Calling off a competition.

[louise_a]

Today was our Lady Captain's competition and the weather was shocking, however we all set out and r the first hour of so the course was playing ok, but then pools of water started appearing on greens. Being competitions secretary it was down to me to keep everyone out or call them in, so I was mindful of the course condition, but on the greens I had played despite a lot of water the holes were ok so we carried on.
Later in the round the club president came out in a buggy to tell me that the 17th green was unplayable, so I hopped in the buggy with him to have a look, it was touch and go the cup was full of water but putting was just about possible. After much humming and aahing and bearing in mind nearly all the players were still on the course and the rain was showing no sign of stopping I reluctantly called it off.

When I got back to the clubhouse, some people said it should gave been stopped earlier while others said it should not have been stopped.

Its a tough call, how do others decide?

 

[Neilds]

Do what you feel is right, you will get people moaning either way

 

[Deleted member 15344]

As per above - do what you think is best , you will always get someone who moans which ever way you go

Three years ago during first round of club champs we stopped played then suspended until the next day - 20 mins after we do the sun shone through and started drying out - loads complained then - foresight is great

 

[Tarkus1212]

I believe that at my club any such decision would be made by the greenkeeper, club manager, club pro and a senior committee member depending on availability of those individuals. I think this group would form "the committee of the day". The decision to call off a comp should never be the responsibility of one person, and even more so if that one person is a competitor in that comp.

 

[huds1475]

You can't win Louise.

Don't take the complaints to heart. Some people are never happy

 

[Foxholer]

Do what you feel is right, you will get people moaning either way

Absolutely!

And if the number that think it should have been called off earlier are about the same as (or a shade more than) the number that didn't think it should have been called off, then consider your decision pretty much spot on!

 

[Tashyboy]

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

The fact that big cheese club president put down his brandy to visit you speaks volumes. Don't beat yourself up me duck.

 

[DCB]

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
.

Comes with the territory I'm afraid. On a day such as this there are so many experts who are always willing to make a noise. They forget the other days where things go really well when there aren't unforseen circumstances such as today's event.

Hold your head high, you did the correct thing.

 

[ChrisB0210]

A no-win situation, but you can only do your best and what you think is right.

At our club, it would be down to the pro and green staff to decide. If they weren't around then a committee member would take the decision.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

You can only call it as you see it and you'll never please everybody whatever you decide

 

[GG26]

Echo what everyone else has said. You can only do what you think is right. People will moan either way. In fact I bet some individuals will have moaned if they had to carry on and will moan anyway that it was called off.

 

[Tashyboy]

Drove back from Southampton today having picked up ma and pa. driving up the M1 and the weather was brutal. I joked with Missis T that I had to miss our medal final coz I had to pick up the fossils. No fun playing in that.

 

[Birchy]

I usually find if the cup is full to the brim it's a good sign it's time to call it off.

Sounds like you were right to me. The comp at Davyhulme was abandoned as well in the afternoon.

 

[louise_a]

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

The fact that big cheese club president put down his brandy to visit you speaks volumes. Don't beat yourself up me duck.

Actually he is Lady Captain's husband so he had been there all day helping out

Good to hear people think I did the right thing.

Not surprised about Davyhulme Birchy, we had a big Lancs Ladies event there a couple of weeks ago that was called off halfway through as well.

 

[duncan mackie]

There's no such thing as the committee of the day - there is a committee. They are responsible, although this include delegating decision making! I agree that it makes a lot of sense to clearly delegate any decision regarding this particular issue to an appropriate party (always available a and sufficiently knowledgeable).

Don't forget that you can have a temporary cessation imposed as well - difficult for some courses but important to consider.

To the point that it should have been stopped earlier - irrelevant.

In the example given the competition should be stopped if it's not possible to establish a single line to the hole from the edge of each and every green without standing water, or to clear the standing water where this is the case. Many forget that players are not permitted to clear standing water.
As such the actual decision is very easy to judge - in practice the issue becomes 'whose decision?' 'How is is made and what happens next?' In the absence of clarity over these things tend to drag on and people make the best of the conditions because it's the easy option!

 

[Bunkermagnet]

If standing water appears on our greens, the comp is suspended pending cancellation. It's generally self policed, however the club secretary or head greenkeeper are the ones who say either way.

 

[duncan mackie]

If standing water appears on our greens, the comp is suspended pending cancellation. It's generally self policed, however the club secretary or head greenkeeper are the ones who say either way.

There's no reason to suspend 'if standing water appears on the greens' - the rules cover what to do in such circumstances.

It's once there is so much that the relief options can no longer be used that suspension should occur.

 

[edthescreamer]

Does that mean you cannot clear puddles on the green with squeegees Provided?

 

[duncan mackie]

Does that mean you cannot clear puddles on the green with squeegees Provided?

Yes

The committee may do it but the player may not if it's on their line of putt.

See

33-1, 16-1a/1

 

[full_throttle]

so, during a stipulated round the green has standing water, may another player use a squeegee, so long as it is not in line with his putt