Unsporting behaviour in matchplay

[Fyldewhite]

Post below about matchplay rules got me thinking. A mate of mine was once pulled for playing out of turn after canning a bunker shot in a team match in a very competitive league. He walked off saying if you need the match that much you can have it (among othe choice words).

Question is were his opponents wrong or just playing by the rules ? Was he right or just throwing the toys out ?

Be interesting to see any other similar examples and where do you draw the line ? Seem to remember an similar incident in the Solheim Cup some years ago.

 

[freddielong]

You can see both side of this, but the bottom line is if your friend hadn't played out of turn, it would not be an issue. If you are unsure check don't give your opponents the chance especially when playing in something important.

No his opponents were not wrong and your friend was wrong to throw his toys out the pram but it does't happen if he knows the rules.

 

[Robobum]

Good question Fylde!!!

I can't think of any situation where I would ask them to re play the shot. It's always worth a quick agreement on who is away to avoid such a situation before it arises.

 

[Dodger]

Rules are rules so play to them,if not why bother playing the sport,where do you stop,give your opponent a mulligan when he fresh airs it in the heavy rough??!

 

[Twire]

At my last club, I heard a story with someone claiming a hole because they couldn't positively identify their ball.

Player "A" knocked a 230-250 yard drive down the left, and it just ran into the semi rough. Player "B" knocked his straight down the middle of the fairway. They both went to look for player A's ball, and player A walked straight to it and said yep that's mine it's a XYZ number 3, player B then said how do you know it's yours? Er well that's what I was playing, ah but can you positively identify it? Do you have any identification marks on the ball? errr nope..player B said, well it's my hole if you can't identify your ball.

 

[Ethan]

Post below about matchplay rules got me thinking. A mate of mine was once pulled for playing out of turn after canning a bunker shot in a team match in a very competitive league. He walked off saying if you need the match that much you can have it (among othe choice words).

Question is were his opponents wrong or just playing by the rules ? Was he right or just throwing the toys out ?

Be interesting to see any other similar examples and where do you draw the line ? Seem to remember an similar incident in the Solheim Cup some years ago.

There was an incident at the Solheim, but I think Sorenstam thought it was her shot.

The other side is right to call it back, especially if it is clear that the other player was playing out of turn.

 

[drawboy]

I have to agree with the original posters friend,If anyone is that desperate to win that they call someone for playing out of turn then they would get a few choice words from me as well.
I cannot believe that the chap rushed into the bunker and quickly smashed it into the hole whilst no one was looking. If they had an objection it should have been aired before he played the shot. A simple "Wait your turn" should have sufficed. I detest players like this.

 

[Herbie]

If he played out of turn, opponents have the right to point this out and have the right to make him play again or accept that shot already played.

If the guy concerned gave up the match in frustration at his own ignorance, tough titty I say.

 

[DMC]

I think i would have told them what i thought of them as well,would they have objected had the player left the ball in the bunker? dont think so.

I cant understand this 'win at all costs' attitude.

 

[jammydodger]

I agree with DMC and Drawboy on this one , there are rules and then there are people who apply them without recourse to the spirit of the game.

I recall an occasion in a scratch league game away in Bristol somewhere and our opponents sliced into the trees about 80 yds off the tee. On reaching said trees and thick bushes we found there ball in an awful lie. These 2 herbets then said they were getting a free drop from the "staked" tree. Well you've never seen such a small piece of tape in your life. It was obviously just a tiny scrap (about an inch long) that had been left when they removed all the staked markings abotu 10 years previously.

They insisted on the drop and were quite forceful about it. I suggested they were pretty much out of order and couldnt be serious but they wouldnt have it. We walked off and gave them the win and our teammates all backed us up and even some of the other team couldnt believe what theyd done.

It takes all sorts to ruin a round of golf and a clubs reputation to boot

 

[bobmac]

If this was a Wednesday afternoon spin-up, I would let him off, say good shot, but next time wait your turn.

The fact that it was a team match would have an effect on the decision.
If he played out of turn and won the hole and then won the game and the overall team match, how would you feel when you know you could have made him replay the shot but didnt?
And...........
How would your team mates feel?

 

[Dodger]

Got to say Jammydodger all you needed to do was give the guy the drop he was entitled to without all the drama of walking off....no wonder you think you ruined the round and your clubs reputation!

 

[Smiffy]

If I had been 5 up with 6 to play I would have let it stand. It would have made him feel a bit better.
If I'd been 1 down with 3 to play I'd have called it

 

[pigmeister]

In a freindly match i would just let it go. But in a league match against another club, if he was an ok chap i would warn him and bring the rule to his attention. If he was a dick i would tell him to replay the shot. If you are unsure who is to play, all you need do is ask.
Another rule that is broken alot is when putting out. In stroke play you may putt out and finish the hole, in match play you must mark your ball unless the putt in conseeded. The number of times i`ve stopped people putting out when they`ve putted up to the hole and left a 2/3 footer.
"I`ll finish that".
"no you won`t, mark it please."
"i can finish if i want to!"
"No you can`t, you have to mark it!"
Its amazing how many people do not know some of the basic rules of golf, but then again, i dont think alot of them want to. Or maybe they try it on then realise your not as stupid as you look.

 

[matt01]

when in a match and is close you find that people will look for everything they can,then some cross the line about sportsmanship

but you can not walk off i would have looked for them to do something and then gone after them

it will always come back to them if you give it time

 

[superspur]

A chap I know was pulled up in a club match for grounding his club in a bunker. He was actually using his club to lift the rake handle up to save walking in the bunker to get it!!
A correct call,ofcourse, but was it really necessary? I do think sometimes the game is taken too seriously!!

 

[Smiffy]

A chap I know was pulled up in a club match for grounding his club in a bunker. He was actually using his club to lift the rake handle up to save walking in the bunker to get it!!
A correct call,ofcourse, but was it really necessary? I do think sometimes the game is taken too seriously!!

I've called that one before and would do it again.
No problem.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I totally agree with pigmeister about the rules for putting in matchplay and it can lead to problems. I've also had problems with opponents trying to claim releif from molehills that are clearly several feet in front of the ball and do not impact stance or lie. I carry a rulebook with me all the time and at the first sign of trouble look up the rule. If the opponents are decent guys I'll try and be as nice as I can about it and explain my argument. If the guy is an idiot (we have many when it comes to a matchplay "atttiude") I'll tell him thats how it is and that if takes releif I'll be calling a penalty for moving the ball.

At the end of it I'm as keen to win as the next guy and will play within the rules but I don't want to be looking over my shoulder on every shot waiting for some rule Hitler to try and find fault in the same way as I won't deliberately go looking for infringements.

 

[Ethan]

There is another side to this.

Recast the story as the other team deliberately played first knowing they had an easy uphill bunker shot and their player was Gary Player's long lost nephew, and they were confident they could stiff the ball and put pressure on my partner who had a slippery downhill sidehill 30 footer which was no 2 putt gimme.

Should we ask them to replay it?

 

[jammydodger]

Got to say Jammydodger all you needed to do was give the guy the drop he was entitled to without all the drama of walking off....no wonder you think you ruined the round and your clubs reputation!

LOL , we were 1 down but we had played 14 holes so we got a pretty good game in. Seem to recall it was blazing hot too , so an extra cold one in the clubhouse went down well