Hi Linda,
I have a question about handicaps. It’s not really a golf
rules question, so feel free to ignore it if it’s off-topic.
I’m in a 2-man better ball tournament at a local club. My
partner and I played the first four holes in first round of this match-play
event before the rain started. As you may be aware, when it rains hard in
Florida it can get difficult to continue. Standing water was beginning to form
on the greens so the four of us agreed to postpone our round and continue at a
later date. We had completed 4 holes.
The deadline for completion of the round is this Sunday and
unfortunately my playing partner is out of town. The only option other than
forfeit is for me to take them on alone, which I am going to do. And so to my
question: how do we allocate shots given that there are only 3 of us? The
situation is as follows:
me: 9
my partner: 5
first opponent: 7
second opponent: 11
Ordinarily my partner would get 0, first opponent would get
2, I would get 4, and second opponent would get 6.
Given that my partner is not playing do we stick with the
above (even though he’s not there) or do we make my first opponent the low man
and give him 0 with me getting 2 and the second opponent getting 4?
Thanks for helping to unravel this one.
Lou from Tampa, Florida
Dear Lou,
You may be surprised to learn that this situation is covered
under the Rules of Golf. The Rule that allows a player to compete in a match
without his partner is 30-3a. There is a Decision regarding that Rule that
answers your question. Decision 30-3a/3 states that if a player’s partner is
unable to play, his handicap is not
disregarded in determining the handicap allowances. Accordingly, your match
would continue just as it began, with your absent partner “playing” at scratch.
Your handicap and your opponents’ would be reduced by 5 (your partner’s
handicap).
Linda
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