Playing in a qualifying comp the other day, halfway down the first hole I picked up my ball to clean it (allowed under Winter Rules) and found that I had left my bag towel in the locker room. I agreed with my playing partners that I would run back to collect it after playing the second hole, where the green is not far from the clubhouse. They pulled my trolley to the 3rd tee while I did this, which took no more than 2 or 3 minutes. I was mildly rebuked by our Competition Secretary for leaving the course during a stipulated round and delaying play, despite the fact that there were still players ahead of us on the 3rd hole and I got back before the following group had completed the 2nd hole.
So the questions are:
1) What constitutes leaving the course, and should you be penalised if you enter the clubhouse (which is on route between the 9th and 10th hole at our course) part way through a round? We often stop for a comfort break and a take away coffee in there. Is the clubhouse considered to be part of the course?
2) What constitutes 'unreasonable delay'?
3) Should I have been DQ'd (not that it mattered anyway, because I didn't have a good day)?
So the questions are:
1) What constitutes leaving the course, and should you be penalised if you enter the clubhouse (which is on route between the 9th and 10th hole at our course) part way through a round? We often stop for a comfort break and a take away coffee in there. Is the clubhouse considered to be part of the course?
2) What constitutes 'unreasonable delay'?
3) Should I have been DQ'd (not that it mattered anyway, because I didn't have a good day)?
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