Buggy in a Casual round

[VVega]

Sorry if it’s been asked before but is there an explicit reference for not allowing use of buggies (unless under a medical exemption) in Casual rounds or are they covered implicitly under Competition rounds(ie a Casual round is still a competition round)?

 

[wjemather]

The Rules of Golf permit buggies for all rounds (both competition and general play) unless there is a local rule in force restricting their use. See R&A Committee Procedures 8G-6 for details.

 

[Deleted member 30522]

Sorry if it’s been asked before but is there an explicit reference for not allowing use of buggies (unless under a medical exemption) in Casual rounds or are they covered implicitly under Competition rounds(ie a Casual round is still a competition round)?

So you're saying that buggies are not allowed at all then? So when would you use a buggy?

 

[salfordlad]

So you're saying that buggies are not allowed at all then? So when would you use a buggy?

Unless a Committee, or the Terms of the Competition for a specific event, has invoked MLR G-6, buggies are permitted (as post #2 states).

 

[VVega]

Unless a Committee, or the Terms of the Competition for a specific event, has invoked MLR G-6, buggies are permitted (as post #2 states).

AFAIK, most clubs and England Golf have policies that don’t allow buggies in Competition Rounds. Buggies are allowed in General Play.

I guess the question is whether Casual Round is General Play or Competition or sth else?

 

[wjemather]

AFAIK, most clubs and England Golf have policies that don’t allow buggies in Competition Rounds. Buggies are allowed in General Play.

I guess the question is whether Casual Round is General Play or Competition or sth else?

Casual rounds = General Play.

Our terms of competition only state buggies must be authorised by the committee (for practical reasons this is largely delegated to the pro shop). In practice, the only time a request would be declined is to prevent damage to the course, or perhaps Club Championship.

 

[rosecott]

AFAIK, most clubs and England Golf have policies that don’t allow buggies in Competition Rounds. Buggies are allowed in General Play.

I guess the question is whether Casual Round is General Play or Competition or sth else?

What is your source of information for your statement that most clubs do not allow buggies in competition?

 

[jim8flog]

The only rule we have is that a medical certificate is required to use one in a competition.

The only guidance I know of given by England Golf is their use in competitions and they allow use in their own competitions with a medical certificate. Personally I would hope that clubs use the same guidance.

 

[Foxholer]

What is your source of information for your statement that most clubs do not allow buggies in competition?

Certainly been the case, medical exemption aside, in my experience - from clubs in the various areas of UK I've worked and played.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

For what it's worth, not much, my club allows use of a buggie in comps without a certificate. I was on the committee still at that point and the consensus was that we wanted to encourage older members who needed a buggie to get around to be able to keep playing in competitions. We agreed to monitor it to see if people abused it but that was 3 years ago and nothing has changed.

I occasionally play with a guy in comps who doesn't have a certificate but will only play with a buggy. He doesn't gain any advantage based on my experience of playing with him.

It's very much a club decision.

 

[Colin L]

It's very much a club decision.

That really says it all.

 

[VVega]

Casual rounds = General Play.

So there is no specific rule that differentiates between rounds that are played for HCP purposes outside competitions, i.e. Casual / Supplementary (in the old par le) and any knock about i.e. General Play? Obviously, apart from declaring the intent etc.

In other words, if the club buggy policy only mentions restrictions for use of buggies during competition rounds, it should be acceptable to use a buggy in Casual round that counts for HCP?

 

[doublebogey7]

So there is no specific rule that differentiates between rounds that are played for HCP purposes outside competitions, i.e. Casual / Supplementary (in the old par le) and any knock about i.e. General Play? Obviously, apart from declaring the intent etc.

In other words, if the club buggy policy only mentions restrictions for use of buggies during competition rounds, it should be acceptable to use a buggy in Casual round that counts for HCP?

Yes and I don't understand why anyone should want to ban buggies from casual rounds except where course conditions dictate.

 

[Billysboots]

Disregarding occasions when course conditions prevent buggy use, we allow them in casual and competition rounds.

The only exception is Club Championship, when a user must require one on medical grounds.

 

[Tashyboy]

Am sure there was a topic a year or so ago on the GM forum where a player wanted to use a buggy in a final as he had a back injury and the committee refused. .Getting a medical cert off a dr was mentioned.

 

[Slab]

For what it's worth, not much, my club allows use of a buggie in comps without a certificate. I was on the committee still at that point and the consensus was that we wanted to encourage older members who needed a buggie to get around to be able to keep playing in competitions. We agreed to monitor it to see if people abused it but that was 3 years ago and nothing has changed.

I occasionally play with a guy in comps who doesn't have a certificate but will only play with a buggy. He doesn't gain any advantage based on my experience of playing with him.

It's very much a club decision.

Yup, every club will make their 'rule' based on what works for them i.e at some courses here using a Buggy is mandatory for everyone for several months of the year

 

[Swango1980]

So you're saying that buggies are not allowed at all then? So when would you use a buggy?

I assumed the OP was referring to Casual Rounds to be submitted for handicap (inexplicably howdidido references these as Casual Rounds, not General Play rounds). So, the OP might have though buggies were not permitted for any round that was to count towards a players handicap, without a medical exemption.

 

[mikejohnchapman]

AFAIK, most clubs and England Golf have policies that don’t allow buggies in Competition Rounds. Buggies are allowed in General Play.

I guess the question is whether Casual Round is General Play or Competition or sth else?

We operate a medical exemption list where buggies are allowed for specific individuals who apply to the committee for use in competitions. Not generally allowed.

 

[Deleted member 30522]

So there is no specific rule that differentiates between rounds that are played for HCP purposes outside competitions, i.e. Casual / Supplementary (in the old par le) and any knock about i.e. General Play? Obviously, apart from declaring the intent etc.

In other words, if the club buggy policy only mentions restrictions for use of buggies during competition rounds, it should be acceptable to use a buggy in Casual round that counts for HCP?

ok, so badly worded but at least I get your point now.

Competition round - no if that's club rules
General play round for handicap - that's a competition round, so same goes I'd expect
Casual round - you're out for a knock, do what you like, but it's not a counting round for handicap

 

[Swango1980]

ok, so badly worded but at least I get your point now.

Competition round - no if that's club rules
General play round for handicap - that's a competition round, so same goes I'd expect
Casual round - you're out for a knock, do what you like, but it's not a counting round for handicap

Seriously?