Stipulated Round

[CallawayKid]

Oh Oracle of rules and opinions,

I have been given another poser by the lovely membership!
Yesterday our midweek medal guys went out for their rounds, midweek is a roll up so no set tee times it's just balls in a bag time. However, some of the chaps wandered off to start on our third hole (It's stroke index one).

I've looked through the rules of golf but can only find the rule regarding a stipulated round. Is it ok to start a qualifying competition on a stroke index one hole?

The committee are being friendly about it and allowing the scores to stand, I just want to ensure that this decision is not above the committee and that they have not ignored any rule of golf.

I await your learned responses

CK

 

[Colin L]

Oh Oracle of rules and opinions,
CK

Players must play the stipulated round (Rule 3-1). A stipulated round is defined as the holes of the course in the sequence 1-18 unless the Committee has authorised something else (see Definitions). An example of authorising something different is when you have half the field starting at the 1st and the other half starting at the 10th. Your players who started at the third did not play the stipulated round and should have been disqualified.

I wouldn't go along with the Committee retrospectively deciding to authorise a different stipulated round for a few players. It sounds too much like waiving a rule.

By the way, for a stroke play comp the stroke index is irrelevant.

 

[rulefan]

The players must play the round as stipulated.

The Stipulated Round consists of playing the holes of the Course in their correct sequence, unless otherwise authorized by the Committee. The number of holes in a Stipulated Round is 18 unless a smaller number is authorized by the Committee.

However, there is no rules problem with starting a stipulated round with a stroke index one hole, although it is not recommended.

 

[CallawayKid]

Thanks chaps, this was my understanding too. I just sometimes think that people want an arguement.

CK

 

[duncan mackie]

Thanks chaps, this was my understanding too. I just sometimes think that people want an arguement.

CK

just be sure the committee can point to their existing authorisation ie documented, otherwise they will have problems.

as most know I am all for committees being 'friendly', but they have to do it at the right time, and in the right way. Normally this is in advance of the event!

 

[chrisd]

Our comps are stipulated as either a 1st tee or 10th tee start so it cover the question of the guys going off the 10th and playing the holes in a different order ie 10 - 18 then 1 - 9.

 

[SaintHacker]

All our club comps are played with a shotgun start. I think its a far better way to do it, everyone is back in the clubhouse within about half and hour, the bar takings go up due to this, the course is effectively closed for the morning, so visitors then have the whole afternoon. Its a win win situation for the club, and the Mrs knows what time I will be in!

 

[duncan mackie]

All our club comps are played with a shotgun start. I think its a far better way to do it, everyone is back in the clubhouse within about half and hour, the bar takings go up due to this, the course is effectively closed for the morning, so visitors then have the whole afternoon. Its a win win situation for the club, and the Mrs knows what time I will be in!

clearly it works for you - personally I can only see problems with such an approach on every level; not least the fact that many people have to factor other elements around their golf and would end up excluded by such an approach.

 

[BTatHome]

How do you get everyone back into the clubhouse within half an hour .... must be a small field of players, or an incredibly fast round.

 

[rulefan]

I guess he meant within half an hour of each other.

But I wonder how they manage a field of 150+ with a shotgun start unless they have two or three groups on each hole.

 

[BTatHome]

I guess he meant within half an hour of each other.

But I wonder how they manage a field of 150+ with a shotgun start unless they have two or three groups on each hole.

I realise what he meant, but it still means only half hour of tee times spread over 2 tees, 8 mins between tee times means very few competitors.

 

[SaintHacker]

I realise what he meant, but it still means only half hour of tee times spread over 2 tees, 8 mins between tee times means very few competitors.

Turn outs vary, obviously. We usually have about 13 starting holes I think, with two groups of fourballs starting from each, sometimes 3 if theres a big turnout.

 

[Jay Gee]

I realise what he meant, but it still means only half hour of tee times spread over 2 tees, 8 mins between tee times means very few competitors.

I think it's spread over 18 tees, not 2. And you can have 2 groups on each tee.

 

[BTatHome]

I think it's spread over 18 tees, not 2. And you can have 2 groups on each tee.

Doh, assumed we were still saying just 2 tees.

Ok understand now .. can't say I'd want to do that for every comp. certainly around our pace you would be seriously hampered by starting on some holes.

 

[Colin L]

You would need to avoid doubling up, however, on any hole where the green can be reached off the tee, would you not?

 

[chrisd]

All our club comps are played with a shotgun start. I think its a far better way to do it, everyone is back in the clubhouse within about half and hour, the bar takings go up due to this, the course is effectively closed for the morning, so visitors then have the whole afternoon. Its a win win situation for the club, and the Mrs knows what time I will be in!

I would absolutely be against that method. There are certain holes on our course that you definitely would not want as a starting hole and I would feel that it's not a level playing field as far as my handicap is concerned

I go off in comp 8 to 8.30 ish and hid knows I shall be home around 1.30pm

 

[Kellfire]

Our first is the SI 1 and often wrecks a medal card before you've got a chance to get going.

 

[Colin L]

I agree with Chris as far as any serious competition is concerned. To start half the field at the 1st and half at the 10th introduces quite enough variance for most of us, I reckon. Is it different at the top of the game? Does it make no odds to a really good player where he starts?

 

[MashieNiblick]

Is it different at the top of the game? Does it make no odds to a really good player where he starts?

Interesting point with the Players in progress. Wonder how many in the field would fancy starting at the 17th? I guess if you knew you were going to you could practice the tee shot on the range before teeing it up for real. Would still be a tough shot first up though.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Thanks chaps, this was my understanding too. I just sometimes think that people want an arguement.

CK

I just think that sometimes people want to make rules up to suit themselves.