Would you say anything????............

[Smiffy]

Playing in a medal at your club, with somebody you have never met before. He's a long standing member, low handicapped player, so obviously knows the rules.
You introduce yourself on the first tee, and notice that he seems a little "offish".
Winter rules are in place, and he proceeds to smack one down the middle.
As he gets to his ball, instead of marking it, and then placing it within 6 inches, (as the rules dictate), he moves it with his clubhead to a nice spot and gets ready to play his shot.
He's no nearer the hole, and is within 6 inches, so he didn't break any rule in that, but he didn't mark his ball as directed.
Do you say something to him and possibly end up having a round where you wished you were on your own, or do you just let him get on with it?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Playing in a medal at your club, with somebody you have never met before. He's a long standing member, low handicapped player, so obviously knows the rules.
You introduce yourself on the first tee, and notice that he seems a little "offish".
Winter rules are in place, and he proceeds to smack one down the middle.
As he gets to his ball, instead of marking it, and then placing it within 6 inches, (as the rules dictate), he moves it with his clubhead to a nice spot and gets ready to play his shot.
He's no nearer the hole, and is within 6 inches, so he didn't break any rule in that, but he didn't mark his ball as directed.
Do you say something to him and possibly end up having a round where you wished you were on your own, or do you just let him get on with it?

Well if he didnt mark it as directed by the rules then yes he broke rules and would tell him

Have had the same situation in a winter league match last year - my partner saw him do it - so he informed him that he would like to see him do the procedure correctly in future of penalise him every time he did

 

[ArnoldArmChewer]

In a medal yes I would discuss it, it's your responsibility to every other competitor to ensure that the rules are played too.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Yes in a Medal.

 

[sandmagnet]

I'd ask him why he was doing that, as I thought the rule was was mark and 6 inches and wait for him to see if he was trying it on or testing me me about the rules. Hard really when your starting out with different members.

 

[Smiffy]

If I were playing a friendly game or playing with people I know, I would have no hesitation in saying something.
But I'd feel a bit awkward as I'm playing with an "unknown" and and "unknown" that has already let me know (by his introduction on the tee) that he was a bit "stand offish".
If there were an "atmosphere" throughout the rest of the round, there's no doubt about it.... it would put me off my game.

 

[chrisd]

Providing the local rule uses the specimen ones in the rule book that REQUIRE a player to mark his ball then, yes, I'd point out to him that he wasn't proceeding correctly

 

[FairwayDodger]

Nope, no harm done.

 

[sandmagnet]

If I were playing a friendly game or playing with people I know, I would have no hesitation in saying something.
But I'd feel a bit awkward as I'm playing with an "unknown" and and "unknown" that has already let me know (by his introduction on the tee) that he was a bit "stand offish".
If there were an "atmosphere" throughout the rest of the round, there's no doubt about it.... it would put me off my game.

Way I see it rob is sod him! beat him and then big smile please. I played last time out with a guy I can't stand,but I shook his hand and wished him well and called good shot when he hit one,don't understand why people are offish as its only golf. did this happen to you or future reference ?

 

[virtuocity]

I'm with FD- no harm done.

I would, however, (as I've done before) have a quiet word advising him to be careful as there's lots of people around who would call a penalty on him for not marking the ball.

I know there will be loads of folk reading this thinking 'But the rules are the rules, call the penalty, integrity of the game etc etc'.

No way am I calling that penalty.

 

[chrisd]

I'm with FD- no harm done.

I would, however, (as I've done before) have a quiet word advising him to be careful as there's lots of people around who would call a penalty on him for not marking the ball.

I know there will be loads of folk reading this thinking 'But the rules are the rules, call the penalty, integrity of the game etc etc'.

No way am I calling that penalty.

I think in hindsight I'd do it that way first, provided he didn't exceed the 6" requirement and only moved the ball once.

 

[daverollo]

I'm with FD- no harm done.

I would, however, (as I've done before) have a quiet word advising him to be careful as there's lots of people around who would call a penalty on him for not marking the ball.

I know there will be loads of folk reading this thinking 'But the rules are the rules, call the penalty, integrity of the game etc etc'.

No way am I calling that penalty.

This for me, I'd also point out the reason why the rule is in place is to allow him to clean his ball to get any crap off it, which is highly likely to be a feature this time of year.

 

[patricks148]

if its no more than 6 inches, can't see a problem, if winter rules are in place.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Q. So how do I prefer the lie?

If the player chooses to prefer the lie of the ball, the position of the ball must be first marked. Most players will use a tee to mark the position of the ball but a coin or other similarly sized object is suitable. Once the ball has been marked, the player can then lift the ball and clean it if desired. The ball must then be placed on a spot no nearer the hole within the area specified by the Committee, e.g. within six inches.

It is worth noting that the specified area in which to place the ball can vary from club to club. Some committees will stipulate within six inches, others a score card-length or perhaps even one club-length. There is no hard and fast Rule, therefore it is best to check in advance the distance the placement has to occur, to avoid any unnecessary penalties.

This is something PGA Tour golfer Ryuji Imada would have been advised to do, to avoid the 26-stroke penalty he incurred at a recent tournament in China. Imada assumed he could prefer the lie of the ball within a club-length of its original position, as is standard on the PGA Tour. But the Local Rules for this tournament stated that the placement had to occur within the length of one score-card. When this was brought to Imada’s attention he informed tournament officials before signing his card. He was assessed a two-stroke penalty for each of the thirteen times he had preferred the lie outside of the prescribed distance and finally signed for a first round total of 24-over-par, 97!

Q. What happens if I do not mark the position of the ball or move it in another way to prefer the lie?

If the player fails to mark the position of the ball before lifting it or moves the ball in any other manner, such as rolling it with the club, the player incurs a penalty of one stroke.

http://www.randa.org/en/RandA/News/Features/2010/December/Preferred-Lies.aspx

Sorry but when did we decide to start picking and choosing which rules to follow and which to ignore.

 

[Deleted member 18121]

I wouldn't say anything, what difference would it have made.

 

[CheltenhamHacker]

Just to confirm, if Winter rules are in place, does that mean it can't be a qualifying comp?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Just to confirm, if Winter rules are in place, does that mean it can't be a qualifying comp?

It can still be qualifying as long as you are playing a measured course on greens ( think a number can be winter ) but any course records are not valid as such.

 

[bobmac]

If you dont mark the ball and just roll it with your club, you could move it more than 6in.
If you dont mark the ball and pick it up to clean it you might put it back in the wrong place.
The important thing is to place the ball ẃithin 6in (or ẃhatever your local rule is).
He has done that.
Thē bit of the rule he has broken is there to protect the main bit of the rule that he didn't break.

 

[ShankyBoy]

I'd take the naive approach and ask "I didn't realise you can just roll it with your club, I thought it had to be marked so it stays within 6 inches" and see what he said.

Agree, you can't pick and choose rules.

 

[Crazyface]

I'd take the naive approach and ask "I didn't realise you can just roll it with your club, I thought it had to be marked so it stays within 6 inches" and see what he said.

Agree, you can't pick and choose rules.

And this is the correct answer. Non confrontational, sort of jokey and adding "I check with the lads when we get in" so everyone will know what he is doing.