People in the Rules
The Rules of Golf refer to many different kinds of people. The definitions tell us a lot about these people. The following people or groups of people are defined.
· Caddie – carries clubs and / or performs other duties for the player
· Committee – those who run the competition or the course
· Competitor – player in a stroke play competition
· Fellow Competitor – other players in the same group with the competitor In question
· Forecaddie – appointed by Committee to help
· Marker – appointed by Committee to keep score for a competitor
· Observer – assistant to a referee
· Outside Agency – anyone not on a side in a match or the competitor, partner or their caddies
· Partner – someone on the same side in a match or competition
· Referee – appointed by Committee to accompany players and make rulings
· Side – a player or the group of players who are partners
You should read the definitions to learn more about these people. There are also decisions that can be very helpful such as 6-4/10 which defines what acts a caddie may perform.
Interestingly, two people who are not defined are the two participants in a match. When I’m playing in a stroke play competition I’m a Competitor. But, when I’m playing in a match, I am simply the “player”. The person I’m playing against is my “Opponent”. Opponent is not defined. It is used twice in the definitions, but never defined.
When you are reading the rules, a decision or a rules test, look for the keywords like Opponent or Competitor to determine what form of play is involved.
Another group of people who are not defined are teammates. Competitors in high school and college events frequently have teammates. Even in the Ryder Cup or President Cup the other players, with the exception of the partner in a foursome or four-ball, are teammates. Teammates cannot give advice to each other. This is something that a lot of players don’t understand. If they get paired with a teammate, they have to be careful. Another term not defined is coach. Until this year, a team could only have one coach. Starting this year, the Committee can allow a team to have two coaches; the NCAA allows this at the Division I level. Coaches can usually give advice, but a Committee can limit what they can do. One frequent prohibition is that they aren’t allowed to go onto the greens.
The difference between Opponent and Competitor reminded me of a question I was asked recently – what are the differences in the Rules between Match Play and Stroke Play.
Please see if I got them all:
Match Play & Stroke Play – Rules Differences
1 Practice (7-1)
a. Situation – practicing on the course on the day of competition
b. Practicing on the course before a round is permitted in Match Play on the day of play, but not in Stroke Play
c. Rationale – your opponent has the same time as you to prepare for the Match, in Stroke Play the early starters have less time than the late starters
2 Order of Play (10-1)
a. Situation – player plays out of order
b. A stroke played out of order in Match Play may be recalled and have to be replayed at the discretion of the opponent
c. Rationale – a “tap in” saves time in Stroke play
3 Playing from outside the teeing ground (11-4)
a. Situation – player tees off from outside the teeing area
b. In Match Play there is no penalty for teeing off from outside the tee markers, however the opponent may recall the shot
c. Rationale – in a match the opponent can decide if there was any advantage gained and recall the shot if he wishes
4 Doubt as to Procedure; Disputes and Claims (2-5)
a. Situation – disputes about procedures during play
b. The option of playing a second ball when in doubt does not exist in Match Play. The players must either agree on a procedure or get a ruling. If they agreed on a procedure this cannot be changed after the next hole has started, even if incorrect. A player may make a ‘claim’ if a dispute arises when no referee is available and a procedure cannot be agreed upon, this is referred to the Committee as soon as possible.
c. Rationale – in Match Play you are entitled to know where you stand in your match at all times.
5 Advice (8)
a. Situation – player asks for advice and Opponent gives advice
b. If a player asks for advice he immediately loses the hole in Match Play. In stroke play a fellow competitor answering a request for advice is also penalized, in Match Play the player has already lost the hole by asking so any subsequent reply (giving information) is irrelevant and not penalized.
c. Rationale – the hole was lost before the response was given
d. Note: The Conditions of Competition may permit each team to appoint one person who may give advice to members of that team, he must be identified prior to play commencing and may be subject to other constraints imposed by the Committee
6 Information as to strokes taken (9-2)
a. Situation – player gives wrong information during play of a hole
b. In Match Play if you give wrong information to your opponent about how many strokes you have taken on a hole, you lose the hole (unless you correct that information before your Opponent has played his next stroke).
c. Rationale – in Match Play you are entitled to know where you stand in your match at all times.
7 Ball at rest moved (18-3)
a. Situation – moving another players ball
b. In Match Play if you move your Opponents ball accidentally (except during search) you are penalized 1 stroke, in Stroke play there would be no penalty (outside agency). In both forms of play the ball must be replaced.
c. Rationale – in a Match the position of your Opponents ball is of material importance to you, it is less significant in Stroke play.
8 Ball in motion deflected or stopped (19-3)
a. Situation – stopping or deflecting another players ball
b. In Match Play if your ball is deflected or stopped by your Opponent, there is no penalty but you do have the option of recalling the stroke and playing again, whereas in Stroke Play the ball must be played as it lies.
c. Rationale – it would be improper not to offer you the chance to play again as all players involved in the match are present on the same hole. In Stroke Play all other players are irrelevant (outside agencies) and whatever effect they have is simply a ‘rub of the green’.
9 Ball in motion deflected or stopped (19-5)
a. Situation – striking another ball on the green
b. In Match Play there is no penalty if your ball strikes another ball on the green even when both balls started on the green. In Stroke Play there is a 2 shot penalty for hitting another ball if both were on the green.
c. Rationale – this is a hangover from the ‘stymie’ which existed only in Match Play and was removed from the rules in 1952. If a players ball was on your line of putt he could leave it there to ‘stymie’ you and prevent you making the putt, therefore there was no penalty if you hit his ball in the process.