competition format

[skyblue]

Can any rules expert help with this. Our club held a comp of one round but could be played at any time during one of two alternative days but just one overall winner. Day one the format sheet was worded 4bbb 3/4 handicap and my partner and i were the first to compete that day and played medal format. After our round but prior to the alternative day players commencing their round the format was changed by the comp Secretary to stableforf format. My partner and i as i am sure others would agree would have played a different strategie had we known it was stableford and not medal play. So my question is should the format not be made known prior to commencing the comp and can the format be changed on a whim when other players have already returned their cards. Thanks in advance for any rules info

 

[Fyldewhite]

Can any rules expert help with this. Our club held a comp of one round but could be played at any time during one of two alternative days but just one overall winner. Day one the format sheet was worded 4bbb 3/4 handicap and my partner and i were the first to compete that day and played medal format. After our round but prior to the alternative day players commencing their round the format was changed by the comp Secretary to stableforf format. My partner and i as i am sure others would agree would have played a different strategie had we known it was stableford and not medal play. So my question is should the format not be made known prior to commencing the comp and can the format be changed on a whim when other players have already returned their cards. Thanks in advance for any rules info

Yes, of course it should.
No, of course it shouldn't.

Having said that it looks like a genuine mistake with the word "stableford" omitted from the format sheet. What made you assume it was medal if the strokeplay format wasn't stated? I think you should have maybe been checking with someone before you went out. I'm assuming that's what others did and clarified it was stableford??

 

[skyblue]

As stableford was not stated we could only play it as medal. To play it stableford and perhaps pick up on a hole would have meant a no return or disqualification had it been confirmed as medal.

 

[Colin L]

The conditions of a competition should not be changed after players have commenced play other than in "exceptional circumstances". These do not seem to be exceptional. See Decision 33-1/1

http://www.usga.org/rules/rules-and-decisions.html#!decision-33,d33-1-1

 

[duncan mackie]

I agree with everything posted by everybody so far on this thread...

but I am also of the opinion that a failure to be clear about the format, and subsequent clarification that, in this case, may have resulted in an edge to the balance of the field, represents a change to the CoC.

such things happen and the good news is that those responsible will take more care to avoid it in the future.

by all means call an EGM with a view to removing the committee for gross negligence and bringing the game into disrepute, if you feel that's appropriate.

 

[DCB]

by all means call an EGM with a view to removing the committee for gross negligence and bringing the game into disrepute, if you feel that's appropriate.

What's wrong with just giving them the tar & feathers treatment, saves all the fuss of an EGM