Accidental cheating

Brookwood

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As a newcomer to the sport I was wondering if some of you more experience players can tell me how you cope with accidental cheating.

When I started I did have difficulty remembering all the penalties and fluffed shots but was so embarrassed when they where pointed out by my partner that I invested in a clicker to keep tally.

I was playing with an acquaintance the other day and just managed to beat him on the last hole but only after a count up of the additional shots he had taken on the last hole. If I'd lost I would've been a bit peeved because I know that there were several occasions earlier when the odd shot had gone missing even after me politely querying the numbers.

Is this normal and do I just shrug my shoulders or do I risk upsetting a fellow club member?
 
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birdieman

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I'm afraid you have to risk upsetting a fellow member. You have to watch your opponent and count his score. Etiquette and honesty is everything in golf, any cheating is a real stigma in golf and will stick with you your whole golf life, so get your knowledge of the rules right up to speed before you start playing competitively.

Without being rude if you and him are taking so many shots that you cant keep count then you need to spend your time on the practice ground rather than the course until you improve enough to get it round in less than 100.
 

Brookwood

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I don't think you are being rude but it wasn't the numbers, it was surprising how a five became a four on the walk from green to tee. On the holes with larger numbers it was easier to have a combined count up on the excuse I had lost count.

I am sure in my own mind that it was probably accidental, I just wanted to know the politest way of tackling it.
 

shanker

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Birdieman is absolutely right. When your game improves and you start playing in your club's medals etc. it will be your duty to tell your partner that he took six even if he tells you five. You owe it to the rest of the golfers in the field. Good luck!
 

John_Findlay

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I think the politest way of handling your playing partner's score is simply to review each shot with him when you've finished the hole if there is any doubt about the final figure, e.g. " Are you sure that was a 7 ? Ok, drive into the rough, 2nd back out, 3rd short, 4th into bunker, 2 out makes 6, 2 putts = 8. Who are you...Michelle Wie ?"

Let's face it, it shouldn't be an issue when the score is less than 6 on most occasions. But you do have to be strict about it!
 

Dave3498

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You can't accidentally cheat. You can make a mistake, or you can deliberately declare the wrong score. Mistakes do happen to the best of us, especially when we are having a particular nightmare on a hole. It's easy to turn a 10 into a 9 accidentally. Of course it doesn't matter if you are playing a match against someone - you just have to get down if fewer shots that your opponent - and to some extent, it doesn't matter in Stableford after you have taken more shots than will allow you to score a point, but it is very important in stroke play. I agree with all your respondants. You are marking on behalf of all the other competitors when you are in a competition, and if you are marking a card for someone for handicap purposes, it is very important to get the scores right. The very foundation on the handicap system is based on it.
 

Up_Point_1

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Brookwood,

I completely share the comments of those made before me.

Cheating is cheating, end of story. You may find it awkward having to bring this issue up with your playing partner but sadly it needs to be done for the credibility of the game.

If this was a Monthly / Weekly competition and your playing partner had won I guarantee you’d feel ever so slightly guilty if you’d let him get away with signing for an incorrect scorecard. Not only that if your fellow members at the Club got wind of what had happened they wouldn’t look at you in a particularly good light either having been the person marking the winners card.

At least by bringing the above to your playing partners attention your credibility is still intact, your playing partner knows he can’t pull the wool over your eyes with a fake score, and your fellow members at the Golf Club will respect you all the more for doing it.

DHM.
 

Brookwood

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OK I think I'm getting the message. It's OK to question someone's score and isn't seen to be impolite.

Thanks for all your input.
 

ANDYTROW

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Just read the trail here. I was interested in the comment about you should wait till you get below 100 before you enter a comp. Ive just joined my local club and have been given a handicap of 24 as yet I havent broken 100 but been close (103) but my club wants me and every member to play in the comps no matter what there round is, surely this is the right attitude or would I feel different if I got a below 10 handicap. We should not forget that everyone was a hacker once and breaking 100 seemed an impossibility.
 

Dvnjhn

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I agree, I have only broken 100 once on the course I play reguraly (with a tantalising 100 yesterday caused by a nine on the first hole). In the last 3 months though I have not shot above 110 and I am always close.

If you play on the practice range all the time you will never get a proper feel for a proper course.
 
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