Hi Linda,
I have a question regarding playing the wrong hole.
I was in a better ball stroke play tournament and our
foursome played the 17th hole instead of the 3rd hole. When we were going
to the next tee box we realized that we had played the wrong hole. We
then went to the 3rd tee box and continued our round. At the end of the
round we reported our error and we were assessed a two stroke penalty for
playing the wrong hole. Was this an incorrect ruling? Should we
have been disqualified?
Lulu from Canada
Dear Lulu,
In a stroke play competition, players must complete each of
the holes in the stipulated round in the correct order [Definition of
“Stipulated Round;” Rule 3-1].
Playing a hole out of order is addressed in the Rulebook as
“playing from outside the teeing ground” [Rule 11-4]. When you played the 17th
hole instead of the 3rd, you played from outside the teeing ground
of Hole #3. If the mistake is corrected before you tee off on the next hole
(#18), the penalty is two strokes. If you make the correction after you tee off
on #18, the penalty is disqualification [Decisions 11-5/1 and 11-5/4].
The ruling by your Committee to assess each of the players
in your group a two-stroke penalty was correct.
Linda
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