Playing with a bit of a Rogue...

[Fyldewhite]

The situation you describe above is hardly a cast iron case so to basically call the guy a cheat before teeing off is a bit out of order. Just mark his card, count his shots, make sure he plays his ball, always ask before looking in the cabbage what he is playing etc.

If he does something out of order then tell him why you think he's wtrong. If he disagrees then he should be able to justify what he did. If you are still unhappy then report the facts to the committee. People only cheat because they think they can get away with it and if you make it clear you are his referee (which you are) then he will most likely tow the line.

 

[HRC99]

Do you not think it looks suspicious if I rolled up with 10 Pro V1's in my bag all marked the same?
No? Ok, I do though. I've played with a few cheats and they do it. Someone marking up a sleeve of three by the first tee all the same and the same number. That is very suspicious to me.
If your marking your balls different colours then this would not raise too much alarm except for the fact that I might be looking for a few as you marked so many before the round started!

I don't see the problem at all. I mark all my balls in advance to save time. I always announce make, model and number and, if I play a provisional, its normally a different make anyway, but regardless I'd still give the make, model and number.

I wouldn't think twice about whether someone's ball was pre-marked. I'd be more concerned if they didn't tell me what type of ball they were playing.

 

[Robobum]

Can't agree with the need to confront anyone before you tee off. What is the next step from there?? Will we need to make it perfectly clear everytime we step on the tee??

I can just see Gasman now...

"Right listen in, I've read the R&A rule book cover to cover and know every decision known to man. If any of you try to break any rules in my 4 ball then I will pounce on from behind that [staked] tree, do I make myself clear.........I said DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR!"

"Good well enjoy your round Gentleman, I'm playing a Titleist 1, play well"

 

[viscount17]

Thanks for the tips.

What would be the course of action, say, if I was marking his card and I thought he'd taken 6 on a hole and he said 5 (duspute over whether a drop was a penalty drop or not)?

Would I mark the card and put down what I thought the score was, or not mark the card at all for that hole and make a note to check the ruling in the clubhouse with someone else?

you don't check with 'someone else', I'm pretty sure it has to be an official. disputes may or may not be common but they are serious matters, so if you start be prepared to go all the way.

 

[Sneds]

I find a lot of the time that if you're expecting a person to cheat, you'll jump on any opportunity you have to satisfy your suspicions, whether it's correct or not.

Just enjoy your round of golf, it's meant to be fun. If anything happens deal with it then x

 

[Robobum]

I mark my balls before they go in the bag, don't see any problem with that. I put a "line em up" line and my nickname on each ball so to mark a new one before a reload would take up some time.

 

[Region3]

If you notice all his balls are marked including new ones then this should raise alarms.

I've never thought of it that way before but I always mark all 12 every time I buy a dozen.
I never carry a 'frightener' in my pocket though.

 

[Ethan]

Give him the benefit of the doubt at the start, but at the first sign of cheating, bet him to death with a wedge and bury his body in the woods. Only way to be sure.

PS. I mark my golf balls the same way too, although I have 2 different colour sharpies and the colour of the marking depends which one I dig out.

 

[mono217]

I mark all my balls in advance?

 

[USER1999]

Just play the game, and see what happens. If you see something, call it, and he will probably back down. If you spend your round looking for it, you won't play well and won't enjoy it either.

Most of the time he could cheat like heck, and it won't make any difference. Some of my medals I could knock 10 shots off, and still come last.

 

[SharkAttack]

- Everyone should mark their golf balls so there can be no misktake in identifiying them, remember the number and markings of his ball (which he should show and tell you on the first tee, and with any subsequent ball change. However some people do have lots of pre marked balls in the bag already. If you notice all his balls are marked including new ones then this should raise alarms.

why? mine are marked ahead, often use different colours on balls of the same number though

(if you use as many as I do, it's quicker)

I pre mark all my golf balls with a red dot above the number and if I have to play a provisional and don't have a different number I put a second dot on the ball. I use Taylormade TP Red/Blacks number 0 so I have very few other numbers in my bag only two or three. I can assure you that I don't cheat.

 

[Ethan]

Most Tour pros use precisely the same markings on every ball.

 

[matt01]

Did I mention that he is an ex Marine?

sorry but what has that got to do with it,he should not do such a thing if he was in the forces,

dont sign the card and then tell the comp sec of what happened and then let him take it from there

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I think you have to go in with the innocent 'til prove guilty mentality. Whatever has gone on before hasn't necessarily been proven so I wouldn't make any sort of comment at the first tee. Concentrate on your own game or you'll be in for a long and sould destroying game yourself. If you see something "dodgy" approach him in a calm and polite manner and explain what you saw. Let him decide what action he wants to take. If its a rules query as Bob rightly says (as he does so often) play two balls and mark both scores and then let the committee decide.

If it is a case of "forgetting shots" I like the idea of calling out his score as he holes out so he knows you know. If he does claim a lower score, politely point out that you think he's wrong and explain. If he disagrees tell him you'll not sign his card until you get back and discuss it with the committee. To be honest the pro (unless he actually runs the event) won't want to get too involved so take it straight to the handicap secretary. If he thinks it'll go in front of a committee he is more likely to back down.

Any blatant cheating and I'd just tell him what you saw and explain that you won't sign his card. Give him the option to replay the shot under penalty and if he refuses say he would be signing for an incorrect score and D/Q'd

Either way try not to let it get to you until something happens. Remember you'll have a partner with you and he has an onus of responsibility on behalf of the field to watch him too

 

[dads3a]

Last year was my first season playing and in only my second competition I played, one of the lads I was playing with blatantly moved the ball about a foot in the rough.

He knew I seen him doing it and we played the rest of the hole out. Gave the boy who was marking his card an incorrect score.

I walked off the course and just gave a lame excuse making myself look bad.

Being new to the game I wasn't expecting someone to be that blatant and basically didn't know what to do.

Just told the lad when I next seen him never to put his name on the sheet beside mine.

Its not as though a lot is a stake on our course. the most he could have won was a £50 voucher.

 

[Society_Fan]

You'll just have to be aware of his game if you are marking his card. Whether he is cheating with cheating in mind, or out of poor knowledge, you'll have to assume it is a knowledge thing and if his score does not add up to what you think, you'll just have to go through it with him.

Good luck

 

[Herbie]

You already seem to have a mindset that is looking for cheating, that is not very positive. It is easy in most cases of a round to suss out someone who makes mistakes or cheats, but if you have expectations that an individual is going to cheat, you could create the wrong atmosphere in a game and ruin it for yourself.

Just play golf, enjoy your round, if anyone is dodgy you will spot it, but if you focus on one individual you might just miss another one being tricky, or making mistakes.

If he is a known cheat ask yourself this...Did he cheat or just make a mistake with you on a previous occasion and why the hell is he still a member at your club if he is so well known for it?

If he cheated you once, just tell him on the first tee, that as he cheated you in the past you will be watching him closely, he will probably blow up, then run off to the club house and complain or rant a bit and completely balls his game up

 

[grumpyjock]

Dont go with the flow, he may cheat or he my not.
when you meet on the tee just be skimmin gthrough the rule book and look casual when he asks why.
We have a lad whom we call "the cheat" as if given the chance will bend the rules to suit himself. Just a quick are you sure about that will make him rethink as you start to recount each shot he played.
Always do it casual like but do not let it effect your game, if you play it staight and he has cheated just say so quietly like as his head hits the deck.
Bootnecks are all full of pi** and s**t.

 

[viscount17]

I played a charity event once with a group of guys I'd not previously met, they were all from the same club (as was the organiser) and a good bunch.

the 4-ball ahead of us were also from the same club and those in my group said more than once that more than one of them was reknowned for their footwork - never knowingly had a bad lie.
surprise, surprise they turned in a score some way ahead of the next best - and this was supposed to be largely for fun.

I won't play that match again, if it were to be staged, and it re-inforced my view that competitions should be drawn.

 

[DCB]

I'm totally in agreement that a fellow competitor, who does deliberately break rules to gain advantage, is the lowest of the low. However, some of the responses on this thread are naive and misguided at best. Going into a game with preconceived ideas about your fellow competitiors integrity is just ridiculous. At best it can lead to an unhappy experience on the day, at worst, well, these things do seem to blow out of all proportion......