Cancelling a competition after it's been played

[TheChamp]

I'd be interested to hear the thoughts on the following:

My club flagged last Friday via the club website that the weekend competitions were to be qualifying with placing on the fairway only, within 6 inches. Placing everywhere had been in effect all winter. A4 signs were also put up at the sign-in desk (where everyone must sign in prior to playing) and also on the noticeboard at the first tee, where 'tees for the day' etc are flagged.

Rather than the results being posted today for the weekend's competition, a note was put up on the website saying that the competitions had been declared 'null and void' and that refunds are due. I've just heard that the reason is because some players complained that they weren't aware it was placing on fairways only.

I'm pretty aggrieved at this as i played my arse off to grind out a decent score and would have had my handicap cut. My question is, were the club right to do what they did in cancelling competition and have i any right to appeal to have the handicap cut applied?

Interested to hear everyone's thoughts?

 

[Robobum]

I think that is pretty poor by the club. If enough notice was given to competitors then it should have stood and their complaints thrown out.

It reminds me (a little) of the Dustin Johnson bunker fiasco @ the USPGA. They had made every effort (then some) to alert the players so there could be no complaints after the event.

I'd go and ask for your card to be considered for reduction, unless you're Cat 1 then it would have to go to the county (or at least it does over here)

 

[3offTheTee]

Hard luck mate ; so annoying. Perhaps your members' should learn to read or the pro/ starter should have spelt it out.
Whilst it may not be exact re your problem Rule 34-3 -any dispute on the Rules must be referred to The Committee whose decision is final.

Whilst frustrating think you would be looked on as a bit of a ludite if you kicked up a fuss!

 

[HRC99]

Very poor indeed. Weak management from the Handicap/Competitions Secretary/Committee.

 

[Billysboots]

Astonishingly weak committee there - I am in no doubt that they should have penalised those who hadn't made themselves aware of the criteria, rather than those who did and played a qualifier in good faith.

 

[Oddsocks]

Surely any noncomplying cards should be dq'd and valid cards should stand.

 

[Region3]

I presume the only other thing they could do would be to DQ everyone who preferred their lie other than on the fairway.

A bit extreme maybe.

Unfortunately in most walks of life there are far too many people that are lazy and don't take responsibility for anything they do, even if you think you've made it idiotproof.

 

[TheChamp]

It was a stableford and it was quite clearly stated on the rules for the day sheet that a 2 shot penalty would apply to anyone who placed the ball in the rough.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

I'd be proper pi$$ed off with that. Sounds like the club advertised it well enough so there's no excuse for not knowing. The result should stand as far as I'm concerned

 

[rgs]

I played in the comp and noticed the rules. However the sheet stated placing on fairways only, it did not state if lift clean & drop or play it as it lies was in force for the rough.

If there was any ambigutity which caused confusion i think cancelling the comp was the best solution.

 

[TheChamp]

I played in the comp and noticed the rules. However the sheet stated placing on fairways only, it did not state if lift clean & drop or play it as it lies was in force for the rough.

If there was any ambigutity which caused confusion i think cancelling the comp was the best solution.

There was no room for any ambiguity. The following was stated on the club website and on the various noticeboards around the club:

"Members please note that this weekends competitions will be the first Qualifying Competitions of 2011. There will be placing on the fairway only, (within 6 inches). Any member who inadvertently lifts a ball in the rough will incur a two stroke penalty, on that hole."

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I think it should stand. We had a farcical mess over the winter where we had a monthly stableford and every green was temps. As we got to the 16th the greenkeeper was putting it on the proper green and had already done 17 and 18. Some had played all 18 on temps, some 17 and 18 etc. It was a huge faux pas by the greenkeeper and the new captain who was trying to make the course as playable as possible with the thaw and thought the greenstaff would have made the changes before the first groups got through. Naturally it was declared null and void

 

[USER1999]

How do you know who cheated and who didn't? You can't find out, so you have to cancel it. It is pretty poor on behalf of the membership though.
Can't see how you can get cut from it, as it is your word that you complied, whilst every one else didn't.

 

[Robobum]

.....Can't see how you can get cut from it, as it is your word that you complied, whilst every one else didn't.

Doesn't that apply to every round??

 

[USER1999]

Yes, it applies every round, and you have your playing partner sign your card too, who if they believe you cheated shouldn't sign it. However, most appear to have put cards in with no thought as to cheating or not, otherwise it would have been simple to sort out.

When a large chunk of the field have possibly cheated, some willingly, some less so, I don't see how you can ask all of them whether they were cheating or not. You can't cut some, buffer some, and not put others up, based on 'did you cheat to get that score?'. It would be a total mess. A procession of golfers going in to see the handicap sec asking for 0.1 back would be unmanageable.

 

[Robobum]

But we are just talking about the OP here, he played the round in good faith under the local rules in place. It won't hurt to ask for the card to be considered for the reduction that he wants.

 

[TheChamp]

Sorry, but you're talking nonsense, Murph. My three playing partners were obviously witness to it. We all read the rules of the day and adhered to the rules, just like everyone else should have done on the day.

The whole episode has shown the committee up to be an absolute shambles. But then it seems to be par for the course with them.

 

[USER1999]

Sorry, but you're talking nonsense, Murph. My three playing partners were obviously witness to it. We all read the rules of the day and adhered to the rules, just like everyone else should have done on the day.

The whole episode has shown the committee up to be an absolute shambles. But then it seems to be par for the course with them.

Nonsense, fair enough, but every flippin group out there can and will say the same thing. You didn't cheat, fair enough, but there will be plenty that did, and plenty that will want their 0.1 back once they find out people are being adjusted.

If it was cancelled for any other reason (weather for instance), then those scores in would count towards h/cap, but in this instance I will be surprised if they do anything.

 

[USER1999]

How are you going to work out standard scratch?

 

[chrisd]

Surely you would do what you do in every competition. You assume everyone who returned a signed card played within the competition rules. Anyone who subsequently says that they didnt play to the rules gets dq'd and the scratch score and handicap adjustments are dealt with as normal.

The committee dont know how many people didnt observe the ruling which is the same as any competition at any time and therefore IMO they are wrong to cancel the whole thing where maybe only a few transgressed. For me, its a too easy cop out by the committee and, I believe, a wrong decision.


Chris