Dear Linda,
I would appreciate your comments on the applicable ruling
for this scenario. It happened during a club's monthly stroke play tournament,
which is a one-day 18-hole event. This question was posted to me by a fellow
golfer from another club.
One day before the tournament, A and B were playing in a
social game. At the end of the social game, A and B unintentionally exchanged
their pitching wedges. In other words, A's pitching wedge was in B's golf bag
and vice versa. On the next day, A was participating in the monthly tournament
while B did not. At the start of the tournament, A was having exactly 14 clubs,
which include the pitching wedge from B. A then realized he was having B's
pitching wedge in his golf bag. So, A telephoned B about the situation and A
requested B to bring in the pitching wedge for exchange. A used B's pitching
wedge on each of the first 3 holes.
At the 4th tee-box, B arrived with A's pitching wedge and
they exchanged their pitching wedges. Now, A still has 14 clubs, including his
original pitching wedge until the completion of the 18-hole tournament. What is
the ruling?
According to my understanding of rule 4-3, a player is not
allowed to replace any of his clubs which he has selected for the
stipulated round, unless it is damaged in normal course of play. A had started
with 14 clubs, which include B's pitching wedge, this would be fine if A
continues with these 14 clubs for all the 18 holes. At the 4th hole, when A
exchanged the pitching wedge with B, A has infringed rule 4-3. The penalty
would be 2 strokes. Since A has the exchanged pitching wedge for the remaining
15 holes, the maximum penalty would be 4 strokes. Is my ruling correct? Also,
would there be any difference in the ruling if A did not use B's pitching wedge
in the first 3 holes and A's pitching wedge in the remaining 15 holes? Your
comments please.
Thank you,
Lou from Malaysia
Dear Lou,
If a player begins his round with 14 clubs, he may use only
those particular clubs for his round. He may not exchange one club for another
during the round. Player A could use Player B’s wedge for the entire round,
since he started with it. When he exchanged B’s wedge for his own, he violated
Rule 4-4a. The penalty is two strokes, maximum of four per round. Your ruling
is correct.
The ruling is the same regardless of whether Player A uses
Player B’s wedge before the exchange. B’s wedge is one of the 14 clubs in A’s
bag – he may not exchange it for another until he has completed his round.
Linda
Copyright © 2013 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
