Use of Buggies in Singles Competitions

[apj0524]

Hi

We allow the use of buggies in all competitions but we do not allow competitors to share a buggy on the basis it is sharing equipment, can i ask if other clubs have a similar policy or another policy on the the sharing of buggies during compeitions.

My thoughts are if we are going to deviate from our current policy next year Players can only share a buggy if both players have a medical exemption

Would welcome view and details of a written policy if you can share

 

[jim8flog]

We used to have restrictions on buggy use but abandoned them many years ago.

There was a bit of a furore when a pair were disqualified because only one of them had a medical certificate.

With the general cost of hiring buggies going up and up it makes sense to allow players to share the cost.

One of the club's views is that we want to maximise the hiring of buggies and not have them sat idle.

I do not know about other surgeries but ours certainly would not supply such a certificate these days as the GPs time is far too valuable to take up.

One question - is a buggy equipment?

 

[D-S]

It’s a leisure pursuit, if someone wants a buggy why not?
I would like some preferential treatment for those with medical issues but if this can’t be sorted then just hire one.
Did we have this issue when some people could use a caddy rather than have to carry their own clubs? Should fatigue induced by carrying your bag be ‘an integral part of the sport’? Is using a push trolley borderline cheating rather than carrying as golf is intended to be played? Is an electric trolley mechanical doping?
Again it’s a leisure pursuit.

 

[wjemather]

Hi

We allow the use of buggies in all competitions but we do not allow competitors to share a buggy on the basis it is sharing equipment, can i ask if other clubs have a similar policy or another policy on the the sharing of buggies during compeitions.

My thoughts are if we are going to deviate from our current policy next year Players can only share a buggy if both players have a medical exemption

Would welcome view and details of a written policy if you can share

It's only clubs that cannot be shared per the rules, so just wondering how this came about and why?

 

[Colin L]

Hi

We allow the use of buggies in all competitions but we do not allow competitors to share a buggy on the basis it is sharing equipment, can i ask if other clubs have a similar policy or another policy on the the sharing of buggies during compeitions.

My thoughts are if we are going to deviate from our current policy next year Players can only share a buggy if both players have a medical exemption

Would welcome view and details of a written policy if you can share

Golf clubs are the only items of equipment about which there is a rule prohibiting sharing [Rule 4.1b(2)] and sharing is internally defined in that rule as making a stroke with another player's club. Any other item of equipment can be shared or borrowed. If players are permitted to use a buggy in a competition , there is no rules based reason I can see to justify prohibiting two players from riding on and having their clubs carried on the same buggy. Neither player is sharing the other's clubs by the fact they are on the same buggy. They would only be doing so were they to make a stroke with one of the other's clubs.

If you restrict the use of a buggy to players with a medical exemption, however, a player without an exemption cannot hitch a lift on the buggy of one who has. If you decide to limit mechanised transport to those with a medical exemption, use Model Local Rule G-6. You should also define the criteria and the procedure for seeking exemption.. (Note the usual exception that permits any player to be transported to and from the place he played his previous stroke when taking stroke and distance. It makes time-saving sense.)

 

[Steven Rules]

we do not allow competitors to share a buggy on the basis it is sharing equipment,

This is borderline nonsense. As Colin has said, there is no Rules-based reason to prohibit sharing of buggies. Who dreamed this up as a justification?

Heck, the Rules even expressly allow multiple players to carry their own clubs in the one golf bag (Clarification 4.1b(2)/1)

The Committee is well within its rights to limit or prohibit the use of motorised transportation (see Model Local Rule G-6) but don't use a non-existent prohibition on sharing equipment as the reason.

 

[Steven Rules]

One question - is a buggy equipment?

Yes.

 

[salfordlad]

As eloquently explained by others, this Committee simply doesn't understand the Rule book on this issue and has erred in their reasoning. Historical approaches - people need to walk to play golf - still has a much greater hold in the GBI context than anywhere else on the planet.

 

[Neilds]

Yes.

Are you contradicting your previous post which is very clear and concise. You are now clouding the issue with this post.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

You can allow players to share a buggy in your local rules etc

 

[DickInShorts]

Anybody can use a buggy at our course with no restrictions.
Imagine if this was a rule of golf and applied in USA!!!

 

[Steven Rules]

Are you contradicting your previous post which is very clear and concise. You are now clouding the issue with this post.

No. How?

The question was: "is a buggy equipment?" The answer is "yes"

 

[The Squirrel]

Are you contradicting your previous post which is very clear and concise. You are now clouding the issue with this post.

Where is the contradiction? From his post - which references Colin's above his, I got
- buggies are equipment.
- clubs are the only equipment that cannot be shared - any other equipment is fine to share.

Combine those two thoughts....

 

[apj0524]

Golf clubs are the only items of equipment about which there is a rule prohibiting sharing [Rule 4.1b(2)] and sharing is internally defined in that rule as making a stroke with another player's club. Any other item of equipment can be shared or borrowed. If players are permitted to use a buggy in a competition , there is no rules based reason I can see to justify prohibiting two players from riding on and having their clubs carried on the same buggy. Neither player is sharing the other's clubs by the fact they are on the same buggy. They would only be doing so were they to make a stroke with one of the other's clubs.

If you restrict the use of a buggy to players with a medical exemption, however, a player without an exemption cannot hitch a lift on the buggy of one who has. If you decide to limit mechanised transport to those with a medical exemption, use Model Local Rule G-6. You should also define the criteria and the procedure for seeking exemption.. (Note the usual exception that permits any player to be transported to and from the place he played his previous stroke when taking stroke and distance. It makes time-saving sense.)

Thank you

 

[Neilds]

Where is the contradiction? From his post - which references Colin's above his, I got
- buggies are equipment.
- clubs are the only equipment that cannot be shared - any other equipment is fine to share.

Combine those two thoughts....

He says those things but in two separate posts. In my eyes, it would have been better to combine the two two posts into one and explain that whilst buggies are equipment…..

Would have been clearer and simpler.

 

[jim8flog]

Yes.

My question was in relation to sharing equipment ie are players not allowed to share buggies because it is sharing equipment (see OP)

 

[jim8flog]

Hi

We allow the use of buggies in all competitions but we do not allow competitors to share a buggy on the basis it is sharing equipment, can i ask if other clubs have a similar policy or another policy on the the sharing of buggies during compeitions.

My thoughts are if we are going to deviate from our current policy next year Players can only share a buggy if both players have a medical exemption

Would welcome view and details of a written policy if you can share

One point I would add is

When this was discussed by the club committee it was universally agreed that using a buggy offered a distinct advantage - therefore why should this advantage not be available to all competitors who would choose to use one.

 

[wjemather]

One point I would add is

When this was discussed by the club committee it was universally agreed that using a buggy offered a distinct advantage - therefore why should this advantage not be available to all competitors who would choose to use one.

I'm curious to know what the evidence was that led to universal agreement.

 

[rulie]

My question was in relation to sharing equipment ie are players not allowed to share buggies because it is sharing equipment (see OP)

Has your question been satisfactorily answered (the only equipment that the Rules of Golf prohibit sharing is clubs, with limited exceptions for partners)?

 

[Swinglowandslow]

I'm curious to know what the evidence was that led to universal agreement.

Why the need for “evidence”. It was universally agreed. IOW, The committee were all of the same opinion.
Are you implying that you expected there to be evidence, I.e. objective data or facts?