Interpretation of Rule 3-3 and Decision 3-3/7.5

[pingfool]

DQ because he didn't inform committee?

 

What rule deals with failure to inform committee?

[Stuart_G]

DQ because he didn't inform committee?

 

What rule deals with failure to inform committee?

 

In this case, rule 3-3.

 

Before returning his score card, the competitor must report the facts of the situation to the Committee. If he fails to do so, he is disqualified.

[Sawgrass]

You gotta love golf. A guy isn't sure if he can get relief, he plays it as it lies and now he can get DQ'd.

 

If a game doesn't follow common sense, it will die. We need more people to play and enjoy our game, by the rules, but in an appropriate amount of time and with reason.

 

It actually is common sense when you understand the rule. The rules allow you to play two balls when you are uncertain about a rule and how to proceed in some cases. It very specifically doesn't allow you to choose which of those two balls is the one you want to count after you know the outcome of either of those shots. You must choose before. The DQ is because the individual choose (changed his mind about playing a second ball) after seeing the outcome of the first ball. If he simply had changed his mind before making the shot, there would be no problem.

 

There is the (somewhat odd) fact that even if you follow the procedure to a point, and then score the same with both balls, you DQ if you fail to report the situation to the Committee.

 

That aspect is not to avoid giving you a choice, logic implies that it's purpose is to make completely sure that in this very complex situation there wasn't some screw-up, or something confounding out there that the Committee should review for the benefit of others.

[pingfool]

Plaing partner dq'd also for not reporting to committee?

[Sawgrass]

Plaing partner dq'd also for not reporting to committee?

 

The only potential for the fellow competitor to be DQ is if he knew this was a violation, and deliberately behaved in a way that hurt the rest of the field.

 

See D33-7/9.

[HitEmTrue]

You gotta love golf. A guy isn't sure if he can get relief, he plays it as it lies and now he can get DQ'd.

 

If a game doesn't follow common sense, it will die. We need more people to play and enjoy our game, by the rules, but in an appropriate amount of time and with reason.

 

It's no wonder Pros call for an official over every shot.

 

You are underestimating the power that abusing this rule (3-3) would give to a player.

 

Every time a ball is in a hazard, on a cart path, next to a tree (or some other hard to hit shot, where an unplayable lie could be taken), someone could SAY they want to use rule 3-3, saying they aren't sure how to proceed. Then, go ahead and hit shot with original ball, with no risk, because they are going to get another crack at it after taking relief. Hit a great shot with original? Awesome blossom! Nah, forget it, I don't need rule 3-3...this time.

 

Common sense tells me that isn't right. And the rule itself agrees.

[pingfool]

Plaing partner dq'd also for not reporting to committee?

 

The only potential for the fellow competitor to be DQ is if he knew this was a violation, and deliberately behaved in a way that hurt the rest of the field.

 

See D33-7/9.

 

From the OP

 

"Felt kind of off" about situation (when it happened)

 

Didn't say anything to committee

 

Went home looked up rule

 

Have to wonder how often similar situation happens in tournaments?

[Mr. Bean]

 

From the OP

 

"Felt kind of off" about situation (when it happened)

 

Didn't say anything to committee

 

Went home looked up rule

 

Have to wonder how often similar situation happens in tournaments?

 

Depends on the level of the tournament.

 

Rule 3-3 is extremely poorly known among golf players. Most people know the possibility of playing a second ball but extremely few know how they must proceed in order to do it right. The higher the level the better they are aware of it because stakes are higher and the occurrence of invoking R3-3 are much more common than on e.g. club level.

[RRiegler]

 

From the OP

 

"Felt kind of off" about situation (when it happened)

 

Didn't say anything to committee

 

Went home looked up rule

 

Have to wonder how often similar situation happens in tournaments?

 

Depends on the level of the tournament.

 

Rule 3-3 is extremely poorly known among golf players. Most people know the possibility of playing a second ball but extremely few know how they must proceed in order to do it right. The higher the level the better they are aware of it because stakes are higher and the occurrence of invoking R3-3 are much more common than on e.g. club level.

OP here, that pretty exactly describes my knowledge of the rule, I knew you could do it but did not know the full explicit procedure.

 

For context on me if anyone wondered, my playing experience is lots of junior and high school competitive golf, none in college, played a handful of events and qualifiers after college.

 

So I do wonder how often this might happen.

 

 

Also to add, this was in a fairly prominent city amateur championship tournament, at least a kind of big tournament. Gotta be more careful!

[sui generis]

From the OP

 

"Felt kind of off" about situation (when it happened)

 

Didn't say anything to committee

 

Went home looked up rule

 

Have to wonder how often similar situation happens in tournaments?

 

Depends on the level of the tournament.

 

Rule 3-3 is extremely poorly known among golf players. Most people know the possibility of playing a second ball but extremely few know how they must proceed in order to do it right. The higher the level the better they are aware of it because stakes are higher and the occurrence of invoking R3-3 are much more common than on e.g. club level.

OP here, that pretty exactly describes my knowledge of the rule, I knew you could do it but did not know the full explicit procedure.

 

For context on me if anyone wondered, my playing experience is lots of junior and high school competitive golf, none in college, played a handful of events and qualifiers after college.

 

So I do wonder how often this might happen.

 

 

Also to add, this was in a fairly prominent city amateur championship tournament, at least a kind of big tournament. Gotta be more careful!

 

I must agree with Mr Bean. Many players at levels below the elite amateur stratum don't do many of the Rules terribly well. Often they'll carry a Rule book but just don't know where to look for help. My suggestion to you, since I presume you wish to be smarter about R3-3, is to find it, dogear the page, and highlight the four "musts." (Announce, chose, hole out and report.) Don't rely on your memory or some hazy recollection of this thread when it comes up again next week, next month or next year. :)