Practicing on the Course or Not?

[mikejohnchapman]

Played in an open event last week at a course where the putting green was near the 18th green. The putting green was surrounded by white OOB stakes but not lined.

Prior to his tee off time a chap was chipping from outside the stakes back onto the putting green (despite notices asking people not to do this).

I did wonder if this constituted practicing on the course?:mmm:

 

[guest100718]

Played in an open event last week at a course where the putting green was near the 18th green. The putting green was surrounded by white OOB stakes but not lined.

Prior to his tee off time a chap was chipping from outside the stakes back onto the putting green (despite notices asking people not to do this).

I did wonder if this constituted practicing on the course?:mmm:

doesn't sound like it .

 

[Hosel Fade]

Closest thing I can see is this decision:
7-1b/1

One Practice Stroke Played on Course Before Stroke Play Round

Q.
On the day of a stroke play competition, a competitor, before starting his round, played one practice stroke from a forward tee at the first hole into an out-of-bounds area. What is the ruling?


A.
The competitor infringed Rule 7-1b and was subject to disqualification. However, the Committee would be justified, in the circumstances, in modifying the penalty to two strokes under Rule 33-7. If the competitor played more than one such stroke, modification of the disqualification penalty would not be appropriate.

 

[rulefan]

Played in an open event last week at a course where the putting green was near the 18th green. The putting green was surrounded by white OOB stakes but not lined.

Prior to his tee off time a chap was chipping from outside the stakes back onto the putting green (despite notices asking people not to do this).

I did wonder if this constituted practicing on the course?:mmm:

Did the Local Rules define this putting green to be OOB? It doesn't need a white line to be OOB, the stakes are sufficient.

 

[backwoodsman]

Don't see why you would think it's not practicing on the course? He was on the course (provided he was course-side of the stakes that is). He was practicing. QED.

 

[guest100718]

Don't see why you would think it's not practicing on the course? He was on the course (provided he was course-side of the stakes that is). He was practicing. QED.

Arent there some exceptions to this?

 

[duncan mackie]

The exception to 7-1b seems pretty clear to me

"Exception: Practice putting or chipping on or near the first teeing ground or any practice area before starting a round or play-off is permitted."

 

[backwoodsman]

The exception to 7-1b seems pretty clear to me

"Exception: Practice putting or chipping on or near the first teeing ground or any practice area before starting a round or play-off is permitted."

Ok, but OP says he was near 18th green ? (ok, l know, l know - that perhaps is also near the first tee)

And is not the exception poorly worded by saying " ... on or near the first tee or any practice area. (my italics). The phrasing is such that it means on or near any practice area?? Our practice area is surrounded by our 11th, 12th and 13th holes - and separated only by a narrow ditch. "Near a practice area" could mean on any of those three fairways? How near is near? Would the exception not be better by saying "... or on any practice area ..."

 

[rulefan]

Yes.

 

[duncan mackie]

Ok, but OP says he was near 18th green ? (ok, l know, l know - that perhaps is also near the first tee)

And is not the exception poorly worded by saying " ... on or near the first tee or any practice area. (my italics). The phrasing is such that it means on or near any practice area?? Our practice area is surrounded by our 11th, 12th and 13th holes - and separated only by a narrow ditch. "Near a practice area" could mean on any of those three fairways? How near is near? Would the exception not be better by saying "... or on any practice area ..."

In the context of the question posed the only issue is whether the player was near a practice area.

Any interpretation of near falls to the committee - who are obviously best placed to consider such issues.

There is no need to have that section of the exception if you changed the wording as you suggest - by definition there's no breach. I believe it's there to cover appropriate situations that would probably include this one. Let's consider a likely (not dissimilar to the situation presented) scenario where a player practicing his putting on a practice putting green that is not near the first tee has a ball run long and off the green far enough to pass the course boundary and go onto the course. He goes to recover his ball and plays a stroke with his putter to return it to the green. A few moments later he does it all again. You seriously want to DQ him ?

IMO a well worded exception that enables the committee to rule appropriately.

 

[mikejohnchapman]

Don't see why you would think it's not practicing on the course? He was on the course (provided he was course-side of the stakes that is). He was practicing. QED.

Definately course side of the stakes.

The first tee was near the putting green but he was not due to play for some time and was not near it as others were playing.