Hi Linda……A recent dispute in match play involved a ball hanging over the hole and eventually falling in …..Rule 16-2 allows 10 seconds for the ball to fall once the player has reached the hole but in this case the other player claimed it was well over 10 seconds while the player said it was well within that time…..Neither player had a watch …..How should this dispute be resolved?……..The same may apply to a lost ball time limit.
Thanking you,
Lou Lou
Dear Lou Lou,
This is a very sticky situation, and certainly a difficult matter for a Committee to resolve. Both players will be interviewed, and their testimony will be carefully evaluated. If there are any spectators, they will be asked to offer testimony. The Committee is obligated to decide quickly, and I do not envy them this job. Please read Decision 34-3/9 for a full explanation of the Committee’s responsibilities resolving questions of fact.
It is always best to take some initiative to avoid a later dispute. In the situation where a ball is hanging over the hole, mention to your opponent as he is walking towards the hole that he may only wait ten seconds for the ball to drop, and start counting those seconds aloud as soon as he gets there. That will help to make both of you more conscious of the amount of time that has elapsed.
The five-minute rule for declaring a ball lost is a little trickier–I can’t imagine anyone counting 1-1,000, 2-1,000, all the way up to 300-1,000. If there is a referee accompanying a group, he will automatically start timing as soon as the search has begun. Those of us who play without the supervision of a referee (I’m guessing that would be most of us) have to be reasonable. If you play with people who like to use up the full time allotment to search for lost balls, then bring your watch.
I would like to hope that two people playing a match can resolve the matter amicably without involving a referee or Committee member.
Linda
Copyright © 2011 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
