What should I have done?

[G_Mulligan]

I played yesterday in the monthly medal with 2 members from my course. It was only the third time I had played and it was still for handicap purposes. It is a large group of members who play every saturday in the comps together. I was in a 3 ball and did not know either of the other two players. One player was a young lad and played off scratch nice guy but a bit cocky. He had a good front nine with 2 under but did not play all that well on the back although scrambled well and saved many shots that I would have left on the course.

However on two occasions on the back nine he had a putt for birdie but raced it past maybe 2-3 feet he got pissed off and did not make much of an effort on the return par putt stabbing them towards the hole and scooping them up while still moving. He gave himself PAR for both of these holes. This was a medal comp and they should have been bogeys at the very least. It seemed to me like thought he was too good to miss three footers and too arrogant to properly try with them.

He ended up carding a 68(par70) but thankfully did not win the comp. I really wish now I had said something but I am new to the course and the group, playing with guys I do not know who are much much better than me and so I kept my mouth shut and marked the card.

 

[AuburnWarrior]

However on two occasions on the back nine he had a putt for birdie but raced it past maybe 2-3 feet he got pissed off and did not make much of an effort on the return par putt stabbing them towards the hole and scooping them up while still moving. He gave himself PAR for both of these holes. This was a medal comp and they should have been bogeys at the very least. It seemed to me like thought he was too good to miss three footers and too arrogant to properly try with them.

He ended up carding a 68(par70) but thankfully did not win the comp. I really wish now I had said something but I am new to the course and the group, playing with guys I do not know who are much much better than me and so I kept my mouth shut and marked the card.

Regardless of ability, in a medal round, EVERYTHING must be holed. He should know this.

We had a similar thing at our club recently where a guy was 18 inches from the hole in a medal round and got annoyed that he wasn't given the putt (

If I were you, I'd say something to a committee member/club official.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

If it was the monthly medal you should have penalised him for hitting a moving ball and once he had failed to hole out NR'd him. It isn't optional as he had broken the rules. Sounds to me like a knob of the highest order and if he'd kicked off I have told the handicap/comp secretary what had gone on and why you'd done it. If his partners had condoned the behaviour as well they aren't the type of golfers I'd like to be playing with on a regular basis anyway.

 

[HRC99]

I would have said something the first time he did it and, if necessary, refused to sign his card.

Always much better to say something as soon as it happens than let it go on. Much more difficult to resolve at the end rather than at the time.

 

[bobmac]

I would not have signed his card.
If he did not hole out before hitting his next tee shot he is disqualified
End of story

 

[madandra]

I carry a spare R&A rule book in my bag and if I see someone 'cheating' I hand them a copy and ask them to point out where it says cheating is allowed. Then tell him to keep it for future reference.

 

[smange]

I would have said something the first time he did it and, if necessary, refused to sign his card.

Always much better to say something as soon as it happens than let it go on. Much more difficult to resolve at the end rather than at the time.

This exactly!!

It can be difficult to speak up but it needs to be done, how would you feel if he had won?

 

[Crow]

Tough call, what you should have done was called the penalty on him and asked him to finish the hole correctly according to the rules but that would take some nerve from the position you describe.

You might not have made a friend but the cuplrit will go on doing it as long as he thinks he can get away with it, and if he does this he's s likely to interpret the rules to suit himself in other ways too.

Devalues his "scratch" handicap in my eyes!

 

[Dodger]

Were you marking the card?

If so YOU need to be taking a look at yourself,if he didn't hole out you mark NR down and if he signed for anything bar an NR then he's a cheating *** end of.

If he didn't hole out why on earth did whoever was signing the card put anything other that an NR down? Am i missing something??

 

[GB72]

If it is a comp then the ball has to end up in the cup, simple. If he does not finish a hole by scooping up the ball mid roll then then that s a DQ.

 

[ScienceBoy]

You are the one marking the card, he can note his score down as whatever but he isnt going to know you marked it different until the end.

I think he was hoping you did not know the rules and how to punish him.

The best thing to do is query at the end of the round before signing and amend if you do not know the rules.

 

[G_Mulligan]

As far as I am aware the other player in the group did not see any of this as he had holed out and walked back to his bag. I know I should have said something and I am sure I will next time whoever it is. I was also playing so so badly that my confidence was shot to bits and was embarrased to even be out there with them.

 

[rickg]

No wonder he's a scratch golfer!!!

 

[feary]

This is a difficult one for a newbie. If you knew them you could just call them a cheating prick and not sign the card but you don't want to go making enemies. A quiet word to the side I feel would have been the right situation saying look, i can't sign this card etc.

 

[Dodger]

What is difficult about it??

It's a Medal and he didn't hole out????!!!!!

 

[bladeplayer]

.

However on two occasions on the back nine he had a putt for birdie but raced it past maybe 2-3 feet he got pissed off and did not make much of an effort on the return par putt stabbing them towards the hole and scooping them up while still moving. He gave himself PAR for both of these holes. This was a medal comp and they should have been bogeys at the very least. It seemed to me like thought he was too good to miss three footers and too arrogant to properly try with them.

He ended up carding a 68(par70) but thankfully did not win the comp. I really wish now I had said something but I am new to the course and the group, playing with guys I do not know who are much much better than me and so I kept my mouth shut and marked the card.

mate i apreciate you didnt wana upset this "cheater" but you have an obligation to every1 else that payed their comp entrance money to NOT sign his card. Hope im not sounding like im having a go at you (im not) but you have to report this incident to your club secretary, ask for a meeting in private & tell him exactly what you said here ,

 

[GB72]

By not dealing with it at the time it only becomes more difficult. Now you have to call the club and inform that you signed for an invalid card and ask that it be DQd which will then lead to a more awkward situations when the person concerned sees a DQ against his name on Howdidido.

 

[beggsy]

next time you see him just pull him to 1 side and explain to him that you know what he did was wrong and you will inform the commitee the next time you see him do it

 

[goldenbare]

I agree with Feary here Dodger, for a new player like Mulligan it is an awkward situation to assess. Give him a bit more experience and i'm sure he will know what to do if the situation arises again.
If he is still trying to establish his own handicap he is thinking more about that than other young premadonnas and their tantrums.

 

[Dodger]

If folk think this is a difficult one to deal with then it really makes me wonder just how much 'false' golf goes on up and down the country....it really does.

Someone fails to hole out in a Medal but the guy marking his card sticks him down for 2 pars and signs his card.

New to golf or not,words fail me.