Rules Question, Betterball matchplay

[Junior]

Couple of guys at our club had an issue this weekend, I dont want to use their names so lets say A&B are playing against C&D in betterball matchplay.

A's miscounted the amount of shots he thinks C has played on a hole. On the green C has a putt thats borderline gimme distance. Player A concede's the putt thinking its for a 6, when really its for a 5 and the win.

When Player A conceded the putt to C, C replied . . . are you sure ?? (thinking that its a bit stange) Player B then say's no, i'd like to see the putt in please.

Does player C have to putt out ?

 

[bobmac]

No.
A putt given is given....end of story

 

[freddielong]

I would say that C has to putt purely because he question it and was told no, if he had just picked up then IMO he wouldn't have to have putted.

IMO he questioned the Gimme so it wasn't taken

 

[bobmac]

I agree. The decent thing to do would be to hole out but 2/4 says that a concession cannot be declined or withdrawn.

 

[Tommo21]

When a player gives you a putt....dont say are you sure because YOU think he's made a error of judgment.....pick up the ball.

 

[jammydodger]

When a player gives you a putt....dont say are you sure because YOU think he's made a error of judgment.....pick up the ball.

Is the correct answer

 

[Kellfire]

I have an additional question.

If you are offered a gimmee and take it... can you still take the putt for your own records? If yes, and you miss it, does the gimmee still count?

 

[GB72]

Would also like to ask, what happens if there is a miscalculation on shots. If you end a hole calling it a half and on the next hole realise that the other team did not get a shot and you had actually won the hole is it classed as a half as that was the score called on the hole or do you win the hole? Only asking as playing my first 4 ball comp on Sunday

 

[Robobum]

Similar scneario which I was involved in:-

We have a really quick green that slopes signifcantly back to front on our 4th.

4somes matchplay against another club, my partner has a 12 foot putt from pin high left, we have 2 putts for the win. As it dies by the hole the ball is barely trickling so one of our opponents says "ok pick it up" and puts the flag in. In true US Open style the ball keeps going and ends up 5 ft below the pin.

Was the concession still valid even though the ball was in motion??

 

[Ethan]

I have an additional question.

If you are offered a gimmee and take it... can you still take the putt for your own records? If yes, and you miss it, does the gimmee still count?

The gimmee is considered holed for match purposes and cannot be withdrawn, so you are entitled to have a putt so long as you don't hold up play, and if you miss it it does not matter in the match.

 

[Ethan]

Similar scneario which I was involved in:-

We have a really quick green that slopes signifcantly back to front on our 4th.

4somes matchplay against another club, my partner has a 12 foot putt from pin high left, we have 2 putts for the win. As it dies by the hole the ball is barely trickling so one of our opponents says "ok pick it up" and puts the flag in. In true US Open style the ball keeps going and ends up 5 ft below the pin.

Was the concession still valid even though the ball was in motion??

Yep, conceded, and can't be withdrawn even if it rolls off the green and over a cliff. The other side can concede the hole as the ball leaves your driver off the tee if they wish.

 

[bobmac]

In true US Open style the ball keeps going and ends up 5 ft below the pin.

Was the concession still valid even though the ball was in motion??

Yep, conceded, and can't be withdrawn even if it rolls off the green and over a cliff. The other side can concede the hole as the ball leaves your driver off the tee if they wish.

They can concede the hole but not the next shot.
If the ball is moving, the next shot cannot be conceded.

2/4
"A player may concede his opponent’s next stroke at any time, provided the opponent’s ball is at rest".

 

[Robobum]

Similar scneario which I was involved in:-

We have a really quick green that slopes signifcantly back to front on our 4th.

4somes matchplay against another club, my partner has a 12 foot putt from pin high left, we have 2 putts for the win. As it dies by the hole the ball is barely trickling so one of our opponents says "ok pick it up" and puts the flag in. In true US Open style the ball keeps going and ends up 5 ft below the pin.

Was the concession still valid even though the ball was in motion??

Yep, conceded, and can't be withdrawn even if it rolls off the green and over a cliff. The other side can concede the hole as the ball leaves your driver off the tee if they wish.

His partner was less than happy with him at the time!!

Our 4th is one of 2 greens on the course where the ball has to be overhanging the hole edge to get a concession.

 

[Oddsocks]

so robobum and junior was in the same 4 ball... lol

 

[bobmac]

Would also like to ask, what happens if there is a miscalculation on shots. If you end a hole calling it a half and on the next hole realise that the other team did not get a shot and you had actually won the hole is it classed as a half as that was the score called on the hole or do you win the hole? Only asking as playing my first 4 ball comp on Sunday

As long as you correct the error before anyone in your group tees off on the next hole, you win the hole.

 

[Robobum]

They can concede the hole but not the next shot.
If the ball is moving, the next shot cannot be conceded.

2/4
"A player may concede his opponent’s next stroke at any time, provided the opponent’s ball is at rest".

In this scenario, is there a difference?

Plus the words he used and the action of putting the flag back in would be a clincher, IMO.

 

[muttleee]

So can one player concede on behalf of his playing partner even if the partner might disagree? For example, say player A concedes a putt and player B pipes up and says "I don't think we should concede that", is he too late to do anything about it? Does the initial concession stand or must there be agreement between the players?

 

[bobmac]

The only difference I can see is that your conceding the next shot, not the hole. The shot could be for a half or a six and you might have 2 for it. I do agree though, it does seem a strange one

 

[RGDave]

Does player C have to putt out ?

100% NO. No, no, no, no, no.

Once it's conceded by one player, it's conceded.

It's player A's fault for not knowing.

Anything else is wholly unsporting.

The thing to do if you in any doubt, is a) ask "what's that for" or b) keep quiet and see the putt in.

We/I often see putts in for no other reason than I'm confused as to which player has the putt for the best score.
As soon as the ball drops, it is customary at my club to say "down for 4" or "in for 5 nett 4" or something equally unambiguous.