Practising on the course the day before a competition

[Dollo]

My club is attempting to establish a condition of competition relating to playing the course the day(s) before a competitor is scheduled to play in a single-round stroke-play competition played over multiple days. For example, the captain's prize is played on Friday and Saturday but you only play one round on either day. Let's say I'm down to play on Saturday. Is there any reason why I can't practise on the Friday? The first paragraph of Rule 7-1b says you can't practise 'on the day' and the second paragraph relates only to multi-round competitions, which our captain's prize isn't, so I see no reason (at least in the rules of golf) to prohibit such practice. However, I've read forum threads from 2013 (I think) - Colin L, are you out there? - that say such practice is prohibited based on Rule 7-1b but I can't figure out why. Opinions please! Thanks, Dollo

 

[woody69]

I'm sure Colin will be along soon, but my assumption would be on the wording is

7-1b Stroke Play

Before a round or play off on any day of a stroke-play competition, a competitor must not practice on the competition course.

So because the comp effectively starts on the Friday, you can't practice.

 

[Hosel Fade]

Its a strange one imo as basically all our non majors are ran this way. Can play either Saturday or Sunday, one result sheet/set of prizes but seperate CSS calculations

I'm sure it happens plenty but not sure how such comps are classified same as yourself

 

[Foxholer]

I'm sure Colin will be along soon, but my assumption would be on the wording is

7-1b Stroke Play

Before a round or play off on any day of a stroke-play competition, a competitor must not practice on the competition course.

So because the comp effectively starts on the Friday, you can't practice.

That's my take as well!

Unlike a Matchplay situation, where both/all players have equal opportunity to practice, early starters don't have the same opportunity to practice, so it's deemed unfair (or at least a disadvantage that shouldn't exist)! Same applies for comp that runs over 2 days!

 

[Dollo]

Thanks all. I think I get it now: 'on any day' means on every day of the competition, not just on the day you're scheduled to play. If that's how 7-1b should be interpreted, does it also apply to alternate and main competition days? And if so, is this why a lot of clubs deem it to be okay (which they are entitled to do through local rules or conditions of competition) to practise on the alternate day because not to do so would effectively mean that members who play on the main day cannot play on the course on the alternate day every week for the entire year, i.e. it would be like being a 6-day member but paying the full sub! If I'm getting this right, I think a lot of clubs stick to the rule of no practice for 'majors' only, e.g. captains' and presidents' prizes, but choose to allow practice on non-major multi-day and alternate/main day competitions on the day(s) of the competition that come before the day you're down to actually play.

 

[Region3]

Just out of curiosity, what's the reason for wanting to play both days but not in the competition on the first of those?

 

[Dollo]

Just casual golf, for those who like to play a lot... Of course in these situations I'm referring to playing outside of the competition timesheet, e.g. a few holes in the evening when the competition timesheet has closed.

 

[Fyldewhite]

Seems wrong to me. If you are down to play Friday you can practice as much as you like the day before but if playing Saturday you can't. I suppose the course will remain the same (ie tees/holes) on Fri/Sat so that may be a factor but fundamentally a bit odd....but there again playing a single round comp over two days is a bit odd too.

 

[Three]

My club is attempting to establish a condition of competition relating to playing the course the day(s) before a competitor is scheduled to play in a single-round stroke-play competition played over multiple days. For example, the captain's prize is played on Friday and Saturday but you only play one round on either day. Let's say I'm down to play on Saturday. Is there any reason why I can't practise on the Friday? The first paragraph of Rule 7-1b says you can't practise 'on the day' and the second paragraph relates only to multi-round competitions, which our captain's prize isn't, so I see no reason (at least in the rules of golf) to prohibit such practice. However, I've read forum threads from 2013 (I think) - Colin L, are you out there? - that say such practice is prohibited based on Rule 7-1b but I can't figure out why. Opinions please! Thanks, Dollo

It's a stupid and unfair interpretation of the rules and Fyldewhite has highlighted why.

The Rule that people are quoting, 7-1b, refers to competitors who are playing a one round or multi-round competition and ALL are playing on the same day or all are playing every day.

For example, probably everyone knows that we can't go and play or test the course prior to teeing off in a strokeplay comp, and the Rule also prohibits us playing a few holes after Round 1 if there are more rounds to follow, ie later the same day or tomorrow etc.

However, what your club is trying to do is allow Friday competitors to practice on Thursday, but prohibit Saturday competitors from practicing, or just having a few social holes, on Friday. The reason they have are trying to come up with this Rule is because they have to come up with a way of covering the silly idea of playing one competition on 2 separate days.


If you are not involved in the competition on Friday, I don't see how they can make up a rule to prevent you playing social golf on that day.

 

[backwoodsman]

You can simply have an "alternate day" club rule which then allows you to play the course on a day when you are not entered in the competition - ours is in the clubs "Regulations of Play" and is worded

"When players have a choice between main day or alternative day participation for a single stroke play competition, in terms of Rule 7-1b of the Rules of Golf, any player who elects to play on the second day of the competition is permitted to play on the competition course on the first day of the said competition".

All our monthly medals are alternate day comps - most people play on Saturday, but you can enter on Sunday. Therefore, those intending to play the comp on Sunday can have a casual game on Saturday if they want ( if they can find themselves a tee time that is... )

Ps: Forgot to say - it's the note to rule 7-1 that permits a committee to allow it. So it's only allowable if the committee has actually made the Regulation or condition of competition. After all, there is some merit in not allowing someone to gain an advantage by having a "practice round" when some other might not have chance.

 

[Three]

You can simply have an "alternate day" club rule which then allows you to play the course on a day when you are not entered in the competition - ours is in the clubs "Regulations of Play" and is worded

"When players have a choice between main day or alternative day participation for a single stroke play competition, in terms of Rule 7-1b of the Rules of Golf, any player who elects to play on the second day of the competition is permitted to play on the competition course on the first day of the said competition".

All our monthly medals are alternate day comps - most people play on Saturday, but you can enter on Sunday. Therefore, those intending to play the comp on Sunday can have a casual game on Saturday if they want ( if they can find themselves a tee time that is... )

Ps: Forgot to say - it's the note to rule 7-1 that permits a committee to allow it. So it's only allowable if the committee has actually made the Regulation or condition of competition. After all, there is some merit in not allowing someone to gain an advantage by having a "practice round" when some other might not have chance.

Common sense
👍

 

[bladeplayer]

Our club normally does this for Captains prize , just for fairness if its on Fri ,Sat Sun qualifying the pins wont b changed so not fair someone playing Sat or Sun could practice putt at comp pins in advance ,,

For big comps its welcomed rather than frowned on ..

you could play comp the 1st day, & casual golf thereafter

 

[Colin L]

It is the case that without a Condition of Competition to say that practice is permitted on the first day of an alternate day competition, anyone playing a casual game on the first day and competing on the second would be in breach of Rule 7-1b and be disqualified. The simple solution if you want to allow causal play on the first day is as already mentioned, to make use of the Note to Rule 7-1b and introduce a Condition of Competition that permits 2nd day competitors to play on the course on the first day.

 

[Dollo]

Again thanks to you all. Just to be absolutely clear, Rule 7-1b has nothing to do with pin positions, right? i.e. without a condition of competition to permit it, playing the course on day 1 when I'm scheduled to compete on day 2 would be in breach of the rules even if the pin positions were changed for day 2? So many of our members seem to think that practising on the course on day 1 is to do with the fact that you'd generally be playing the very same course on day 2. So if the pin positions were changed for day 2, that's neither here nor there in terms of Rule 7-1b, right?

 

[duncan mackie]

Again thanks to you all. Just to be absolutely clear, Rule 7-1b has nothing to do with pin positions, right? i.e. without a condition of competition to permit it, playing the course on day 1 when I'm scheduled to compete on day 2 would be in breach of the rules even if the pin positions were changed for day 2? So many of our members seem to think that practising on the course on day 1 is to do with the fact that you'd generally be playing the very same course on day 2. So if the pin positions were changed for day 2, that's neither here nor there in terms of Rule 7-1b, right?

Correct

Another rule (33-2b) covers the pin positions...

 

[chrisd]

Again thanks to you all. Just to be absolutely clear, Rule 7-1b has nothing to do with pin positions, right? i.e. without a condition of competition to permit it, playing the course on day 1 when I'm scheduled to compete on day 2 would be in breach of the rules even if the pin positions were changed for day 2? So many of our members seem to think that practising on the course on day 1 is to do with the fact that you'd generally be playing the very same course on day 2. So if the pin positions were changed for day 2, that's neither here nor there in terms of Rule 7-1b, right?

Blimey mate, it's great to see someone cotton on so quickly to the straight forward advice the guys give on here!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

We have competitions over bank holidays. Any two rounds over the three days (Sat, Sun and Monday) and you choose which two days you play. Nothing in our rules to stop you playing on Saturday, having a social round on Sunday and then the second competitive round on Monday. Never had a problem

 

[Colin L]

We have competitions over bank holidays. Any two rounds over the three days (Sat, Sun and Monday) and you choose which two days you play. Nothing in our rules to stop you playing on Saturday, having a social round on Sunday and then the second competitive round on Monday. Never had a problem

The problem is not in your rules but in Rule 7-1b. A social round played on the Sunday is a breach. You should incorporate the condition that permits practice as explained above in your competition rules.

 

[williamalex1]

We have this situation every week , our weekend medal/comp is played over 2 days. We have the choice you can play on the Friday and be involved and possibly win the Saturday comp.
Both comps have a separate CSS .
The course setup is changed, holes and the tees are moved , but the course length is kept the same.
We're allowed play a bounce game on the Friday and still play in the Saturday comp, because the course is slightly different.

 

[Colin L]

We have this situation every week , our weekend medal/comp is played over 2 days. We have the choice you can play on the Friday and be involved and possibly win the Saturday comp.
Both comps have a separate CSS .
The course setup is changed, holes and the tees are moved , but the course length is kept the same.
We're allowed play a bounce game on the Friday and still play in the Saturday comp, because the course is slightly different.

It is irrelevant that the course is slightly different. You need that condition of competition that specifically permits casual play on the course on the first day by second-day competitors. If you don't have it, then these players are breaching 7-1b by practising on the course on a day of the competition regardless of there being changes in pin positions.