Rules Blunder

[Shaunmg]

Played seniors summer match play, pairs knockout yesterday. My playing partner casually announced before a ball was struck on first tee, that he had played the 18th for a practice knock before the rest of us arrived. Our opponents were not happy and a committee man waiting on the tee frowned also.

I knew there was a rule forbidding practice on the course on day of a comp. I said to my partner, we will have to disqualify ourselves, and so we did. Our opponents agreed with the DQ,

Only on mentioning it to the pro after the game, he said he had done nothing wrong. Only in stoke play does the rule apply. We DQ’d for nothing.

If it was me, I would speak to opponents after rule had been cleared up and offer a re-match, but let’s see

 

[patricks148]

Numpty...

you can play the course as many times as you like before a matchplay game.... just not stroke play.

What a pair of chancers your opponents are too, i bet they agreed you should DQ yourselves... shakes head smile...

 

[fundy]

and thats why you should have a rule book in your bag just to double check you're not doing somethying really really silly on the plus side i expect you wont do it again (hopefully sense will be seen and you can get the game rearranged before the deadline)

 

[upsidedown]

Oh dear Muppetry of the highest order, hope they do the right thing, but some how doubt by their eagerness to claim match.

 

[pbrown7582]

How come the committee man never put you right?

 

[Imurg]

How come the committee man never put you right?

Since when has being on the Committee meant that you know the rules...

 

[Imurg]

Someone remind me why you can practice on the course before Matchplay but not before Strokeplay............

 

[bladeplayer]

in match play its 2/4 people so chances are ye all have the chance to practice , in a full comp you wouldnt have time for everyone to practice hence giving an advantage to some ..... maybe ? just a thought tho ..

 

[Foxholer]

Played seniors summer match play, pairs knockout yesterday. My playing partner casually announced before a ball was struck on first tee, that he had played the 18th for a practice knock before the rest of us arrived. Our opponents were not happy and a committee man waiting on the tee frowned also.

I knew there was a rule forbidding practice on the course on day of a comp. I said to my partner, we will have to disqualify ourselves, and so we did. Our opponents agreed with the DQ,

Only on mentioning it to the pro after the game, he said he had done nothing wrong. Only in stoke play does the rule apply. We DQ’d for nothing.

If it was me, I would speak to opponents after rule had been cleared up and offer a re-match, but let’s see

Four 'old farts' and a Committee man; not a Rule book between you and arrive at the wrong conclusion about an important issue! I wonder how many more would have happened in the match (though you can ignore them!).

BTW. As far as I understand it, reason practice is allowed in Matchplay but not Strokeplay is the 'fair to all' consideration. In strokeplay, early and late starters may not have a chance to practice. In Matchplay, all have the 'same' opportunity.

 

[Imurg]

BTW. As far as I understand it, reason practice is allowed in Matchplay but not Strokeplay is the 'fair to all' consideration. In strokeplay, early and late starters may not have a chance to practice. In Matchplay, all have the 'same' opportunity.

Then this rule belongs in the "Stupid Rule Book"
Mahoosive assumption that all participants in a Matchplay are able to practice.
What about Club matches where there are a dozen players from eacb side, some possibly travling some distance..? Not all will be able to get the feel of the greens before play so those that can are at a massive advantage...

 

[pbrown7582]

Since when has being on the Committee meant that you know the rules...

But surely if your not sure you check if asked? Agree it's not a prerequisite but normally the committee are keen and will have a good idea of the basic rules. This is not a new or uncommon one?

 

[ScienceBoy]

My personal rule is never to DQ until I see the rule telling me too.

It's far better to play out to the end and sort things out in the pro shop than make rash decisions on the course. This goes for any format really, there is never any harm in playing out the game just in case! If they had then wanted to withdraw it would have been their choice!

Pretty much always say "We should play this out to the end and then review the rules before submitting the card, with a nice drink in hand while we do it".

I frequently star a card I am marking, come back to it after the round and then adjust if necessary, usually there is never a need to as we proceeded as we should have done. Once all sorted sign the card and hand it in, or report the result if match play.

 

[Deleted member 17920]

I actually can't believe someone would try and claim a match based on a ruling they actually didn't know. If its win at all cost I hope you get a rematch and kick there backsides.

 

[Foxholer]

Then this rule belongs in the "Stupid Rule Book"
Mahoosive assumption that all participants in a Matchplay are able to practice.
What about Club matches where there are a dozen players from eacb side, some possibly travling some distance..? Not all will be able to get the feel of the greens before play so those that can are at a massive advantage...

It's 'fair' because it applies equally to both sides. I've played both home and away games where I've been further and nearer resp. to where members of the other side live! However, I tend not to practice before those games. Have played a couple of matches (filling in) where I'd already played in the morning. Opposition were informed on arrival and were content to simply play.

No assumption involved.

Are you saying that 'Home Course' isn't an advantage?

 

[JezzE]

Then this rule belongs in the "Stupid Rule Book"
Mahoosive assumption that all participants in a Matchplay are able to practice.
What about Club matches where there are a dozen players from eacb side, some possibly travling some distance..? Not all will be able to get the feel of the greens before play so those that can are at a massive advantage...

Think 'massive advantage' may be overstating it a bit given how inconsistent most of us are. I'm a past master at playing considerably worse in the afternoon round of a 36-hole day when I allegedly know where to hit it, where the pins are etc...!

 

[patricks148]

Think 'massive advantage' may be overstating it a bit given how inconsistent most of us are. I'm a past master at playing considerably worse in the afternoon round of a 36-hole day when I allegedly know where to hit it, where the pins are etc...!

True dat dowg

 

[Colin L]

It's far better to play out to the end and sort things out in the pro shop than make rash decisions on the course. This goes for any format really, there is never any harm in playing out the game just in case!

Great advice! Both match play and stroke play have a provision for sorting out uncertainties over rules and procedures after the round. In the OP's situation, he and his partner could have simply got on with the match, leaving their opponents to make a claim (Rule 2-5) regarding the prior practice on the course. That would have been considered by the Committee which would have determined that there was no breach of a rule and that the result of the match would stand. (Mind you, the presence of the disapproving COmmittee member at the time makes that less than straightforward: did he actually make a ruling?)

In stroke play, a player in doubt about how to proceed under a Rule should play a second ball in accordance with 3-3.

A great advantage in golf over many other sports is that you can usually take time to sort things out .

 

[Imurg]

It's 'fair' because it applies equally to both sides.

So why the assumption in the Rule that Strokeplayers can't get out for a few holes before tee-off time?

Let's assume first tee-off is 9am, that gives everyone, including those out first an hour at least to go on the course...

I don't see that there's any difference between Stroke and Match in this instance.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

DOH! I don't know what is worse. Thinking you've broken the rule and DQing or the opponents willingly letting you DQ when they weren't sure they were entitled to do so and no offer to play and resolve it later.

 

[Foxholer]

So why the assumption in the Rule that Strokeplayers can't get out for a few holes before tee-off time?

Let's assume first tee-off is 9am, that gives everyone, including those out first an hour at least to go on the course...

I don't see that there's any difference between Stroke and Match in this instance.

Explain how that can be done once the course is full up with competitors!

Only the early guys can a reasonable amount of time before/without a special trip, so 'not fair'!