Hi Linda,
In our club four-ball (better ball) match play this week it
was established that one of the golfers had played in the morning competition
on the same course.
They lost the afternoon match, so the result was not the issue.
What we would like to know is if he had the right to do so.
We also understand that this is not permissible in a stroke
play competition.
Lou from Australia
Dear Lou,
Assuming the Committee has not published any Conditions to
the contrary, players in a match play competition are permitted to practice on
the competition course prior to their round [Rule 7-1a].
As you inferred, players in a stroke play competition are
not permitted to practice on the competition course or test the surface of any
green prior to a round. And if the competition takes place over consecutive
days, they are not permitted to practice on the competition course between
rounds. The penalty is disqualification [Rule 7-1b].
Linda
Copyright © 2017 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.