A Scenario - Call Through or Not?

[3offTheTee]

This is quite simple or is it!

Last Paragraph Page 27 Rules of Golf. Consideration for other players.

Hopefully you will now all go and have a read and quote it to people next time!

 

[viscount17]

problem is that too many see it as a slight on their ability as a golfer or a personal insult that they could possibly be considered slow.

and of course, some never learned

 

[MashieNiblick]

Rules of Golf, Ettiquette: Lost Ball

"Players searching for a ball should signal the players in the group behind them to play through as soon as it becomes apparent that the ball will not easily be found.They should not search for five minutes before doing so. Having allowed the group behind to play through, they should not continue play until that group has passed and is out of range."

Says it all really.

However quite common if ball is found immediately after waving group behind through, and they are walking up, to check with them whether it is ok to play on. Of course a lot depends on what's in front, if course is clear no probs, wait for the group to pass. If the course is chokka or if someone in the group behind has also hit it in the clagg they will usually tell the other group to play on.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I'd assess it at the time. No hard and fast rule. Some groups don't mind waiting as they like to chat and aren't in a rush and so wouldn't mind not being called through. Others are like coiled springs and anything stopping them getting round in less time than their record time the week before is a major catastrophe and would almost be demanding to go through.

For the most part, I'd say let player A search while the others play their shots and then call the group through if he still hasn't found it and there is space for them to go into. My understanding or at least the way I was brought up is that once you've let a group through, you let them play the hole and finish it before playing your next shots. OK granted if its a monster par 5 and they are on the green and player A is chopping out of the rough and still has 300+ yards then fine but for the most part where you could hit the green let them get on with it and finish off

 

[Matty]

If the player who put his ball in the clagg is going to search seriously rather than a 1 minute check and then 'sod it, play the provisional' as may happen in a social round then immediately call through the group behind and all look for the missing ball.

Otherwise play the 3 good shots and then join the search before continuing after a few minutes looking.