bobmac
Major Champion
Do you sometimes use your discretion when it comes to the rules or is it always black and white?
Discretion
- Thread starter bobmac
- Start date
rulefan
Tour Winner
Most rules are clearly black and white so there is no discretion.
Some rules require a judgement (eg the Exception to rules 24 & 24). However, this is not a matter of discretion as normally understood. ie making a choice.
A referee cannot use his discretion and say 'You breached the rule but as you didn't actually (or intend to) gain anything from it, I won't penalise you'.
shortgame
Tour Rookie
[Grabs popcorn]
jusme
Challenge Tour Pro
This ^^ should end this thread. There should be no other opinion as it comes down to fact and not opinion. That being said if it not competition or money involved then you can do whatever you please - no skin of my nose
FairwayDodger
Money List Winner
I'd use my discretion in certain situations when making a ruling for an opponent in matchplay but not for myself or in a strokeplay comp since that wouldn't be fair for everyone else in the comp.
G
guest100718
Guest
I dont understand the question, does who use discretion?
Do I let rules infingments I see others make slide?
Do I let rules infingments I see others make slide?
chrisd
Major Champion
In Matchplay I certainly have ignored transgressions. In stroke play, so long as I know someone has transgressed I would mention it
Only when asked is this casual water, and rabbit scrape or which side of the white posts is the ball on... in theory there should be a definitive answer for each but sometimes it does come down to a judgement call.
PhilTheFragger
Provider of Entertainment for the Golfing Gods 🙄
sometimes in my society, ill see someone making a mistake through ignorance, if he is in with a chance of the pot, I'll pull him up there and then, but if he has no chance of winning, then I'll have a "Did you know" word in their shell like on our way to the next hole
Yes. Not for myself but for others. I sleep soundly at nights as well.
drdel
Tour Rookie
Is the sensible answer - QED.
Maninblack4612
Tour Winner
Only in matchplay. When I was 16 I played a 1 handicap County player in a Daily Mirror tie. On the 5th, in ignorance, I pulled out a long strand of grass from the green. My opponent pointed out that this was illegal but declined to penalise me. A real gentleman. I beat him off 17 & he was most gracious in defeat. I've always remembered that & try to treat inexperienced players the same.
Foxholer
Blackballed
I'd like to hope that he waited until that hole was 'completed' before mentioning it! Otherwise, there is potential for both of you to be DQ-ed - for agreeing to ignore Rules of Golf!
And a similar thing happened to me in my 2nd ever Matchplay tie! I rotated my ball on the green 'in situ' after removing the marker (on 2 separate occasions). On the next hole, the oppo mentioned the Rule and their right to ignore violations.
As for the question in the OP....Only ever in Matchplay - and in circumstances as described above!
Maninblack4612
Tour Winner
He did, on the way to the next tee.
bobmac
Major Champion
Imagine the senario.......
You are a 2 ball playing the 18th in a medal.
Your fellow competitor is already 10 over h/cap having a miserable day and he's in a bunker.
As he makes his backswing he just brushes the sand, probably without realising it.
Do you penalise him or let it go, considering he's already having a miserable day?
You are a 2 ball playing the 18th in a medal.
Your fellow competitor is already 10 over h/cap having a miserable day and he's in a bunker.
As he makes his backswing he just brushes the sand, probably without realising it.
Do you penalise him or let it go, considering he's already having a miserable day?
HomerJSimpson
Hall of Famer
Tough one. Part of me feels we have to adhere to rules regardless and the longer term view is why create bad feeling and friction, and then remind the player of the rule after holing out. Easy to be righteous and rules are rules but ultimately these are people we usually play with week in, week out and the player already has 0.1 coming
rulefan
Tour Winner
Of course, as a fellow competitor, you can't actually penalise anyone
atticusfinch
Challenge Tour Pro
Of course, as a fellow competitor, you can't actually penalise anyone
Technically speaking, no person penalizes anybody. The rules penalize the player when a rule is breached or condition satisfied.
rulefan
Tour Winner
Unless the committee imposes a penalty of DQ under 33-7.Technically speaking, no person penalizes anybody. The rules penalize the player when a rule is breached or condition satisfied.
TheJezster
Tour Rookie
Personally i wouldn't say anything. If they called themselves on it cool but if not i wouldn't lose any sleep over it at all. We're not pros, we play for fun. I'm sure I'll get shot down and the standard what other rules do you ignore questions will come... everything can be so predictable 😉
