Technically, what is the earliest point you could win a singles matchplay game?

[Liverbirdie]

This may be an old chestnut, or asked before, but was discussing it with 2 friends who are rules oficianadoes in our sweep today.

I wont put up with what potential scenario we come up with for now, but what's your thinking.

BTW If someone already knows the definitive answer, let us have a bit of fun for a little bit first.

Thoughts?

There you go Jack and Irving.

 

[brendy]

Not 100% sure but with penalties as well as actual hole losses it can't be too many.

 

[Foxholer]

A no show would be pretty quick imo!

 

[Rlburnside]

Turning up late for your tee time perhaps

 

[backwoodsman]

I'll go with winning 12 & 10 ie after the 8th hole.
That is, you win the first 8 holes and your opponent had 15 clubs in their bag for a few holes so suffer a deduction of 2 holes from the match score for "too many clubs'. At the moment I can't think of any other current rules with "deduction of hole" penalties - but I'm going to guess there's at least one more. So that would be 8 holes won, plus 4 hole deducted, equals 12 holes up and only 10 left to play. (Under the pre-2019 rules I'm sure there were more than the current "too many clubs" rule)

 

[backwoodsman]

I'm struggling to see how you can win more than 1 hole per hole, ie you can't be 2 up after 1 can you? ?‍
So I'll start the ball rolling with the obvious 10 and 8.

As per my other reply, you could be 2 up after one hole, or 4 up after 2 if you win the first 2 holes and you oppo' has too many clubs in their bag.

 

[backwoodsman]

Really?
OK, not doubting you as I never heard of this, so you win the 1st and he discovers 15 clubs, you're 2 up??

Yep. Rule 4.1b has a penalty of " score revision" whereby the result of the hole stands, but the match score is revised by deducting a hole from the players score - for each hole where the breach occurred (up to max of 2 holes). Its different to the usual "loss of hole" penalty. So if, say, player A has too many clubs on the first hole and wins it, then score is adusted and state of match is all square. If they halve the hole, then A would be 1 down, and if A lost, he'd be 2 down.

Ps: it's different in strokeplay - where the penalty is the more usual "2 shots" for each hole where breach occurs.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

Surely if you opponent doesn’t turn up you can win by 18 holes?

 

[rulefan]

Providing the opponent hasn't conceded or defaulted the figure is much higher most would expect.

 

[clubchamp98]

I'll go with winning 12 & 10 ie after the 8th hole.
That is, you win the first 8 holes and your opponent had 15 clubs in their bag for a few holes so suffer a deduction of 2 holes from the match score for "too many clubs'. At the moment I can't think of any other current rules with "deduction of hole" penalties - but I'm going to guess there's at least one more. So that would be 8 holes won, plus 4 hole deducted, equals 12 holes up and only 10 left to play. (Under the pre-2019 rules I'm sure there were more than the current "too many clubs" rule)

Lateness .
If you arrive within 5 mins late ready to play you lose the first hole.
But do you still play that first hole?
How can you be 2 up after 1 hole?
Same with the to many club breaches can you win a hole that has been given to you by ops rule infringement.
So am going for 10&8 as you can’t win 2 holes on any given hole.

Peter say hello to Mr Glassman for me.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

What about penalties for using non-conforming Clubs or Balls, would that effect the result if found on consecutive holes?
Good thread

 

[clubchamp98]

What about penalties for using non-conforming Clubs or Balls, would that effect the result if found on consecutive holes?
Good thread

Think that would be more of a DQ
Logic says if you win a hole where your op breaches a rule you can only win one hole at a time.
Any hole he wins he loses but it’s only one hole at a time.
So after 10 holes you have won he can’t catch you so 10&8 for me.
Great question you are right but sometimes logic and the rules don’t go hand in hand.

 

[birdyhunter]

You both hit your first drives then the other bloke gets a phone call saying that his wife is about to give birth so he concedes all the holes... that's quite early!

 

[clubchamp98]

You both hit your first drives then the other bloke gets a phone call saying that his wife is about to give birth so he concedes all the holes... that's quite early!

That’s a con session though.
I think the question was if you actually play the match .
With the word win in the title, that’s how I read it anyway.

 

[rulefan]

So am going for 10&8 as you can’t win 2 holes on any given hole.

You don't "win 2 holes on any given hole". The score for the hole stands but the running score is adjusted to reduce the offender's score by one hole.
See 4.1b(4)

 

[srixon 1]

I won a game 9/8 a couple of years ago. I won every hole bar 1. Surely it must be 10/8 or 9/8.

 

[rulefan]

The last figure I have is 17 - 15.

 

[rulefan]

Golfer shouts across to his mate on the 3rd green, "how are you going Bob?".
"I'm 17 down"
????

Exactly

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Think that would be more of a DQ
Logic says if you win a hole where your op breaches a rule you can only win one hole at a time.
Any hole he wins he loses but it’s only one hole at a time.
So after 10 holes you have won he can’t catch you so 10&8 for me.
Great question you are right but sometimes logic and the rules don’t go hand in hand.

I think in matchplay it’s loss of hole for the ball, ie, 3rd or 4th Hole opponent plays his ball off tee into rubbish, you find it and discover it’s a non-conforming one, he loses that hole, that’s is on top of any other previous issues, next hole you notice the Driver he uses is an old non-conforming one, another hole lost.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

The last figure I have is 17 - 15.

Dormy on the 2nd?