Lost Ball - Matchplay

[jimbob.someroo]

Played a club match tonight and think I've been done ... would have been hard to win, but nonetheless, was the ruling correct?

I've hit my tee shot on the 15th hole to the right. Not wildly so and we both saw the ball going towards some small trees in a very open area. The 16th hole runs back the opposite way so there's a chance that it could have rolled through on to there.

Neither me nor my opponent heard a noise or saw the ball after it went right. We looked for 5 minutes in the trees and to the right with him insisting that there was no noise so it must have gone all the way through.

After 5 minutes I declare the ball lost and head back to the tee. As it's matchplay, he says that I can not go back and play a ball under penalty. As I didn't play a provisional ball, and the ball is not out of bounds, rather than a shot penalty and replay, he says that in matchplay it's loss of hole.

He was very adamant that he was correct and it sounded just about plausible enough to believe him and so we continued on with him winning the hole to go dormie 3.

As it turns out my ball had hit a tree and gone backwards to the middle of the fairway although as both of our balls had gone right, we'd not walked past it. The group behind us found it about 30 seconds after I'd accepted the ruling for loss of hole ...

 

[Val]

Sounds like you've been done over mate.

 

[Crow]

You're perfectly entitled to go back and play a ball under penalty, just the same as in stroke play.

The provisional is played to save time, not to give you the right to play second ball if first ball lost.

 

[DCB]

You've been had :angry:

Nothing to stop you going back and playing shot again under penalty.

 

[jimbob.someroo]

Thought as much fellas, was 2 down at the time but a bit annoying with where the first actually finished! Would have done well to win the hole but could have got a half with a birdie on the second ball and the opponent in the same trees. Learned my lesson I guess for future. As it was, he parred the next with a shot and won on the 16th.

Not going to bring it up with prof/club as it's on me to know better but still a bit peeved that he was so insistent with an incorrect rule.

 

[Foxholer]

You were done alright - though would probably have lost the hole anyway.

Replaying the last shot, under penalty, is always an option. For example, you can even do it if you putt off the green into a bunker and aren't keen on the resultant lie.

What's this 'declared the ball lost' business. After 5 minutes of searching it was deemed lost - even if you subsequently find it.

 

[Mav281]

Yep sorry mate, but you've been done there - absolutly within you right to back to the tee a play 3 from the tee.

I don't mean any offence by this, but there seem to be so many players that don't have a clue about the basic rules of golf and when your playing in a competition this can have disastrous effects as above.

Stick a copy if the rules n your golf bag - it's saved me on one or two occasions before now.

 

[jimbob.someroo]

Yep sorry mate, but you've been done there - absolutly within you right to back to the tee a play 3 from the tee.

I don't mean any offence by this, but there seem to be so many players that don't have a clue about the basic rules of golf and when your playing in a competition this can have disastrous effects as above.

Stick a copy if the rules n your golf bag - it's saved me on one or two occasions before now.

Usually pretty good with most things but haven't played enough matchplay to know all the differences between the two (ie where it's loss of hole / replay stroke / shot(s) penalty). Would have obviously gone back in strokeplay but with there seemingly no way it could have been lost wouldn't have even considered hitting a provisional in either format.

 

[Mav281]

It's fair comment mate - it's one of those things that happens but can easily be avoided.

These days if I am playing in any sort of comp or medal and I hit a shot that I can't call as being safe or no-one sees it down I put a second ball down and play a provisional. 9 times out of 10 it's never needed but saves the walk!

 

[fundy]

Take a rule book with you, whenever some fool quotes you a mythical rule chuck him the rule book and ask him to point out his mythical rule. When he cant proceed as you intended

 

[MashieNiblick]

Lost ball = Loss of hole in match play ?????

These myths (or maybe scams) get worse and worse. Where do they get them from.

Remember in a match you have the option under Rule 2-5 to proceed as you think is right and settle it later.

 

[pbrown7582]

this a new one to be you were well and truly had over! As fundy said always carry a rule book if in doubt look it up. GM even supplied them free with our mags a few issues ago.

 

[AmandaJR]

I'd advise the player concerned that he was wrong next time I saw him. At least that way another player won't fall foul of his lack of rules knowledge. Amazing how often it's those who know the least that seem to be the most adamant!

Tough luck all round on losing that hole in particular.

 

[jimbob.someroo]

I'd advise the player concerned that he was wrong next time I saw him. At least that way another player won't fall foul of his lack of rules knowledge. Amazing how often it's those who know the least that seem to be the most adamant!

Tough luck all round on losing that hole in particular.

Cheers Amanda.

Was gonna have a quiet word with him on Saturday, not to be an arse but just as a heads up. In all likelihood wouldn't have won the hole and probably didn't deserve to get anything out of the match after how I played but frustrating nonetheless.

Now, where do I start the thread about him being +6 gross thru 16 playing off the very back stones off a 12 handicap! :rant:

 

[Ethan]

The mistake here (apart from not knowing a basic rule and/or carrying a rule book) is taking the opponents word for it. His degree of certainty (assuming he wasn't intentionally pulling a fast one) is never an accurate measure of likelihood of being correct.

 

[CMAC]

Thats a pity James but you've learned a lesson and hopefully put a copy of the rules in your bag?

P.S looks like he was on track for a nett 61 or thereabouts........hard to beat that off 7

 

[jimbob.someroo]

Thats a pity James but you've learned a lesson and hopefully put a copy of the rules in your bag?

P.S looks like he was on track for a nett 61 or thereabouts........hard to beat that off 7

Yup, I didn't play well but he was certainly going to be shooting silly low. He parred the 16th to win the match which is stroke 4 and 17&18 are pretty simple so couldn't have seen him being any higher than nett 65. Spoke to him through the round and apparently he shot 36 in the stableford on Saturday with 4 blobs ... Should have probably been an indicator that I was in for a tough time!

 

[Foxholer]

Now, where do I start the thread about him being +6 gross thru 16 playing off the very back stones off a 12 handicap! :rant:

Doubly 'handicapped' then.

Treat it as a compliment that he 'upped his game' for you!

Wedge working?

 

[jimbob.someroo]

Doubly 'handicapped' then.

Treat it as a compliment that he 'upped his game' for you!

Wedge working?

Working great around the greens and gets plenty of bite but thinning a few on full shots - although that is certainly my lack of talent rather than the club.

 

[CMAC]

another thing I meant to say is if your in even the slightest doubt about a tee shot, play a provisional.......its your only chance of some legal long game practice with a ball on the course