Interregnum

Rog will take a break from posting while he reviews the state of his proposed revised rules for club and social golfers and works on the task of formatting them into a state suitable for publication.

If, however, anything sufficiently interesting arises that Rog believes the spotlight should be focussed on he will, no doubt, suspend this task and post a comment.

Thanks to all those who have shown the interest to read this blog over the past 18 months, particularly to those who have stimulated discussion by taking the time to post a comment.

In the meantime, if anyone has an inspiration as to how the Rules might be simplified or improved for 'club' golfers, please post a comment on this page.

Simpler Rules: Rule 32

Rule 32: Par and Stableford Competitions 

32-1 Conditions

Par and Stableford competitions are forms of stroke play in which play is against a fixed score at each hole. The Rules for stroke play, so far as they are not at variance with the following specific Rules, apply. 

In handicap par and Stableford competitions, the competitor with the lowest net score at a hole takes the honour at the next tee. 

a. Par Competitions

The scoring for par competitions is made as in match play.

Any hole which is not completed or at which the player achieves a net score which is greater than the fixed score (par) for the hole is a loss (or minus). The winner is the competitor who is most successful in the aggregate of holes. 

The marker is responsible for marking only the gross number of strokes for each hole where the competitor makes a net score equal to or less than the fixed score. 

b. Stableford Competitions 

The scoring in Stableford competitions is made by points awarded in relation to a fixed score at each hole as follows: 

Hole Played In                                                                  Points 

More than one over fixed score or no score returned        0

One over fixed score                                                          1

Fixed score                                                                         2

One under fixed score                                                        3

Two under fixed score                                                        4

Three under fixed score                                                     5

Four under fixed score                                                       6 

The winner is the competitor who scores the highest aggregate number of points. 

The marker is responsible for marking only the gross number of strokes at each hole where the competitor’s net score earns one or more points. 

 

32-2 Breach of Rule Were Maximum Penalty per Round Applies

If a competitor is in breach of a Rule for which there is a maximum penalty per round, he must report the facts to the Committee before returning his score card. If he fails to do so, he is disqualified from the competition.

 

 

Simpler Rules: Rule 31

Rule 31: Better-ball Stroke Play 

31-1. General

Rules 1 to 28 apply unless they are over-ridden by the any specific provision included in this Rule.

31-2. Representation of Side

A side may be represented by either partner for all or any part of a stipulated round; both partners need not be present. An absent competitor may join his partner between holes, but not during play of a hole.

31-3. Scoring

The marker is required to record for each hole only the gross score of whichever partner’s score is to count. The gross scores to count must be individually identifiable; otherwise, the side is disqualified. Only one of the partners need be responsible for signing and returning the scorecard.  

(Wrong score – see Rule 31-7a)

31-4. Order of Play

Balls belonging to the same side may be played in the order the side considers best. 

31-5. Wrong Ball

If a competitor makes a stroke at a wrong ball, he incurs a penalty of two strokes and must correct his mistake in accordance with Rule 15-3b. His partner incurs no penalty, even if the wrong ball belongs to him. 

If the wrong ball belongs to another player, its owner must place a ball at the nearest point, not nearer to the hole, to the position (or estimated position where appropriate) from which his ball was first wrongly played which avoids damage to the lie created by the playing of that ball.

(Placing and Replacing – see Rule 20-3) 

31-6. Effect of Other Penalties

If a player’s breach of a Rule assists his partner’s play or adversely affects an opponent’s play, the partner incurs the applicable penalty in addition to any penalty incurred by the player. 

In all other cases where a player incurs a penalty for breach of a Rule, the penalty does not apply to his partner. Where the penalty is stated to be loss of hole, the effect is to disqualify the player for that hole. 

For penalties to, or disqualification of, a side see Rule 33

 

 

 

 

Simpler Rules: Rule 30

Revised 140713

Rule 30: Better-ball Match Play  
                  
30-1. General

Rules 1 to 28 apply unless they are over-ridden by the any specific provision included in this Rule.

 

30-2 Better-ball Match Play

a. Representation of Side

A side may be represented by one partner for all or any part of a match; all partners need not be present. An absent partner may join a match between holes, but not during play of a hole. 

b. Order of Play

Balls belonging to the same side may be played in the order the side considers best.

c. Wrong Ball

If a player makes a stroke at a wrong ball, he is disqualified for that hole, but his partner incurs no penalty even if the wrong ball belongs to him.

If the wrong ball belongs to another player, its owner must place a ball at the nearest point, not nearer to the hole, to the position (or estimated position where appropriate) from which his ball was first wrongly played which avoids damage to the lie created by the playing of that ball.

 

 (Placing and Replacing – see Rule 20-3) 

d. Effect of Other Penalties

If a player’s breach of a Rule assists his partner’s play or adversely affects an opponent’s play, the partner incurs the applicable penalty in addition to any penalty incurred by the player. 

In all other cases where a player incurs a penalty for breach of a Rule, the penalty does not apply to his partner. Where the penalty is stated to be loss of hole, the effect is to disqualify the player for that hole. 

For penalties to, or disqualification of, a side see Rule 33.

 

 

 

Rog's Blog: Dodgy Decisions #14

Consider the following: 

27-2c/1.5

Whether Provisional Ball Becomes Ball in Play If Original Ball Lost in Ground Under Repair

Q. A player hits his tee shot into an area of tall rough and, since the ball may be lost, he plays a provisional ball. During search for the original ball, the player discovers that the Committee has marked a large area of the rough as ground under repair. It is established that there is virtual certainty that the original ball is in the ground under repair. Does the provisional ball automatically become the ball in play since the original ball, which has not been found, was outside a water hazard? 

A. No. The player may continue play with the provisional ball under Rule 27-2b or he may proceed under Rule 25-1c(i) as it is virtually certain that his ball is in ground under repair — see Exception to Rule 27-2b. 

Since when has a player had the choice of which ball to play (other than the ‘special circumstances’ described in Appendix 1, Part B, 1) 

And what are the good and substantial reasons, or exceptional circumstances, to support a choice being available in this situation.  

The reality is that there are none of either! 

This player strikes the ball towards an area where (in the player’s judgement) it may be lost. 

The player puts a provisional ball into play. 

When s/he reaches the area where the ball is thought to have come to rest, it is duly established to be virtually certain that the ball is in GUR; and it cannot be found. 

But in terms of Rule of Rule 25-1c the ball has been virtually found and is deemed to lie at the point where it last crossed the margin of the GUR. 

So, what to do? 

Simple answer: proceed in accordance with Rule 25-1c. 

To suggest that the provisional ball should remain ‘live’ while the player decides on his/her preferable option is just nonsense. 

This decision has no basis in rationality, nor is it supported by any cogent reasoning or explanation.  It is dodgy in the extreme.