2x2ball Matches in a group of four

[jim8flog]

Next year our club will be hosting the County Amateur Championship, 36 holes scratch on one day.
Tee times are usually done in handicap order.

I'm trying to imagine a social 2-ball being held up by three of the best players in the county in the afternoon who have lost a complete hole on the group in front of them.

To my mind, the 2-ball should show respect and courtesy and not interfere with the competitive game in front of them, who should and will be given precedence.

How's that for an extreme case that completely blows away your sweeping statement above?

When we hold events like that the course is closed to anybody not in the event.

When county wants to hold an event we agree to give the course over to them.

We also have a 9 hole course so members have somewhere to play and will often get a number of courtesy rounds from other clubs.

 

[Voyager EMH]

Which is why when they have county champs the course is closed all day due to multiple county comps happening

You can keep twisting in some way but it’s very simple - there is no need to give someone playing in a KO any precedence on the course - you just let the quicker players have the priority

Can't ever agree that the quicker game gets priority at all times.
This would allow 2-ball social games to play through all the games in a competition field in front of them.
This is too disruptive to club competitions.
A two-ball teeing off at 14:20 on a competition day will not expect to be waved through every game in front of them. We could close the tee for a time to avoid this, but we don't. Booking allows 4-balls immediately after a three ball strokeplay comp with no closed times. A two-ball has to accept a slow game at this time. They might get waved through by the final group if it sensible to do so, but not through the whole field. This policy is sensible. There might be a delayed start due to fog and it is sensible to get the competition completed before dark. Allowing any number of 2-balls through the field will delay completion of the comp. Same goes for a club match. There might be a meal scheduled and an increased time between the first and last group, due to 2-balls playing through the matches, is disruptive.
Organised comps and matches are protected from these disruptions. It is sensible and works very well indeed.

A 4-BBBB social game can be quicker than a 3-ball strokeplay. But again, the social game at 14:20 will not expect to be waved through the field of a club comp in front of them.
This is how it works at my club. I believe a vast majority are in favour of protecting our comps and matches this way.

You can keep stating your sweeping statement, but it does not apply at my club for comps and matches. Our comps and matches are very well organised and our members generally like it that way.

 

[Voyager EMH]

When we hold events like that the course is closed to anybody not in the event.

When county wants to hold an event we agree to give the course over to them.

We also have a 9 hole course so members have somewhere to play and will often get a number of courtesy rounds from other clubs.

I believe that is what we will do.
But the debate had entered the realms of extreme and imagined scenarios and I embraced that.

 

[KenL]

But am I allowed to…

Is poor etiquette is against the rules then you would not be allowed.
I would certainly be telling you to move.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Is poor etiquette is against the rules then you would not be allowed.
I would certainly be telling you to move.

That’s the interesting bit for me. A player in one match checking out the line of a player in another doesn’t give the player doing the checking any advantage over the player putting so why would the latter be bothered - they are not in a match or in the same competition.

Btw..this is probably more philosophical rather than real…as I doubt…hope…it would never arise in actuality.

 

[Swinglowandslow]

That’s the interesting bit for me. A player in one match checking out the line of a player in another doesn’t give the player doing the checking any advantage over the player putting so why would the latter be bothered - they are not in a match or in the same competition.

Btw..this is probably more philosophical rather than real…as I doubt…hope…it would never arise in actuality.

No, but you get an advantage in getting a “read” of the line for your putt to come.
That is information you would not have had if you were playing only with your opponent.
Whether or not legal, it is unethical, IMO

 

[rulie]

Is poor etiquette is against the rules then you would not be allowed.
I would certainly be telling you to move.

I would also be requesting that he move, and not playing until he was completely away from the line. Otherwise, it is poor etiquette on his part. (however, every village has an idiot)

 

[mikejohnchapman]

We have this situation in our inter-club leagues which are played on a Saturday afternoon (mandated). The course will always be crowded with 4 balls and despite being given a buffer of 30 minutes you catch the field by the 4th hole.

We often agree with the opposition to play in 4's to avoid too much waiting around. The usual methodology is to play in match order i.e. match 1 away drives followed by M1 home, then match 2 the same. On the greens we agree that whoever is furthest away putts first and then that match completes putting before the other match begins to putt. Personally, if my putt is on the line of the other match I will stand with my back to the green to avoid problems of accusations of unfair advantage.

Is this ideal - absolutely not. It can be really awkward about talking to your team mate (advice), whether to look for the other matches' ball if lost and gaining information from the other matches' shots.

A balance between practicality and competition rules.