2x2ball Matches in a group of four

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Due to demand for Saturday am tee times, my singles match next Saturday is playing alongside another singles match. Is there anything the four of us need to be aware of not doing ‘across matches’ to avoid any of us inadvertently breaking any rules.

So for instance am I allowed to stand behind the line of a putt of a player in the other match if my line is same as his. Nb…I wouldn’t do it, but am I allowed to…even if he asked me to move.

I appreciate that this is a ‘how long’s a bit of string’ type question. But thought I’d ask as I’ve ever before been in the situation.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

use common sense surely

 

[MACM85]

I would expect you play like you would do if it was a 2 ball and ignore the other two players and not get lines of putts by standing behind them.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I would expect you play like you would do if it was a 2 ball and ignore the other two players and not get lines of putts by standing behind them.

But am I allowed to…

 

[Lord Tyrion]

No. You are out as a 4. The fact that you are playing within that 4 is a separate matter and doesn't mean that the rules change for you.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

But am I allowed to…

Of course you’re not

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

I don’t under the question. You should just play to the rules of golf regardless how many in the group. So do not stand behind and watch the line of putts!

 

[Steven Rules]

But am I allowed to…

From a Rules and etiquette perspective it is no different from standing behind another player in a singles stroke play round. There is no Rule against it, but it is very bad etiquette.

Edit/addendum: There is a Rule against it if that other player is your partner in four-ball or foursomes, but that isn't the format in the OP scenario.

 

[Steven Rules]

Of course you’re not

Under what Rule?

 

[doublebogey7]

I don’t under the question. You should just play to the rules of golf regardless how many in the group. So do not stand behind and watch the line of putts!

So what rule would you be breaking??

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

So what rule would you be breaking??

I never said he would be. I said play by the rules of golf regardless. Separate sentence do not stand behind someone when putting that is an etiquette thing and you’d be told where to move to if you did it to me regardless of its friendly or comp.

 

[Swinglowandslow]

To be honest, I don’t think it ever should be that you are in a two man match, I.e 1 v 1, and be playing the same hole with another similar match.
Not fair on any player . The club shouldn’t be promoting it, IMO.
If your scenario is ‘allowed’, under the rules of golf, that just shows what a wrong situation has been created, IMO.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

From a Rules and etiquette perspective it is no different from standing behind another player in a singles stroke play round. There is no Rule against it, but it is very bad etiquette.

Edit/addendum: There is a Rule against it if that other player is your partner in four-ball or foursomes, but that isn't the format in the OP scenario.

OK...get that...however. In a singles stroke play round I am, in effect, playing against other players in my group as we are playing in the same competition at the same time. In my scenario I am not playing against them in any way. I get no advantage over either of the other pair if I watch a line of theirs (though watching a line is just one thing I plucked out of the air as an exemplar of the sort of thing I'm thinking of)

I note that I will not do anything that I wouldn't do normally, but the scenario made me ponder on whether there were things I could do that I normally wouldn't. Things that in 'normal' circumstances would be either against the rules or poor etiquette...but in my scenario might not be or are not.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

To be honest, I don’t think it ever should be that you are in a two man match, I.e 1 v 1, and be playing the same hole with another similar match.
Not fair on any player . The club shouldn’t be promoting it, IMO.
If your scenario is ‘allowed’, under the rules of golf, that just shows what a wrong situation has been created, IMO.

The situation has arisen as we have to have 2nd rnd Winter singles KO matches played by a certain date and this coming Saturday morning is perhaps the only option remaining to play it given my opponent is still a 5 day working man...but Saturday am is, as everywhere, very popular, and so the club has asked us to be flexible and accommodating accepting another two ball with us if we have booked a tee time for a 1v1 match.

I note that we are trying to find another tee time.

 

[Swinglowandslow]

The situation has arisen as we have to have 2nd rnd Winter singles KO matches played by a certain date and this coming Saturday morning is perhaps the only option remaining to play it given my opponent is still a 5 day working man...but Saturday am is, as everywhere, very popular, and so the club has asked us to be flexible and accommodating accepting another two ball with us if we have booked a tee time for a 1v1 match.

I note that we are trying to find another tee time.

Noted, but perhaps the Club should prefer flexibility on the deadline rather than impose such bizarre ( to me ) circumstances on a 1 v 1 match.

 

[D-S]

It is a weird way of playing but I know it is relatively common in some university matches.

I played in a team match that, for whatever reason, was organised like this and the only tip I can give is, once all the balls are on or very near the green, let one match putt out and complete the hole then let the other match finish. Having both matches playing at the same time on the green gets very confusing.

 

[rulie]

It is a weird way of playing but I know it is relatively common in some university matches.

I played in a team match that, for whatever reason, was organised like this and the only tip I can give is, once all the balls are on or very near the green, let one match putt out and complete the hole then let the other match finish. Having both matches playing at the same time on the green gets very confusing.

I've also played in many competitions where there were two singles matches going on in the same group of four. Our club's signature event was a three day weekend event (North American Labour Day weekend, first Monday in September) with 144 participants. Saturday (shotgun start) was a gross score qualifying round which divided the field into flights of 8 players based on their gross score. Flights played their first matches on Sunday morning (shotgun start) and a horse race (top 10 gross score qualifiers) over 9 holes on Sunday afternoon. On Monday morning, also a shotgun start, the losers of the first matches would play in the consolation side of their flight, and the winners of Sunday matches would also play. The losers of Monday morning's matches were eliminated, but the winners would play again Monday afternoon (another shotgun start). All matches were played without handicaps.
As D-S said, one match would finish on the green before the other, usually the match with a ball furthest from the hole. Out of respect for Rules, Etiquette and your opponent, the other match just ignored what was proceeding. It is a gentleman's game.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I would expect you play like you would do if it was a 2 ball and ignore the other two players and not get lines of putts by standing behind them.

That’s not my question. I will play as I normally would. And I only cite putting as an obvious area where I might be able to do something in my scenario that I absolutely wouldn’t normally.

Anyway…it seems that everything the rules and etiquette stop me doing in normal circumstances I am equally prevented under the rules from doing in my scenario. But I’m afraid that I’m not 100% convinced. At it’s simplest how do we as a four determine the order of putting, or indeed order of play, when there are two quite separate matches happening together.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

That’s not my question. I will play as I normally would. And I only cite putting as an obvious area where I might be able to do something in my scenario that I absolutely wouldn’t normally.

Anyway…it seems that everything the rules and etiquette stop me doing in normal circumstances I am equally prevented under the rules from doing in my scenario. But I’m afraid that I’m not 100% convinced. At it’s simplest how do we as a four determine the order of putting, or indeed order of play, when there are two quite separate matches happening together.

You’re massively over thinking this and if you can’t consolidate things in your head speak to the committee and seek an extension explaining issue with tee bookings.

Otherwise play to the normal rules and come to an agreement with the others that one pair always tees off and No1&2 in whatever order of who won the hole the others do the same as 3&4.

 

[D-S]

That’s not my question. I will play as I normally would. And I only cite putting as an obvious area where I might be able to do something in my scenario that I absolutely wouldn’t normally.

Anyway…it seems that everything the rules and etiquette stop me doing in normal circumstances I am equally prevented under the rules from doing in my scenario. But I’m afraid that I’m not 100% convinced. At it’s simplest how do we as a four determine the order of putting, or indeed order of play, when there are two quite separate matches happening together.

Re order of putting, please see my post and that of Rule above.