Hello once again Linda.
Can you please advise as to ruling on an incident that
happened at our local golf club?
Last Saturday, the club held a shotgun start, 2-person
Ambrose event. A pair were to start on the 15th hole. However, when
they arrived at the 14th hole, they were seen practicing. They
eventually were announced the winners, consequently presented with the
trophy/prizes. The committee was not notified of the incident till a day later.
Has the committee now the right to disqualify the pair for a breach of rules,
and return the trophy/prizes, and award the runners up as the winners?
Eagerly awaiting the ruling, thank you in advance.
Kind regards
Lou from Greenvale, Victoria, Australia
Dear Lou,
The penalty for practicing prior to the start of the round
on the day of a stroke-play competition is disqualification [Rule 7-1b]. However,
the Committee was not informed of the violation until after the competition was
closed. In stroke play, a penalty must not generally be imposed after the
competition has closed [Rule 34-1b].
There are exceptions to this Rule, one of them being that if
the players knew, before the competition was closed, that they were in breach
of this Rule, they should be disqualified.
The Committee must interview the players. If they knew that
they were not permitted to practice prior to the start of the shotgun, they
should be disqualified and should surrender their trophy and prizes. If they
were unaware of the prohibition against practice, they should not be
disqualified and are entitled to their winnings.
Linda
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