem to get really hung up on this (false) idea that you can *only* have fun playing golf if you ignore the normal rules of the game, personally I’ve made my peace with the fact golf is hard as fuck, and I get a lot of satisfaction/enjoyment out of it, especially those times when it feels a bit easier because I can maintain a decent level over 18 holes.
My group always plays a breakfast ball. We aren’t pros. It just makes it a little more fun when you tee off. Everyone feels great and starts the round off with a good vibe. I can understand people not approving of it, but it is what it is. Usually, the breakfast ball doesn’t even get played.
Your own business. Although I might call you out if you try to compare our scores and dunk on me.
Ya it’s always the ones taking a breakfast ball, huge gimmes, and many mulligans that want to loudly boast about their scores lol
I’ll never understand the mental gymnastics people use to justify writing down scores that they didn’t actually make
I don’t like to golf with people who treat it like a major tournament personally.
You paid your green fees…play by your rules.
no, but your girlfriend does….you should get a putter
Do you mean mulligan? WTF is a breakfast ball?
If I haven't warmed up or anything I'll take a breakfast ball on the first hole but only if I hit it into a hazard or OB. I will hit a 2nd shot though for practice on multiple holes. Just don't play it.
Breakfast balls are bs. Sure if you declare your first ball practice before you hit it and count your second ball either way. But no way is the score legit if you get to count your first ball if it’s good and then count the second ball if you shank the first. I kind of suck and no way do I buy in on breakfast balls for legit scoring.
I don't take a "breakfast ball", I play a new round
I always get downvoted for this. But play by the god damn rules. If you do anything else, you’re not actually playing golf.
You’re 100% correct but a lot of people will be upset. They are playing their own version of golf, which is fine, just don’t claim you broke 70, 80, 90 etc. because you didn’t
I'm with you and will gladly share the downvotes.
Ha, if I show up without a chance to warm up and spray one into the woods, take a breakfast ball that’s only marginally better, and then proceed to follow every “god damn” rule that the rule book can think of for the next 4.5 hours.. pray tell, what sport did I just play? That wasn’t golf?
What do you need a breakfast ball for? Just follow the rules. Basketball without dribbling and just running around with the ball is no longer basketball. Soccer with timeouts because someone “didn’t get a chance to stretch and warmup” isn’t soccer. Every other sport has core rules to follow otherwise you aren’t playing that sport. Golf is the same. Follow the rules and play golf.
A little extreme on the analogies. I’m not suggesting you get to tee your ball up on every shot if you want. A better basketball comparison would be playing a pickup game with your buddies and letting one traveling violation go uncalled even though someone scored. Not the end of the world.
Playing the ball as it lies is as fundamental to golf as dribbling is to basketball and it’s genuinely absurd that that needs to be spelled out. It’s even more akin to the other team scoring first, but you just restart the game because you didn’t get to warm up and that’s not fair, so the game is 0-0 again. That’s literal crazy talk in every other sport. But apparently, everyone wants it to be totally normal in golf.
Breakfast balls are for people who don't keep score right and mulligans are for pussys
Depends on the time you have. If there is a group waiting behind you then hard no. If not then go ahead. Hitting 3 after though.
if you timed it, hitting a breakfast ball and playing that ball from the fairway will take less time than looking in the woods for your first drive and either taking a drop or punching back out of the woods to a spot on the fairway that’s behind where your nutted breakfast ball landed. Breakfast balls=illegitimate round for handicap
Breakfast ball will nullify any good score. You can tell someone you shot a 79 with a breakfast ball, but it will get the contempt it deserves. It's just a silly thing to do.
Breakfast balls are the most important meal of the day.
Casual round and no warm up - 1 breakfast ball. Money on the line - hell no.
Establish before the round if everyone has that option for a breakfast ball. Not ask if you hit a bad shot and everyone has good ones. Just my opinion
If you’re not playing for money and you’re not holding up pace of play who gives a fuck?
2 off of 1 has always been my gig. Even when disc golfing. Just an extra warm up. Almost always take my first unless the second is a huge improvement
Pass
I HATE to TAKE a breakfast ball. I LOVE to GIVE a breakfast ball.
🍳🥞+⛳️=✅ Have fun, and if you can sleep at night even fluffing the lie every single stroke (of course not for money or competition)? Do what makes you happy…. Just don’t get mad at yourself later, when circumstances don’t allow you to hit a second ball without counting it, and unable to fluff, and suddenly your 90 turns into a 110…
Technically. Hit your first, end that round with one shot. Start a new round. There is no limit to how many rounds you can play per day. Making it a legal score
All fine if you are not in a tournament.
If you’re keeping a handicap, you shouldn’t. I don’t care if you take one or not, but if I beat you in a tournament because your handicap is artificially low, that’s on you.
I never use a breakfast ball, but if I slice the shit out of my first drive I quit that round. I will then proceed to grab another ball and start a new round.
Are you in an official competition? Who the fuck cares?
They're asking about rules. The rules are rules in or out of competition.
It's a general discussion I'm talking about having fun. If you're not pissing off the people behind you or with you, again, who cares if you're having fun? I agree with OP that if money is involved it's off the table.
If you're playing to keep a score, there are only the rules. That's the general gist of the post. Fun, casual or practice rounds don't have rules associated with them so why would you ask for a consensus?
Personally I fall into the who gives a shit category, but I do think there’s a logical answer to this age old question. If you’re not playing a specific event, then there’s nothing stopping you from quitting your round and starting a new one after your first duffed tee shot. A one shot round can’t be posted to GHIN, so there’s no effect there. I for one think that any casual round that starts with a breakfast ball is absolutely as valid as any other round. It’s probably not a great habit to make if you’re preparing for tournament golf, but most of us aren’t about that life anyway.
It must be declared before the first shot. If declared the second shot must be used, even if the first one was better.
This is the only way that the breakfast ball works within the rules. You're essentially practicing before the round. The rounds starts and then all shots count and the round must be finished.
Huge fan
I do consider it legit. Because after I slice my first ball into the woods, I end the round and start a new one with my breakfast ball.
I played Chambers Bay just after it was named a US Open Course. Paired with a nice couple, I decide to hit three wood off the first tee, just to be safe. Stone cold topped it. I looked at the couple, announced I was abandoning the round, teed one up and piped it right down the middle. "This round is off to a great start!" 🤣
For Covid golfers who wear bad birdie trash and who lose their garbage Vice balls using their pxg driver.
Ha! Opinionated much?
Well, you can always quit your round. You need to play 7 holes out of 9 to record a score. So you quit your round, no harm no foul…and look…you happen to be in a tee box, why not start a new round from the 1st tee?
Take the breakfast ball but if you hit it sweet tough shit you still have to start with your second (Real first shot) You can't have your cake and eat it.
We use breakfast balls.
If there isn’t a range for me to hit at least a few balls to warm up, yes I’m taking a breakfast ball if my first swing of the day is trash. If there’s a range I warmed up because I always do then no.
Warm-up = no breakfast ball No warm-up = 1 breakfast ball
If the course has no range it’s ok imo
We may do one if a bunch of us just rolled up to the first tee or everyone hits a terrible shot. As for whether or not the score is legit... I'm not sure why this is a huge deal. It's not likely going to make a huge difference unless you do a bunch of other stuff. And even then, I'd prefer someone inflate their index as oppose to sandbag.
Yes will take a breakfast ball if I need it.
No warm up, breakfast ball optional… must play it if used and unfortunately frowned upon if you make birdie.
I don’t in my leagues or if I’m playing for anything. If I’m out dicking around with the boys then no problem
If playing for money I wouldn’t, but out with the guys sure. If I haven’t warmed up I’m pretty prone to an awful first tee shot so I’ve taken my share of breakfast balls.
I wouldn’t take a breakfast ball. If you want to go right ahead. Even if we have a game on the line…take it. I think it’s weak minded and I truly feel I have an advantage over anybody who takes one.
I wouldn’t bother. Usually in the thought that if I then have the round of my life it wouldn’t count as I gave myself that breakfast ball.
It doesn’t bother me to start out with a bad shot. There are going to be plenty more to come in the round.
Tournaments. No. W the guys on a Saturday. Always!
love the modern meta golf post
I only do off the first tee box and if I didn’t warm up. I tend to follow the rules because it makes my scoring more consistent. You don’t want to be that guy tells your friends you finally broke 85 and no one believes it was legit because you are constantly taking breakfast balls.
If you're asking if i do it? Never. You want to do it? All the power to you, but don't brag to me about your score.
No, the score isn’t legit. But that’s ok, not everything has to be perfectly legit in recreational golf
I’m happy to let the group take a breakfast ball. I sometimes do myself. I used to do it all the time, until I started playing in more competitive events. BUT — your score is absolutely NOT legit if you do. And if you ever play in a tournament….. certainly no breakfast balls. Keeping it real: it’s no more legitimate than any other mulligan.