Rule 1-3 Agreement to waive the rules of golf

balaclava

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Rule 1-3 Agreement to waive the rules of golf . . . . .
Players must not agree to exclude the operation of any Rule or to waive any penalty incurred.

Rules 6-4 / - define what is a caddie and what a caddie can and cannot do. Can two players in a match-play competition agree to re-define the definition of a caddie to that of a person whose sole function is to carry the bag and who is not allowed to assist the player with advice on the greens. If they do agree to re-define the functions of their caddie are the agreeing to waive the rules of golf contrary to Rule 1-3?

Please don't ask the obvious question - why would anyone do something so silly just believe me that it is done!
 
Appendix 1c addresses conditions of the competition, and specifically discusses limitations which can be placed on the role of a caddie. These limitations should be clearly stated to competitors.
 
Thanks - where in the book can I find Appendix 1c ?

OK got it . . . Rule 33-1 The Committee must establish etc. . . there may be circumstances where a Committee may wish to prohibit caddies . . Use of Caddie Prohibited . . ."A player is prohibited from using a caddie during the stipulated round"

That seems clear - the Committee may prohibit the use of a caddies but . . .

Can the players themselves elect to prohibit the use of a caddie or redefine the functions of a caddies by restricting that to soley carrying the bag? If they can what is the penalty if that 'bag carrier' advised the player (for exmaple) on the line of a put?
 
OK got it . . . Rule 33-1
Can the players themselves elect to prohibit the use of a caddie or redefine the functions of a caddies by restricting that to soley carrying the bag? If they can what is the penalty if that 'bag carrier' advised the player (for exmaple) on the line of a put?

a. can they - no
b. they can't so none
c. 1-3 would apply if they knew the answer to a. - if they didn't it wouldn't.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if they didn't know a. - evidence suggests that many very experience committee members don't!
 
My opinion for what it's worth... they are agreeing to waive rule 6-4

Rule 6-4 says a player may be assisted by a caddie - which by definition under the rules is someone who assists (in all senses) the player. Therefore the rule permits a player to be assisted. If they agreed to redefine the meaning of caddie they are changing a rule which permits assistance to one that does not.
 
It is of course agreement between two players that matters. An individual player is perfectly entitled to tell his caddie to keep his mouth shut and just carry the bag.

On the other hand, one of the commentators during the Open said that when he once asked his caddie for help with the line of a putt, he was given such a wrong line that he reckoned the caddie was simply ensuring he would never be asked again.

I've never had a caddie - maybe that is one of the 100 things I must do before I die.

Thanks, Duncan. I wasn't sure of that one and you have saved me all the looking up and thinking time.
 
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