Match Play - Rules & Tips

[ShriekingSheet]

Hi Guys,

Ahead of the interclub season, I'm putting together a piece for my club on some handy rules info and also tips specifically for match play.

I've come up with the below as a start, and was wondering if you could give me your expert thoughts on what I've said, and if there's anything you'd add. Our senior players are coming back to me with ideas, and anicdotal bits on mistakes that can be made in a match. I thought here would be a good place to gather such knowledge, and would make a good read for everyone.

Provisional Ball / Unplayable Ball
Your opponent slices a drive into trees. He plays a provisional up the fairway.
The first ball is found deep into the trees, but is completely unplayable, so he goes to play the provisional.
He's incorrect. He needs to go back to the tee and play his third shot. Once the original ball is found, the provisional is disregarded. Your three options when a ball is unplayable are (a) drop two club lengths from where it lies, (b) go back as far as you like on the line of the flag and ball or (c) return to the spot last played from, all under penalty of one stroke.

Similar scenario, roles reversed - you slice into the trees, and blast a provisional up the middle. It's highly likely the ball will be completely unplayable, if found. You can simply declare it lost before looking, and play the provisional from the middle of the fairway.

If in Doubt
If there is any kind of uncertainty during your match, don't confuse the situation by guessing or debating rules with your opponent. Pause the match, call people through if needs be, and get a hold of your team manager, or an official. There is no rush, and don't feel under pressure to accept what they're player or manager says. Keep calm and wait for back-up.

Gamesmanship
My non-rules advice would be that there are many misconceptions around "tactics" in match play. Many think there's devious ways of unsettling someone by things such as giving them a generous gimme on the first, then not giving a few short ones later. This is tripe. You're a thousand times more likely to put yourself off juggling all that stuff in your head.

Yappers
Also, while these matches are more serious, and must be treated so, you do not need to totally change your demeanor. If you are usually chatty, talk to the guy and his caddie. Don't feel that you need to be quiet and serious if that's not what you're used to. On the other hand, if an opponent is too talkative for your liking, walk your own path, get your own space and leave him to his own devices. You aren't obliged to chat. Do whatever it takes to get yourself comfortable.

 

[bobmac]

Hi SS,
The best advice I can give you is to

1. Ask your pro to put on a rules night or a rules quiz night where you could post questions in advance.
There's nothing better than seeing the rules demonstrated in a relaxed atmosphere rather than a shouting match out on the course.
2. Make sure all the team carry a rule book.
Then if your have a disagreement with the other team, hand them the book and ask them to show you the ruling.
Remember, no-one expects you to know all the rules

 

[Robobum]

....... You can simply declare it lost before looking, and play the provisional from the middle of the fairway......

Should this be in the quirky made up rules that are played between mates thread??

You need THIS and THIS then tell them to enjoy it.

 

[DCB]

Already addressed by Bobmac and Robobum

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I'd have thought most players taking part in these sort of matches will be well versed in matchplay nuances and all should have an understanding of the rules regarding provisionals etc (bit worrying about how they deal with these scenarios in club competitions otherwise). To be honest I'd be a little put out being given these even if it is meant in a light hearted way and would be wondering why you thought I needed to be told how to conduct myself and what tactics to use.

 

[viscount17]

Homer, you may not but there are a lot of complete beginners around for whom many clubs make no effort.

here's one that 'allegedly' happened in today's medal.

A, B & C approach the green, two balls are clearly visible, the third is believed to have gone in the greenside pond.
A&B start fishing for the ball, B being convinced the ball is his. C goes onto the green to mark his ball, first is not his and before he reaches the second, also not his, B has replayed his shot, not declaring a provisional. On finding that his original ball is on the green B proceeds to putt that ball out and pick up his 'replacement'.

Don't know what they called, I reckon DQ

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Steve,

I take your point regarding the rules although I still think carrying a rule book and to some degree learning by your mistakes is a better way. I wouldn't be overly thrilled though to be told how I should behave with regards to "yappers" or gamesmanship and think it is a little over zealous. By all means have an easy to undestand bit of A4 with the common rules mis-conceptions but leave it at that

 

[Pants]

A. Similar scenario, roles reversed - you slice into the trees, and blast a provisional up the middle. It's highly likely the ball will be completely unplayable, if found. You can simply declare it lost before looking, and play the provisional from the middle of the fairway.


B. If there is any kind of uncertainty during your match, don't confuse the situation by guessing or debating rules with your opponent. Pause the match, call people through if needs be, and get a hold of your team manager, or an official. There is no rush, and don't feel under pressure to accept what they're player or manager says. Keep calm and wait for back-up.

A. You cannot declare a ball lost. If you declare and play a provisional, and your original ball is found by you, your partner/opponent, your respective caddies or anyone else, then that ball is still in play.

I suggest you read up on the rules to confirm this and also to find the way around it.

B. You could be waiting hours for a suitable person to become available - and how are you going to call them in for a ruling?

Again, read the rules. There is provision for finishing out the hole to both your and your opponent's understanding and get it sorted when you get back to the clubhouse.

 

[Imurg]

A. You cannot declare a ball lost. If you declare and play a provisional, and your original ball is found by you, your partner/opponent, your respective caddies or anyone else, then that ball is still in play.

You can decalre a ball lost at any time on any part of the course. If you declare it lost you can play another ball from the same spot under penalty. You don't have to go and look for it - but you don't play a provisional ball. You take the penalty and play again. As soon as you've hit it the original ball is no longer in play.

 

[Ethan]

If you hit 3 off the tee and have failed to properly declare that shot as a provisional, you HAVE declared the first ball lost and the third shot is in play.

"I'll hit another" is not a declaration that you are hitting a provisional.

 

[Robobum]

You can decalre a ball lost at any time on any part of the course. .....

Errrr, no you can't. The act of you putting another ball in play without declaring it as a provisional will render it the ball in play.

Saying "I declare that one lost" is a waste of breath as it means nothing in the context of the rules.

 

[Imurg]

Yeah ok same meat different gravy - I didn't phrase it properly but you get the gist of it. As you say, the act of playing another without declaring it a provisional "loses" the original.

 

[ShriekingSheet]

....... You can simply declare it lost before looking, and play the provisional from the middle of the fairway......

Should this be in the quirky made up rules that are played between mates thread??

You need THIS and THIS then tell them to enjoy it.

Robobum, no need for the smart reply, and as Imurg says, of course you can declare a ball lost at any time.

If you couldn't, people would have to look for every ball in every kind of terrain for the full 5 minutes, before it became automatically lost as per the rules!

Which of course is not the case. Where the ball is in play but obviously has little chance of being found, guys usually have a quick scour for the first ball, but after a couple of minutes will sensibly say "not to worry guys, I'll continue with the second ball".

You obviouly know your rules, and you worried me by pulling me up on that, but I have to say I think you're off the mark. What do you think?

 

[Twire]

....... You can simply declare it lost before looking, and play the provisional from the middle of the fairway......

Should this be in the quirky made up rules that are played between mates thread??

You need THIS and THIS then tell them to enjoy it.

Robobum, no need for the smart reply, and as Imurg says, of course you can declare a ball lost at any time.

If you couldn't, people would have to look for every ball in every kind of terrain for the full 5 minutes, before it became automatically lost as per the rules!

Which of course is not the case. Where the ball is in play but obviously has little chance of being found, guys usually have a quick scour for the first ball, but after a couple of minutes will sensibly say "not to worry guys, I'll continue with the second ball".

You obviouly know your rules, and you worried me by pulling me up on that, but I have to say I think you're off the mark. What do you think?

Picture this...

If I'm playing you in a match. Off the tee you stuff one out right into cabbage, you then play a provisional straight down the middle. We then get to where you think the first ball is, and you don't like the look of the cabbage, so you say "I declare that ball lost". On your way to your ball in the middle of the fairway, I'm still looking, and find you first ball......Sorry but you have to play your first ball.

You cannot declare a ball lost.

 

[ShriekingSheet]

....... You can simply declare it lost before looking, and play the provisional from the middle of the fairway......

Should this be in the quirky made up rules that are played between mates thread??

You need THIS and THIS then tell them to enjoy it.

Robobum, no need for the smart reply, and as Imurg says, of course you can declare a ball lost at any time.

If you couldn't, people would have to look for every ball in every kind of terrain for the full 5 minutes, before it became automatically lost as per the rules!

Which of course is not the case. Where the ball is in play but obviously has little chance of being found, guys usually have a quick scour for the first ball, but after a couple of minutes will sensibly say "not to worry guys, I'll continue with the second ball".

You obviouly know your rules, and you worried me by pulling me up on that, but I have to say I think you're off the mark. What do you think?

Picture this...

If I'm playing you in a match. Off the tee you stuff one out right into cabbage, you then play a provisional straight down the middle. We then get to where you think the first ball is, and you don't like the look of the cabbage, so you say "I declare that ball lost". On your way to your ball in the middle of the fairway, I'm still looking, and find you first ball......Sorry but you have to play your first ball.

You cannot declare a ball lost.

You're absolutely correct.

And acting like that will really give you an edge, because if I was playing against someone who did that, purely so they could send me trudging back to the tee, I'd shake your hand right there and head for a shower.

 

[ShriekingSheet]

You could be waiting hours for a suitable person to become available - and how are you going to call them in for a ruling?

Again, read the rules. There is provision for finishing out the hole to both your and your opponent's understanding and get it sorted when you get back to the clubhouse.

Guys, there's some serious hostility here. I wouldn't mind, but you're wrong Pants. I have read the rules, and while you can finish with two balls and check the rule later in Stroke Play, this provision is not available for Match Play. Have a read of it and let us know.

On the first point, we have officials from the Golfing Union at virtually all of our Interclub events. They come out in a buggy, it's really no big deal.

 

[Twire]

....... You can simply declare it lost before looking, and play the provisional from the middle of the fairway......

Should this be in the quirky made up rules that are played between mates thread??

You need THIS and THIS then tell them to enjoy it.

Robobum, no need for the smart reply, and as Imurg says, of course you can declare a ball lost at any time.

If you couldn't, people would have to look for every ball in every kind of terrain for the full 5 minutes, before it became automatically lost as per the rules!

Which of course is not the case. Where the ball is in play but obviously has little chance of being found, guys usually have a quick scour for the first ball, but after a couple of minutes will sensibly say "not to worry guys, I'll continue with the second ball".

You obviouly know your rules, and you worried me by pulling me up on that, but I have to say I think you're off the mark. What do you think?

Picture this...

If I'm playing you in a match. Off the tee you stuff one out right into cabbage, you then play a provisional straight down the middle. We then get to where you think the first ball is, and you don't like the look of the cabbage, so you say "I declare that ball lost". On your way to your ball in the middle of the fairway, I'm still looking, and find you first ball......Sorry but you have to play your first ball.

You cannot declare a ball lost.

You're absolutely correct.

And acting like that will really give you an edge, because if I was playing against someone who did that, purely so they could send me trudging back to the tee, I'd shake your hand right there and head for a shower.

Why would you be going back to the tee? You just play the ball where it's found.

The scenario was just hypothetical to show you that you cannot declare a ball lost

 

[ShriekingSheet]

@ Twire (I'll stop quoting because it's gotten too long)

The premise was that the ball was deep in trees where neither two club lengths, nor going back on the line of the flag would do any good.

As I said, you are correct. But it can just get a bit silly, letting the rules descend into farce like that. Eg: while you're looking for my ball, I run over and hit my 4th shot, so if you find it, it's still lost. Correct. But ridiculous behaviour.

 

[Smiffy]

And acting like that will really give you an edge, because if I was playing against someone who did that, purely so they could send me trudging back to the tee, I'd shake your hand right there and head for a shower.

But he's not sending you trudging back to the tee, although that would be one of your options.
You could declare it unplayable and drop within two club lengths of where it was, or you could go back as far as you wanted keeping the point where the ball was lying in line with you and the flag. Either of the three options will cost you one stroke.
Looking at it the other way, say you dropped within two club lengths, found a nice lie and smacked a 5 wood or hybrid 100 yards past your second ball into the middle of the fairway. You would now have the advantage because you are lying further up the fairway for three. I can't see how you could take offence at that?

 

[Pants]

You could be waiting hours for a suitable person to become available - and how are you going to call them in for a ruling?

Again, read the rules. There is provision for finishing out the hole to both your and your opponent's understanding and get it sorted when you get back to the clubhouse.

Guys, there's some serious hostility here. I wouldn't mind, but you're wrong Pants. I have read the rules, and while you can finish with two balls and check the rule later in Stroke Play, this provision is not available for Match Play. Have a read of it and let us know.

On the first point, we have officials from the Golfing Union at virtually all of our Interclub events. They come out in a buggy, it's really no big deal.

No hostility mate, just trying to clarify things for all readers of this thread.

What I was alluding to but badly put was....

In match play, if a doubt or dispute arises between the players, a player may make a claim. If no duly authorised representative of the Committee is available within a reasonable time, the players must continue the match without delay. The Committee may consider a claim only if the player making the claim notifies his opponent (i) that he is making a claim, (ii) of the facts of the situation and (iii) that he wants a ruling. The claim must be made before any player in the match plays from the next teeing ground or, in the case of the last hole of the match, before all players in the match leave the putting green.
A later claim may not be considered by the Committee, unless it is based on facts previously unknown to the player making the claim and he had been given wrong information (Rules 6-2a and 9) by an opponent.
Once the result of the match has been officially announced, a later claim may not be considered by the Committee, unless it is satisfied that the opponent knew he was giving wrong information.
"Extract from Decisions"

At your level of matchplay golf it's good that you have officials from the Golfing Union on hand to sort out any rulings. For us mere mortals, there is rarely anyone available to consult on rulings during a match or even afterwards.

Just to reiterate on the other point, a player cannot declare a ball lost. If a provisional is played then you run the risk of the first being found - whether or not you want anyone to look for it. If you don't fancy this risk, just play another from the same spot without saying anything. Don't even say something like "I'll play another". That ball then becomes the ball in play.