Order of play, match play

[Shaunmg]

The player furthest from hole plays his ball first, is this the rule or just etiquette?

I refer to a pairs match play knockout comp I played last Friday. One of the opposing pair asked his partner to play his ball first, which was 30 yds nearer the green. Depending whether he cleared the pond and hit the green would determine whether he would lay up or go for the green.

Was it
A, a breach of the rules
B, poor etiquette
C, good pairs match play tactics

I didn’t ask the question at the time, as we were well ahead and unlikely to loose. 5&4 in the end

 

[Ethan]

In a pairs match, the team with the ball furthest away gets the turn, but they may choose to let the other player play first. Say you are furthest away and have a shot to get on the green in regulation. Your partner is closer but has played one more. You might want to see whether he chips close before deciding to go for it or play more conservatively.

That is all entirely proper and good strategy.

 

[duncan mackie]

It may have been C, but its within the rules. In pairs it's the teams turn to play when they have the furthest away ball - they can play either of their balls.

 

[Tom C]

C, good pairs match play tactics

 

[Colin L]

C. Your opponents acted quite correctly. Order of play is determined by the farthest from the hole (Rule 10-1b), but note the exception for best ball and four ball matchplay (Rule 30-3b) which reads:

Balls belonging to the same Side may be played in the order the Side considers best

Provided it was your opponents' turn to play based on one of their balls being furthest from the hole, the nearer one can be played first.

 

[Colin L]

I think you've got the answer

 

[Shaunmg]

I think you've got the answer

Yes, so my decision not to ask at the time and make a twit out of myself was also a good tactic

 

[woody69]

As a follow up, is it then the player who is still furthest away turn to go, or does it switch back to the other team after the first player has taken his shot?

 

[Colin L]

If the side with a ball furthest from the hole chooses to play the nearer one, it will still have the ball furthest from the hole so it will be the same side to play.

 

[williamalex1]

yip c is the answer in pairs but not in singles matches

 

[jammag]

is there a limit on how long you can do this for?

What is to stop team 1 teeing off 2nd and the 1st person in their team puts one in the right hand bunker so then 2nd person says you can play first and so on until hes holed out leaving him on tee and the team mate holed out. Unlikely I know but what is to stop this?

 

[Tom C]

the Rules of Golf

is there a limit on how long you can do this for?

What is to stop team 1 teeing off 2nd and the 1st person in their team puts one in the right hand bunker so then 2nd person says you can play first and so on until hes holed out leaving him on tee and the team mate holed out. Unlikely I know but what is to stop this?

 

[rosecott]

is there a limit on how long you can do this for?

What is to stop team 1 teeing off 2nd and the 1st person in their team puts one in the right hand bunker so then 2nd person says you can play first and so on until hes holed out leaving him on tee and the team mate holed out. Unlikely I know but what is to stop this?

Players must have started play of the hole for rule 10 to come into use, so your player 2 could not wait on the tee.

 

[jammag]

Ah ok but from shot 2 onwards I assume this is no issue? Would be a tactic in the extreme and nothing I would ever expect to come across but thought I would query it.

 

[Tom C]

Ah ok but from shot 2 onwards I assume this is no issue? Would be a tactic in the extreme and nothing I would ever expect to come across but thought I would query it.

31-4/2 Extent to Which Side May Play in Order It Considers Best
Rule 31-4, which is an exception to Rule 10-2 (Order of Play), permits a side to play in the order it considers best. Generally, a side will exercise its right under Rule 31-4 for strategic reasons. However, in doing so, the side must not unduly delay play (Rule 6-7).

The following are examples of a side (competitors A and B) playing in an order other than that set forth in Rule 10-2b and whether a penalty under Rule 6-7 would be appropriate:

(a) A’s ball is on the putting green five feet from the hole and he plays before B, whose ball is on the putting green 20 feet from the hole – no penalty.

(b) A’s ball is in an awkward lie in a hazard 30 yards from the hole and he plays before B, whose ball is in the fairway 50 yards from the hole – no penalty.

(c) A’s ball is 220 yards from the hole on a par-5 hole and he plays his second stroke before B, whose ball is 240 yards from the hole, plays – no penalty.

(d) In situation (c) above, A’s ball comes to rest 30 yards from the green. The side then elects to have A play his third stroke before B plays his second stroke – B is penalised two strokes for a breach of Rule 6-7

 

[Tom C]

Sorry you were playing match play so the outcome would be different. Rule 6-7 would still apply, not sure of the outcome, IMO it would be either B is disqualified from the hole or the side loses the hole.

 

[rulefan]

Sorry you were playing match play so the outcome would be different. Rule 6-7 would still apply, not sure of the outcome, IMO it would be either B is disqualified from the hole or the side loses the hole.

If it is a 'first offence' the penalty is loss of hole. Another breach would be DQ.
But the committee may modify this to: second offence, loss of hole: third DQ.