Singles Match

[4_Putt_Specialist]

Hi everyone, My first post I'm just after some opinions....

I was playing in my clubs singles match play the other day, on several occasions I noticed (from a distance) my opponent teeing his ball up in the rough, I had no idea what to do/say and I was winning so I just ignored it, and focussed on my game.

We got onto the back nine and he started playing a lot better and we were all square on the 18th tee (long par 4, I got a shot) He drove way right into some really thick rough, I hit mine onto the light rough to the left.

We could see my ball so we both went straight to look for his ball, spent a couple of mins looking for it, couldn’t see it anywhere (it was thick) so he decided to go and hit another one.

I walked out to my ball and all of the sudden he 'found' his I went to have a look to confirm and it was sat right up with an easy (ish) escape through trees. I was looking where he 'found' his ball and am sure I would have seen it if it was actually sat up.

So basically I’m sure he put a new one down (I even more sure after I saw him teeing his ball up a few times in the rough)... It didn’t matter in the end as I won the last to win 1 up.

What I want to know is has anyone else ever played against someone they thought (or knew) was cheating, and what do you say/do during and after the round if you think they were cheating?

Thanks

 

[Robobum]

Welcome to the forum.

First off, you need to be 100% sure that he has cheated. Unless you actually see clearly what he has done then it is a very big call to start labelling someone as a cheat.

Mentioning it to him or anyone else after the event is pointless. Anything like that has to be broached and dealt with immediately you see it.

If you ever suspect someone in the future and are in similar scenario, nonchalantly follow them round in the rough looking for the ball but always keep a close eye on them. That way if you do spot them up to no good you can tell them that you saw it.

If you do witness it then I would bring it to the attention of the comp organiser/ secretary. If it was matchplay then I would refuse to play the rest of the match with him, if it was strokeplay, I would refuse to mark and sign his card.

A cheat must be exposed but you do need to be 100% sure that they have cheated.

 

[Wheyayeman]

Had a similar thing last year in a matchplay when my opponent hit has ball into knee high rough a yard from the semi and a yard from a gauze bush behind, I was on the green for 3 (par 5) and this was his 4th shot, I went to mark my ball and grab my putter, when I looked round to see him take his shot he was in the middle of the "Pummel, not the waggle and the downward press" (Leslie Nielson fans will know)which left him with a clean swing to and from the ball. Just as he was about to swing I stopped him and informed him about improving his lie was a penalty, his response was one of surprise claiming he thought it was OK to do that as they did it in the midweek seniors comps all the time.

Agree with what Robobum has said, if you see them do it challenge them straight away, as after the event its your word against theirs and things could get nasty

 

[19th]

It is a difficult call on a number of counts.

Your game is won so why bother it is now someone else that has the problem in his next game.

Prove it!! Only you and he ...difficult.

What if you are wrong and 'label' the guy!

I know of a case where the problem puppy was one of a three ball and they experienced what you did on the way round however on one of the later holes they all searched and no ball found but as they moved away, not only was the ball found where they had been searching but the player was able to hit 240 yards from his lie, over a ditch in front of the green i e all carry, from where his ball was 'lost'.

He was reported by them and when the case became known, others all backed it up but had been too scared to challenge him. In fact another club he was a member of came forward and offered info that they too had been informed by members but had nothing to back it up.

Conclusion - it needs two to witness the deed for any offical action to take place.

 

[4_Putt_Specialist]

Thanks for the comments. I am not going to do anything about it now but at the time I had no idea what to do. I'm 23 and have only been playing for 2 years, the lad I was playing is late 30's and has been a member at the course for donkeys years.

I was a little intimidated which is why I didnt say anything at the time. If it does ever happen again I think I would just have a word, and watch him like a hawk!

 

[Matt_B]

If there's just one thing in golf that I hate - it's cheaters!

Even when I'm on my own I count every drop and play from every lie. Some people should not be part of golf.

 

[Ken_A]

I was marking the cards and one day on a par 5 I went a bit wayward - got to teh green where the others had waited for me to play.
Eventually I holed out for a 7 and asked the others their score - one told me a 5 while the other walked on. I asked the flla again and he told me 5.
I was wayword but I did see him take 3 putt and one chip - thus he could simply not have had a 5.

I then told him this and he replied 'I forgot about those chips - it must been a 7'

I asked the other player to confirm this and when we counted it again it was an 8 - the cheat was livid that I followed it up with his usual playing partner.

After a few holes his mate to me 'make sure you count all his shots - hes as slippery as a snake'

So he was known as a cheat.

Now't worse IMHO.