Abandoning a round

Green Bay Hacker

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Last weekend we had a dispute about playing to a pin that was surrounded by water. Towards the middle of the afternoon in a 2 man Texas Scramble, the heavens opened and a couple of greens began to flood. A group reached the 18th only to find standing water surrounding the pin which was not there for any of the previous groups. The shortest area of water to play through was about 2 feet with the longest about 8 feet. One ball was on the green pin high but had the longest amount of water to go through and the other ball was just over the back of the green.

There was no one in the clubhouse from the committee to give a decision about what to do but the group behind had the comp organiser and a committee member in, although they were about 3 holes behind. Both balls were then marked and the players went into the clubhouse to await the next group.

When they eventually reached the hole a decision was made to play the hole out from where the balls lay, mainly as there was a presentation that evening. Another group was also waiting on the fairway so they also played out before the group who had marked their balls finished off.

It was at that point that a couple of members from the group that had been waiting on the fairway said that the players who had marked their balls should be DQ'd for abandoning their rounds. Is this correct or did they do the right thing?
 

duncan mackie

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DQ the players suggesting that the other players should be DQ'd!

It's a Texas scramble.

Anyhow, back to the plot. The rules (which are of course merely guidelines in a Texas scramble) include the following

"If all the area around a hole contains casual water, in stroke play the course should be considered unplayable and the Committee should suspend play under Rule 33-2d. In match play, the Committee should relocate the hole." Which includes a lot of should, but certainly enough to suggest that the players course of action was justified and that they acted as quickly as they reasonably could in getting a ruling.

All based on what was written of course!
 

Green Bay Hacker

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DQ the players suggesting that the other players should be DQ'd!

It's a Texas scramble.

Anyhow, back to the plot. The rules (which are of course merely guidelines in a Texas scramble) include the following

"If all the area around a hole contains casual water, in stroke play the course should be considered unplayable and the Committee should suspend play under Rule 33-2d. In match play, the Committee should relocate the hole." Which includes a lot of should, but certainly enough to suggest that the players course of action was justified and that they acted as quickly as they reasonably could in getting a ruling.

All based on what was written of course!

Thanks Duncan.
 

rulefan

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I have quoted the part of the relevant rule which IMO supports you action.

[h=3]6-8. Discontinuance of Play; Resumption of Play[/h][h=4]a. When Permitted[/h]The player must not discontinue play unless:

(iii)
he is seeking a decision from the Committee on a doubtful or disputed point

If the player discontinues play without specific permission from the Committee, he must report to the Committee as soon as practicable. If he does so and the Committee considers his reason satisfactory, there is no penalty.
 
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