Matchplay error.

[delc]

The other day, one of our opponents in a 4BBB match picked his ball up in error on the green, thinking that his side had already lost the hole, forgetting that he had a shot on that hole and still had a chance of holing his putt for a half. Basically his mistake, which he admitted, but was there any way we could have allowed him to replace his ball without penalty and take his putt? We felt a bit bad about winning the hole that way!

 

[duncan mackie]

The other day, one of our opponents in a 4BBB match picked his ball up in error on the green, thinking that his side had already lost the hole, forgetting that he had a shot on that hole and still had a chance of holing his putt for a half. Basically his mistake, which he admitted, but was there any way we could have allowed him to replace his ball without penalty and take his putt? We felt a bit bad about winning the hole that way!

Not if he knows it's a penalty.

If he honestly doesn't realise it's a penalty then you are entitled to ignore his breach of the rules in replacing it, sinking the putt and claiming a half.

 

[Crow]

As I'm sure you're aware, in match play you can overlook penalties applying to opponents as long as nothing is agreed beforehand.

So my guess would be that you could allow him to replace and replay as you didn't agree anything beforehand.

 

[delc]

Not if he knows it's a penalty.

If he honestly doesn't realise it's a penalty then you are entitled to ignore his breach of the rules in replacing it, sinking the putt and claiming a half.

Could we have offered him the chance of replacing his ball without penalty and attempting the putt, or would that be a breach of rule 1-3?

 

[duncan mackie]

Could we have offered him the chance of replacing his ball without penalty and attempting the putt, or would that be a breach of rule 1-3?

Breach

1-3 is pretty much the shortest rule in the book...."Players must not agree to exclude the operation of any Rule or to waive any penalty incurred."

If he knows he has a penalty, and you do and waive it, you are breaching this and would/should both be DQ.

If he says something like "can I just replace it, or is there a penalty?" then you can ignore the breach and let him putt with something like "not sure so go ahead (but at this point some clever clogs of a partner will raise the issue of 18-2 at which point it's normally best to remember it and apply it!).

 

[Crow]

Not if he knows it's a penalty.

If he honestly doesn't realise it's a penalty then you are entitled to ignore his breach of the rules in replacing it, sinking the putt and claiming a half.

Are you sure that ignorance of the rule by your opponent is a requirement for this?
I can't remember reading such.

 

[duncan mackie]

Are you sure that ignorance of the rule by your opponent is a requirement for this?
I can't remember reading such.

If he knows there's a penalty then you are waiving a penalty not ignoring a breach.

 

[Crow]

Forget my last post, thinking in more detail it is an agreement to waive the rules by both parties as in replacing the ball both parties are aware that the rule is being broken, unlike when an infringement has already occurred and is just overlooked.

 

[Crow]

If he knows there's a penalty then you are waiving a penalty not ignoring a breach.

Thanks, got it now, I wasn't fully thinking it through.

 

[duncan mackie]

For completeness

1-3/4 Failure of Players to Apply Known Penalty
Q.In a match, a player discovers at the 2nd hole that he has 15 clubs in his bag contrary to Rule 4-4a, but his opponent refuses to apply the penalty. The extra club is declared out of play and the match continues. The Committee disqualifies both players. Is this correct?

A.Yes. Since the players agreed to waive the penalty, they should be disqualified under Rule 1-3.

 

[duncan mackie]

Thanks, got it now, I wasn't fully thinking it through.

No problem.

 

[mikejohnchapman]

If you wanted to be very generous you could have asked him to replace it, take the 1 shot penalty and then concede the putt.

 

[duncan mackie]

If you wanted to be very generous you could have asked him to replace it, take the 1 shot penalty and then concede the putt.

Conceding a putt to lose the hole doesn't sound overly generous to me

 

[delc]

Could we have conceded the putt he would have taken if he hadn't picked his ball up in error?

 

[duncan mackie]

Could we have conceded the putt he would have taken if he hadn't picked his ball up in error?

I don't see a problem with offering a half when he's stood there with his ball in hand looking sheepish. If they accept then that's it. If they start to discuss their penalty before accepting then just take the hole and consider future remedial actions if you really feel necessary - basically I would concede them a longish putt that might count as soon as possible.

 

[delc]

I don't see a problem with offering a half when he's stood there with his ball in hand looking sheepish. If they accept then that's it. If they start to discuss their penalty before accepting then just take the hole and consider future remedial actions if you really feel necessary - basically I would concede them a longish putt that might count as soon as possible.

I wasn't sure that we could concede a putt when the ball was no longer in position and hadn't been marked, otherwise I might have considered this option. I sort of thought that him picking his ball up was a concession of the hole to us!

 

[rulefan]

I wasn't sure that we could concede a putt when the ball was no longer in position and hadn't been marked, otherwise I might have considered this option. I sort of thought that him picking his ball up was a concession of the hole to us!

When he picked the ball up the 1sp was the end of the road.