Dear Linda,
I recently played my singles knockout final. My opponent
was two up but on one of the holes my opponent and myself miscounted the
shots I had taken and the result was the hole was halved. After we teed
off on the next hole the referees queried the score and advised that I had won
that hole. When we counted back we both agreed that I had won the hole.
However, the referee said the result stood. I didn't have a problem with
this as it was a genuine mistake and my error, but my playing partner did and
conceded that I had won the hole. Is this correct or should the result of a
half on that hole stand as we had both left the green and agreed a half and
teed off?
Regards,
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
This is a most unusual question, Lulu. Ordinarily, an
incorrect result of a hole in match play is due to one player stating her score
was lower than what she actually
had, not higher.
Let’s look at the easy issues first:
Your opponent is not permitted to concede the hole to you. A
player may concede a hole before it starts or before it ends, but not after it
is over [Rule 2-4].
The referee’s decision is always final [Rule 34-2]. As soon
as she ruled that the result stood, you and your opponent officially halved the
hole.
This is the end of your story.
The question becomes more interesting if you have to resolve
the matter yourselves, without the aid of an on-course referee. Here is how
that would play out:
As soon as you tell your opponent that you reported an
incorrect score, you have given her incorrect information. In your case, this
incorrect information affected your opponent’s understanding of the result of
the hole (she thought it was halved, whereas she actually lost the hole). When you give your opponent incorrect
information regarding the number of strokes it took you to complete the hole,
and this affects her understanding of the result of the hole, you lose the hole
[Rule 9-2b (iii)]. It makes no difference that you had already teed off on
the next hole. Indeed, it wouldn’t matter if you told her several holes later
[Decision 9-2/9]. As soon as she learns that you erred in your addition, she
must say that she is filing a claim to dispute the result of the hole. If the
mistake occurred on the 5th hole, for example, and the discovery on
the 8th, the claim would have to be made before anyone teed off on
the 9th hole.
You should know that I had to consult the USGA on this
answer, and that the USGA official had to powwow with his peers before giving
me a ruling.
The most important lesson to be learned here is count your score correctly. There is no
shame in carrying and using an electronic counter or a string of beads, or
making notations on your scorecard. Better to be embarrassed by admitting an
inability to keep track of your score than to lose a hole where you scored less
than your opponent!
Linda
Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
