No concession query

[curious golfer]

Fourball matchplay. I have a putt for the win, which goes narrowly past, and my partner has not guaranteed the half. I walk to the ball and start to get my marker out, and take a hopeful look up to see if it's been conceded. Tricky wee one that I didn't fancy. I see my opponents and playing partner all walking to the next tee, which was behind my original putt. I assume I've not heard a concession and follow them to the next tee.

They have the honour and are three up. Two consecutive wins and we're back to one down, when one of my opponents says 'so that's it back to two'. I say no, we halved one three holes back. He thought my putt was for a half and agreed that the score is only one down. A nice chap, nothing more was said, and at the end of the round we shook their hands and wished them all the best in the next round.

My questions are, what if he hadn't accepted my version of events? Was I naughty in assuming the concession?

 

[nickjdavis]

1) You would have had a discussion about how many strokes you had taken and you would have had to try to recount each stroke to convince your opponents.

2) Not naughty...just naive. Always get clarity before lifting your ball.

 

[doublebogey7]

Did know one announce the match score at the end of each hole?

In the absence of such any ruling would be down to the committee on whose version of events was most compelling.

 

[Colin L]

Fourball matchplay. I have a putt for the win, which goes narrowly past, and my partner has not guaranteed the half. I walk to the ball and start to get my marker out, and take a hopeful look up to see if it's been conceded. Tricky wee one that I didn't fancy. I see my opponents and playing partner all walking to the next tee, which was behind my original putt. I assume I've not heard a concession and follow them to the next tee.

They have the honour and are three up. Two consecutive wins and we're back to one down, when one of my opponents says 'so that's it back to two'. I say no, we halved one three holes back. He thought my putt was for a half and agreed that the score is only one down. A nice chap, nothing more was said, and at the end of the round we shook their hands and wished them all the best in the next round.

My questions are, what if he hadn't accepted my version of events? Was I naughty in assuming the concession?

If it was a competition, both sides might agree to seek a ruling or if not you would state that you would be seeking ruling and play on, either way using the disputed match score of two down. The match score would be adjusted if necessary depending on the Committee ruling.

 

[backwoodsman]

Given that a concession can be made by 'a gesture' (rule 3.2b(2) ) does not/could not the fact of the opponent(s) turning and walking away count as a concession anyway? Regardless of what, if anything, was said?

 

[chellie]

Did know one announce the match score at the end of each hole?

In the absence of such any ruling would be down to the committee on whose version of events was most compelling.

I'm always amazed when people don't do this.

 

[Steven Rules]

Given that a concession can be made by 'a gesture' (rule 3.2b(2) ) does not/could not the fact of the opponent(s) turning and walking away count as a concession anyway? Regardless of what, if anything, was said?

Maybe, but such a tenuous act seems to be undervaluing the very clear requirement in the first sentence of 3.2b(2): A concession is made only when clearly communicated.

 

[salfordlad]

Given that a concession can be made by 'a gesture' (rule 3.2b(2) ) does not/could not the fact of the opponent(s) turning and walking away count as a concession anyway? Regardless of what, if anything, was said?

If turning and walking away constituted a concession I've been doing match play scoring wrongly all my life.

 

[Imurg]

If turning and walking away constituted a concession I've been doing match play scoring wrongly all my life.

If your opponent(s) are watching you putt, you miss and they turn away and stride towards the next tee doesn't that imply that they're done with the hole?
Surely that's the next best thing to actually saying.."-That's good"...
If they hadn't conceded they'd still be there .......

 

[louise_a]

I always confirm the hole result as we leave the green, it is only common sense.

 

[D-S]

Wasn't there a controversy in the Solheim Cup a few years ago with Suzanne Petersen on exactly this? I seem to remember she and Charley Hull(?) turned and walked off a green to the next tee and the Americans assumed concession, when asked Peteresen said she hadn't conceded and this was upheld. Caused a big controversy and the aggrieved US team were spurred on th get a great comeback win.

 

[salfordlad]

If your opponent(s) are watching you putt, you miss and they turn away and stride towards the next tee doesn't that imply that they're done with the hole?
Surely that's the next best thing to actually saying.."-That's good"...
If they hadn't conceded they'd still be there .......

There is no "surely" here. Context may be relevant if called on to rule in a similar scenario but the Rule is clear, a concession must be clearly communicated. An opponent turning and heading off may not mean anything. I suggest the best advice is do not assume.

 

[rulefan]

There is no "surely" here. Context may be relevant if called on to rule in a similar scenario but the Rule is clear, a concession must be clearly communicated. An opponent turning and heading off may not mean anything. I suggest the best advice is do not assume.

If the opponent(s) walk away and make no attempt to make a stroke, in my view they have conceded my next putt. If they or we had had mistaken the score that is a different problem which would have to resolved separately.

 

[Orikoru]

If your opponent(s) are watching you putt, you miss and they turn away and stride towards the next tee doesn't that imply that they're done with the hole?
Surely that's the next best thing to actually saying.."-That's good"...
If they hadn't conceded they'd still be there .......

Exactly. And if they're turned and walked off that feels a lot like a concession - besides which, you can just tell them you holed it anyway.

 

[salfordlad]

If the opponent(s) walk away and make no attempt to make a stroke, in my view they have conceded my next putt. If they or we had had mistaken the score that is a different problem which would have to resolved separately.

This has no rules authority. They may be fully aware that you cannot win the hole so they still have the honour and are getting ready for the next hole. You, on the other hand, have still got to hole a 6 footer for a half. You cannot assume. If you pick up and they call you on it, you have incurred a one stroke penalty and now the hole is lost. There is no requirement under the rules for an opponent to stay and watch you putt. If you suspect a concession, you should check.

 

[Steven Rules]

If the opponent(s) walk away and make no attempt to make a stroke

The opponents are already in the hole. There is no stroke for them to play.

There is no requirement under the rules for an opponent to stay and watch you putt. If you suspect a concession, you should check.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

I’ve always played it that unless my opponent tells me “that’s good” or “take it away” then I’ll mark my ball and putt. Even if they walked off I’d still go through the process of putting and make sure when I get to the next tee tell them I made the putt and the match score as it lays!

Never ask for a concession or assume one. Flipside I would never walk off without watching them putt, if I’m not conceding a putt I’ll just stand there quietly, if they ask for it then I have no issue saying “no I want to see it”.

 

[Swango1980]

The chap I played with (my partner) in a club match a month or so ago knocked his chip to within about 4 to 5 ft (definitely still missable, especially for him) on the 15th hole. The opponents were on the other side of the green, a large green. As my partner approached his ball, he shouted across "that's good then?" with a lot of confidence and authority. As they looked puzzled and sort of talked to each other to decide how to respond, my partner shouted as he approached the ball "Yeah!?" and then just picked up his ball. The opponents were taken aback and said "urmmm, yeah OK, I guess so". Halved us the hole.

The lesson is, learn the personality of your opponents during the early holes, work out whether they can be manipulated, and if so, give yourself your own putts with confidence later in the round

 

[curious golfer]

On reflection, I should've let them walk all the way to the next tee and then shouted from the green, "ARE YOU GIVING ME THIS? IF NOT, IT'S A BIT BLOODY RUDE TO JUST WALK OFF." Would've shamed them into a gimme.

 

[salfordlad]

The lesson is, learn the personality of your opponents during the early holes, work out whether they can be manipulated, and if so, give yourself your own putts with confidence later in the round

Sure, could work, but wear the penalty with good grace when a more intelligent opponent is alert to your BS.