Hi Linda,
I have the following question on something that happened during an official club competition this weekend:
When playing the 16th hole there are white OB stakes near the fairway of the 14th hole. Our local rule reads as follows: "When playing the 16th hole a ball is out of bounds if it comes to rest beyond the line of white stakes on the 14th hole. These stakes must not be removed. Free relief can only be obtained when playing the 14th hole."
It was reported to the Competition secretary by a player who was playing the 16th hole that a player who was playing the 14th hole removed an OB stake in order to play his ball.
This is in breach of the local rule. The player recorded a score of 5 on his card. He should have incurred a 2-stroke penalty and should have altered the 5 to a 7. The competition secretary disqualified the player after consulting with the player and his marker. They both agreed that the player had removed the white stake.
The question that is now being asked is whether the player’s marker should also be disqualified for marking an incorrect card. The marker has not been disqualified because the Player is responsible for his card.
Could you please comment on this?
Best regards,
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
A marker would never be disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard.
The competitor is responsible for the correctness of his scorecard. If he returns a card with a score on a hole that is lower than what he shot, he is disqualified [Rule 6-6d].
The competitor should review the scorecard with his marker before he signs it and turns it in. Any disputes or doubtful points should be resolved with the Committee before he signs the card [Rule 6-6b].
Most scoring problems could be avoided if the competitor would check the score with the marker after each hole. However, careful checking would not have helped in your scenario. Apparently neither player took the time to read the Local Rules carefully, and the competitor paid for his mistake with a disqualification.
Get to your tournaments early so that you will have plenty of time to read and digest all of the tournament rules.
Linda
Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
