Reaction when you penalise somebody

[3offTheTee]

Was playing yesterday in a 4BBB Open Comp and penalised a guy for marking and picking up his ball when on the fringe of the green.

I was down the side of a bank and did not see it until it was too late. I asked him whether his ball was on the green and he said yes and his playing partner confirmed the situation. He was about to pick his ball up again and I stopped him.

Not a word of thanks but he said I had waited until he had picked the ball up before I said anything which was not the case.

What is the general reaction when you penalise somebody?

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Sorry, I'm confused, was he on the green or not?

 

[PhilTheFragger]

Most times you call someone, they honestly are unaware that they have a problem, like teeing off in front of the markers for instance, the markers may be offset so from where they are it looks fine, but totally different from the side.

Most times I manage to catch them before the ball is played and there is no problem, the reaction is dismay Are you sure?, then they check and see for themselves

 

[brendy]

One guy ripped up his..and our cards in a fit of rage very unlike the guy but was funny to watch. He stormed off on the 9th where it happened over a penalty. Eventually saw the lighter side the following week when we took the Michael out of him.

 

[3offTheTee]

Sorry, I'm confused, was he on the green or not?

He was off the green otherwise I would have said nothing!

 

[duncan mackie]

I had to penalise myself today in a match and, to be honest, I didn't react very well!
I got distracted at a critical moment and simply didn't think. Had to pick up and leave things to partner - who was of course already laughing.

The crux of the issue is how you do it - and a key in this is that you have to make it clear that you aren't penalising him; that's up to him, the rules and the committee. Questioning, as indicated here, is a good way to start but make sure you get your point over initially as well - simply asking in the expectation of having to follow up with a disagreement with the response isn't good.
Finally, park the issue as fast as possible and distance yourself from the concept of decisions or rulings; not your job.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

He was off the green otherwise I would have said nothing!

The confusing bit was he said he was on the green and his playing partner confirmed the situation, ie, confirmed he was on the green or agreed with you, if his PP agreed with you why did attempt to lift it again!

 

[Val]

The reaction is better when someone tries to penalise someone incorrectly and have it pointed out

Eg - a few weeks ago in a 3 ball, boy knocks his putt to the hole, lifts the flag out with one hand and knocks the ball in, boy shouts 2 shot penalty, I say no it's not, fraught discussion with boy adamant I was wrong, spoke to the other guy who was embarrassed and told him to double check the ruling for himself before signing card but insisted I had it spot on.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Will do it as best I can, explaining why I am doing so (often educating the other player). Try not to wrap it up. Stick to the facts. Don't like doing it but you have a responsiblity to the field