Ask The Expert Chris Vengesa

STROKE PLAY: GENERAL
3/1
strongDisqualification in play-off.
Q: A competitor in a stroke play play-off incurs a penalty of disqualification. Does the disqualification apply to the play-off only or to the entire competition?
A: The disqualification applies only to the play-off.

3/2
Competitors Play Two Holes Not Included in Stipulated Round.
Q: In stroke play, the stipulated round was 16 holes, i.e. the 13th and 14th holes were omitted. After play of the 12th hole, one group elected to play the 13th and 14th holes without counting their scores for those holes. They then completed the round. What is the ruling?
A:The stipulated round consists of playing the holes of the course in the sequence prescribed by the Committee – see Definition of “Stipulated Round”. These competitors were in breach of the conditions of the competition and the Committee should in this case impose a penalty of disqualification under Rule 33-7.

STROKE PLAY: FAILURE TO HOLE OUT.
3-2/1
Fellow- Competitor’s Ball Knocked from Lip Hole by Competitor Not Replaced.
Q: In stroke play, a competitor concedes his fellow –competitor a short putt and knocks the ball away. The fellow competitor lifts his ball, does not replace it as required by Rule 18-4 and plays from the next tee. What is the ruling?
A:The fellow-competitor is disqualified (Rule 3-2)

3-2/2
Ball blown into Hole by Competitor Not Replaced and Holed out.
Q: In stroke play, a competitor’s ball stopped on the lip of the hole and on impulse he blew the ball into the hole. He did not replace the ball, as required by rule 18-2a, and hole out. He played from the next tee. Is the competitor disqualified under Rule 3-2 for failing to hole out?
A:Yes.

3-2/3
Competitor in Error Does Not Hole Out; Error Corrected Before Playing From Next Tee.
Q: In four-ball stroke play, A holed out in 4. B, A’s partner, who was lying 3 and had marked and lifted his ball, forgot he had a handicap stroke. He did not replace his ball and hole out or pick up his ball-marker. On the way to the next teeing ground, B remembered his stroke, returned to the green, replaced his ball where it previously lay and holed out for a net 3.Was this in order?
A:Yes.

STROKE PLAY: DOUBT AS TO PROCEDURE
3-3/0.5
Guidelines for Determining Which Ball Counts When Player Proceeds Under Rule 3-3
The purpose of Rule 3-3 is to allow a competitor to avoid a penalty when he is in doubt as to the proper procedure. The following are guidelines for determining the ball with which the competitor scores in various situations:

1. If both balls are played in accordance with the Rules, the ball selected shall count if the competitor announces in advance his decision to invoke this Rule and announces in advance the ball with which he wishes to score. If the competitor does not announce or select in advance, the score with the original ball counts if played in accordance with the Rules. Otherwise the score with the second ball counts if played in accordance with the Rules.
2. If the procedure with the ball selected in advance is not in accordance with the Rules, the other ball must count.
3. If neither ball is played in accordance with the Rules, the following applies:
   1. In a case where the competitor plays both balls from a wrong place, but is not guilty of a serious breach with either ball, the score with the original ball counts, with an additional penalty under the applicable Rule.
   2. In a case where the competitor is guilty of a serious breach with one ball and not guilty of a serious breach with the other ball, the score with the original ball counts, with an additional penalty under the applicable Rule.
   3. In a case where the competitor is guilty of a serious breach with both balls, the competitor shall be disqualified.
4. If the original ball is played and then Rule 3-3 is invoked, the score with the original ball must count, even if the Rules do not allow the procedure adopted for that ball i.e. Rule 3-3 is not applicable in such circumstances.