How strict are you at enforcing the rules with your PP's ??

[User101]

So a couple of incidents recently.

#1 PP marks his ball to the side rather than behind, then when he remarks he marks in front.

I tell him to remark to side.

#2 PP chops one in to trees, says "I'll reload" I say "anything else you'd liek to add to that ? " He replies...provisional ball.

Another day, different PP.

#1 Chops one in to trees, gets another ball out his bag, hits 2nd ball, doesn't say "provisional ball"

#2 Same PP has a "Hale Irwin" putt but doesn't count it.

How would you react to these....and try and be honest putting yourself in my position.


Both these games were in competition.

 

[williamalex1]

So a couple of incidents recently.

#1 PP marks his ball to the side rather than behind, then when he remarks he marks in front.

I tell him to remark to side.

#2 PP chops one in to trees, says "I'll reload" I say "anything else you'd liek to add to that ? " He replies...provisional ball.

Another day, different PP.

#1 Chops one in to trees, gets another ball out his bag, hits 2nd ball, doesn't say "provisional ball"

#2 Same PP has a "Hale Irwin" putt but doesn't count it.

How would you react to these....and try and be honest putting yourself in my position.


Both these games were in competition.

Post your complaint of face book :rofl:

 

[Deleted member 15344]

So a couple of incidents recently.

#1 PP marks his ball to the side rather than behind, then when he remarks he marks in front.

I tell him to remark to side.

That’s an obvious one and would just ask them to ensure they are careful when marking the ball

#2 PP chops one in to trees, says "I'll reload" I say "anything else you'd liek to add to that ? " He replies...provisional ball.

Just ask them if it’s a provisional ball

Another day, different PP.

#1 Chops one in to trees, gets another ball out his bag, hits 2nd ball, doesn't say "provisional ball"

Then he is three off the tee

#2 Same PP has a "Hale Irwin" putt but doesn't count it.

You mark his card you put down what score you believe he got then if there are any issues you both go through the hole together

How would you react to these....and try and be honest putting yourself in my position.


Both these games were in competition.

There is always a more tactful way to approach these situations

 

[User101]

That’s an obvious one and would just ask them to ensure they are careful when marking the ball



Just ask them if it’s a provisional ball



Then he is three off the tee



You mark his card you put down what score you believe he got then if there are any issues you both go through the hole together



There is always a more tactful way to approach these situations

It's not my place nor my duty to ask if he's playing a provisional ball, that's the players responsibility.

In regards the three off the tee, would you say that to him after he played ? and tell him why ?

Also, the air shot putt, would you honestly put him down for another stroke then tell him at the end if questioned ?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

It's not my place nor my duty to ask if he's playing a provisional ball, that's the players responsibility.

I would be clafying what he means by “reload”

In regards the three off the tee, would you say that to him after he played ? and tell him why ?

Would say nothing until the hole has finished and the clarify the score with him

Also, the air shot putt, would you honestly put him down for another stroke then tell him at the end if questioned ?

He had a shot at the call it counts

 

[User101]

Would say nothing until the hole has finished and the clarify the score with him


He had a shot at the call it counts

This is what I'm asking though, would you tell him that he didn't say "provisional ball" ?

Would you tell him if he didn't count the air shot ?

If you would then my hat is tipped in your direction because it may well turn out to be a very frosty game after these incidents, it's such a horrible situation to find yourself in.


The irony of all this is, I called a double hit on myself that they didn't see.

 

[GaryK]

The way I see it is that rules are rules! If in a comp then absolutely call them up for any infringement, otherwise they are cheating the other competitors.
In a social game, they're still the rules, but can be brought to the PP's attention in a more relaxed way. Maybe the PP didn't understand the rule that they had or were about to break, so use it as an opportunity to educate them.

 

[ScienceBoy]

Always sensible to check if provisional, rules are not advice. Hopefully someone might save you if you forget!

The rest of them, shouldn’t be your job to keep them in line for those.

 

[User101]

The rest of them, shouldn’t be your job to keep them in line for those.

Absolutely agree, but then informing them of their error(s) can make for unpleasantness the rest of the round, this is what I'm getting at.

 

[wull]

Tbh I’d be more relaxed about the provisional ball scenario, but the fresh air is definitely counted and I would probably clarify and make it clear there and then once he’d completed the hole. Usually if something like that happens it’s blatantly clear because of the players reaction to said shot.

 

[Capella]

I normally try to bring it up in the nicest way possible. The best scenario is that I see the potential rule breech before it happens, like in the original post with point two. Or if someone is about to tee off in front of the tee markers or forgot to replace his ball on the green after marking it to the side.

But even when the rule breech already happened, I normally state it at a question: "Did you declare that a provisional?" or in case of an air shot "Was that a practice swing?" In that case they know that I know ... if they are honest, they will own up and count the shot correctly, if they want to lie about it and cheat, they still can. I am not the police and not a referee.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

The provisional one is plain golf pedantry for me. Yawn, rules are rules etc but frankly everyone knows the score and saying the exact phrase is unnecessary.

The air shot counts, no question. If I had seen that I would have checked their score walking off the green and queried it, specifically including that shot.

The marking one is more awkward but if it was consistent and I felt uncomfortable then I would 'helpfully' suggest the person doesn't mark that way in order to avoid accusations in future. I would hope that would be enough. If not.................hopefully I will never be in that position.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Always sensible to check if provisional, rules are not advice. Hopefully someone might save you if you forget!

The rest of them, shouldn’t be your job to keep them in line for those.

Actually it’s everyone’s job to ensure that the rules are adhered to on the course - that’s both you and your playing partners - you can’t just turn a blind eye on people if they are breaking rules.

 

[Crow]

I normally try to bring it up in the nicest way possible. The best scenario is that I see the potential rule breech before it happens, like in the original post with point two. Or if someone is about to tee off in front of the tee markers or forgot to replace his ball on the green after marking it to the side.

But even when the rule breech already happened, I normally state it at a question: "Did you declare that a provisional?" or in case of an air shot "Was that a practice swing?" In that case they know that I know ... if they are honest, they will own up and count the shot correctly, if they want to lie about it and cheat, they still can. I am not the police and not a referee.

This for me too. For instance, a player's reaction when missing the ball on a tap on might initially be one of disbelief and they say nothing, then they think should I add a shot for that? Meanwhile people are shuffling off the green, a small number of people might be tempted to now keep quiet.

If you immediately ask the question then 99% of people will admit it straight away and everyone goes off with a clear conscience.

The 1% of people who don't will at least know that they've been spotted and be more thoughtful in future. If you're sure it was an air shot then you now have an easier decision to make as this type deserve to be pulled up.

 

[jim8flog]

When it comes to rules I am fairly 'strict' but I try to do it in a friendly way.

EG when it comes to second balls being hit I will always ask the player before they hit it "are you playing a provisional?"

The marking the ball bit I have been banging on for so long with most all the guys I play with that the have virtually all got the message and now do it automatically.

 

[clubchamp98]

My normal way is to say to any rule breach “ I did that once but penalty shots are costly so I am more careful now”
This seems to work !
You have to be fair to all other competitors in comp so yes you should speak up.
Unfortunatley some golfers would never get in the diplomatic service this can cause problems, I think it’s the way you say it sometimes.
Most players know if they have broken the rules and the ones that don’t need educating.

 

[Jamesbrown]

Not too fussed if some one says “provisional” or not.
“Reload” or “I’ll hit another” says the same to me.

And if I saw a whiffed putt, I’d be questioning who the hell ive stuck my name down with and add the stroke. That’s after I’ve picked myself up off the floor in hysterics.

 

[nickjdavis]

The ball marking incident....I'd be surprised if I noticed to be honest....I don't hover over my fellow competitors like a hawk on the green....I'm usually focused on my putt and being ready to play.

I'll always clarify with a player if they intend the next ball played from the tree to be a provisional ball before they hit it. To the person who said it is just pedantry and doesn't matter...of course it matters. Suppose he nails his second down the middle and finds his original ball deep in the forest with no hope of getting the ball out to the fairway in two or three more shots.....because he didn't say anything on the tee he can legitimately say..."well I didn't say it was a provisional so the ball in the middle of the fairway is in play".....conversely in your world, if he finds his ball in the clear with a route through the trees to the fairway he can say..."yeah I didn't declare it but I meant it as a provisional so I can still play my second shot with this ball" .

With regards to the last option...I'd gently remind him about his "air shot"...we've all had one, they're not pleasant and there seems a sense of injustice that you have to add a stroke for such an unbelieveably rotten attempt to hit the ball....but if they don't count it then they don't feel the pain and (usually these things are due to not taking as much care as you should, especially on the green) will teach them to concentrate just a little bit more in future....potentially helping them to lower scores in a legitimate way.

 

[Slime]

Not too fussed if some one says “provisional” or not.
“Reload” or “I’ll hit another” says the same to me.

And if I saw a whiffed putt, I’d be questioning who the hell ive stuck my name down with and add the stroke. That’s after I’ve picked myself up off the floor in hysterics.

Really?
You sound like a bundle of fun to play against!

 

[rosecott]

The provisional one is plain golf pedantry for me. Yawn, rules are rules etc but frankly everyone knows the score and saying the exact phrase is unnecessary.

The air shot counts, no question. If I had seen that I would have checked their score walking off the green and queried it, specifically including that shot.

The marking one is more awkward but if it was consistent and I felt uncomfortable then I would 'helpfully' suggest the person doesn't mark that way in order to avoid accusations in future. I would hope that would be enough. If not.................hopefully I will never be in that position.

You have obviously never played with the crafty beggars like the one mentioned in post #18 - I have many times.