Ruling please.

[clubchamp07]

Ok here goes,

Knowing that the competition is over 9 holes (sweep) back 9. Can I play the front 9 holes first?

This happened yesterday at our club and the guy came in with a great score, I would like to hear what you all think the rule is.

 

[viscount17]

According to the Bible, it's legal under Rule 7

He's just had an extended practice session not on the competition course (which would be legal for matchplay anyway).

The lesson: do it yourself next time.

 

[bunkered]

I know you cant practice on the course on the day of a medal round, but since the comp was nine holes, dont see a problem playing the other nine. Could be wrong though.

 

[birdieman]

From this year official 9 hole competitions are to be introduced and you will not be allowed on any part of the course on the day of a 9 hole comp.
However at the moment (until your club gets a 9 hole SSS measured by your Golf Union) a 9 hole event is not recognised as being an authorised format to apply handicaps to so I would say he was ok to play the other 9 as your comp is a non-qualifying event.
Incidentally how did you work out handicaps for this 9 hole event as simply halving a players handicap is not accurate or fair?

 

[viscount17]

birdieman, what constitutes the 'course' for a 9-hole event? Surely if it's played on an 18-hole course it can only apply to the nine that are to be played.

 

[birdieman]

The 9 hole course has to be decided on for the SSS so it could be 1,2,3,4,5,15,16,17,18 if you are on an out and back typical links track for example or it could be holes 1-9, it's up to each club to decide what 9 they want to use depending on how their course layout is, obviously you don't want to be finishing 2 miles from the clubhouse!
I'm 99% certain they (SGU) told us you couldn't practice on any part of the 18 hole course on the day of a comp. I think that's fair or you'd be getting the pace of the greens, a feel for the wind, roll of fairways etc, definitely some kind of advantage over others.

 

[Tommo21]

Hold on a minute, this is not an official club competition, it’s a sweep is it not?.

You would need to be really tight to be bothered about this. I participate in a regular sat midday sweep that is run to particular rules and we certainly don’t have one that forbids you from playing the course, say in the morning, before the sweep starts.

 

[USER1999]

If it is just a roll up, I can't see a problem. Most of our field would also fail a drug test, since they don't go out until they are drunk.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

As one who got D/Q'd as a junior (many years ago and after finishing 2nd) because I went out and played 1,2,3 and 18 not knowing the rule about playing on the course before an event it is something very close to my heart.

I understood that under the new rules you could play on the 9 not being used without penalty. For the sake of a sweep game I wouldn't get too het up. If it means that much why not cut him by 1 for that week for testing the conditions