Hi Linda,
I have been trying but unsuccessfully to find new rules/interpretations for the following:
1. Old Rule 2-2 Halved Hole: “When a player has holed out and his opponent has been left with a stroke for the half, if the player subsequently incurs a penalty, the hole is halved.”
2. Old Decision 1-4/1: “Distractions are a common occurrence which players must accept.”
I enjoyed pointing out the latter Decision to fellow players who used to complain about minor disturbances when they were playing.
Have you found equivalent new versions?
Kind regards,
Lou from Tiverton, Devon, UK
The following answers were graciously provided by Stewart, a referee from Canberra, Australia:
1. Old Rule 2-2 was an exception in match play to the normal application of the Rules. It has been removed from 2019. That is, the player in match play now gets whatever breach the Rule requires. For example, player A has a putt for a half when opponent B, who has already finished, says, "you'll have to allow plenty of borrow there, the slope is considerable". B loses the hole for a breach of R10.2a.
2. References to distractions now lie within Rule 1.2a. Conduct expected of all players includes not distracting the play of another player. Behaviour inconsistent with this Rule brings no penalty, except that the Committee may disqualify a player for "serious misconduct". Interpretation 1.2a/1 states that deliberately distracting other players while they are making strokes is likely to be considered a serious misconduct but carelessly distracting another player making a stroke is unlikely to be considered serious misconduct.
Copyright © 2019 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
