Rules question

heronsghyll

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A question for discussion.

I would like to know the RULE on this, not etiquete or what could be. Does anyone know the rule please?.

Playing a 4 x ball better ball match play format.

I am on the green with a 15 foot putt for par. My partner is out of it.

One of my opponents is on the green with a 25 foot putt for par - but he has a shot. His partner is out of it.

He goes first and leaves his putt 3 foot short. So, it is now my turn to putt.

However, my opponent walks up and says "I would like to finish" and then makes the putt - effectively out of turn.

I was not happy with this as I believe it was my turn to putt. If I had made the putt - the 3 footer he had left for a half would/could have seemed a lot longer and the pressure may have made him miss it. Note: he was a 25 handicapper who was not experienced and may have missed it.

So to my question of the rules - can I INSIST he waits his turn to putt?

People seem to think they have the right to "finish" if they are close. Is this within the rules or is it a convention.

Many thanks to anyone who knows.
 
I am no expert but my understanding is, in stroke play you have the option to finish off, but in matchplay, you must mark it and wait for your turn.
Often the two are confused, and situations occur like the one you have described.

BushFinder
 
In match play your opponent does not have the option to finnish off (like stroke play) so if it waas just ou two you could have told him to play it again, the only way he could have putted out in accordance with the rules would be if it as still his team to putt.
 
In matchplay he can't putt out unless you agree. If he does you can make him re-spot the ball, mark it and wait his turn. If you say it's OK for him to finish off then that's up to you.... I generally wouldn't.
 
If I had made the putt - the 3 footer he had left for a half would/could have seemed a lot longer and the pressure may have made him miss it. Note: he was a 25 handicapper who was not experienced and may have missed it.

if that's the way you want to win it, no doubt you won the match any way
 
Herons,
He had no right to 'finish off' and as you rightly say, his putt may well have seemed a lot harder if you'd made yours (the whole point of this rule).
I'm not normally one for any confrontation or aggro out on the course, but in these circumstances I wouldn't have any hesitation at all - nor feel in the slightest bit guilty - about saying, 'no, I'm afraid you can't do that - it's my turn to play.'
 
if that's the way you want to win it, no doubt you won the match any way

Sorry Mansell I disagree. I'd have hoped to have stopped him holing out first but if not I'd have made him replay it. A 3 footer for a half on the 15th is a real pressure putt as he knows that a miss and a loss will give them little time to get it back.

It is a tricky one to call but to my mind it is a clear rule of golf and most of try to play within the rules 100% of the time even if we don't all manage to do so and certainly within the integrity of them. Even if he didn't know the rule insisting on holing out its against the integrity in a match situation
 
I'm not even certain that you are entitled to putt out in stroke play. surely it is only with the other player(s) consent.

In stroke play, If a competitor plays out of turn, there is no penalty and the ball is played as it lies. But, if the Committee determines that competitors have agreed to play out of turn to give one of them an advantage, they can be disqualified. IMO It's good etiquette to allow a player to hole out If he so wishes.
 
If that's the way you want to win it, no doubt you won the match any way

Sorry Mansell, I disagree too.
If it had been a Stableford or Medal I would have allowed the guy to putt as I'd be playing against the field and it would not have had such an impact on the result of the round.
But matchplay? The whole idea of matchplay is to smash the other guy into the ground, to have him whimpering and crying in his beer. To make him limp home with his tail between his legs, vowing never to cross swords with me again on the course or I'd jab my bayonet up his jacksie.
He wouldn't have got away with it in other words

;) ;)
 
Herons,
He had no right to 'finish off' and as you rightly say, his putt may well have seemed a lot harder if you'd made yours (the whole point of this rule).
I'm not normally one for any confrontation or aggro out on the course, but in these circumstances I wouldn't have any hesitation at all - nor feel in the slightest bit guilty - about saying, 'no, I'm afraid you can't do that - it's my turn to play.'

Fully agree with this. It's the rules. The guy isn't entitled to putt out so why should you let him. Same goes for any other shot where he may get an advantage by going out of turn too. In stroke play it's just common sense to speed up play on the green which is why the rules say no penalty.
 
I'm not even certain that you are entitled to putt out in stroke play. surely it is only with the other player(s) consent.

It is not that long ago that putting out was a 'must do' in pro golf with no re marking of the ball unless you were standing in someone's line. Continuous putting it was called if I remember it correctly.

This forum has many threads regarding slow play and not putting out creates many time problems.

Think of a three ball playing on a Saturday and every hole the ball is marked by each player six inches from the cup and then respotted with the line facing just off centre of the hole, three practise putting strokes, ten seconds of breathing exercises and ...hey presto the putt disappears from sight But players two and three have to now follow suit!! Murder!!

Answer to the problem...if not interfering with another players line, putt out, pick up the flag, replace it when the last putt drops and MARCH off the green, leaving it free for the following group.

Simples!

!
 
You said your opponents partner was out of it, was he still playing the hole, if he was and it was his honour then it would be up to them who putted first so in theory he could have putted out.
 
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