MGA Question 9

[Newby]

9. A & B are competing against C & D in a two-person scramble match play event. The Committee states that the rules for the event are authorized under Rule 21.5, and other than the following modification, all other match play rules apply. Modification: This scramble match is played with two-person sides. Each player on a side plays from the teeing area on each hole, one of the tee shots is selected and both players on the side play their second shots from that spot. One of the second shots is then selected, and both players play their third shots from that spot, and so on until the ball is holed. In the preceding, “that spot” is defined as a spot within six inches of the selected ball (no closer to the hole). In these cases, the second ball the side will play is to be placed on the spot. A’s ball comes to rest on the putting green 5 feet from the hole, C’s ball comes to rest on the putting green 4 feet from the hole, each ball lies three. These two shots are selected by their teams. Each ball is marked and cleaned. A marks the ball directly to the side of the ball to avoid the oddity of having to putt with the mark directly behind the ball, replaces the ball appropriately and leaves the mark down to prepare for B’s possible subsequent putt, but then makes the putt. B lifts A’s mark and awaits the other side’s results. C replaces the ball, lifts the mark and prepares to putt, but D realizes that if C misses, D will have no mark to indicate where the ball must be placed, so D decides to putt first. D appropriately places the ball 4 inches away from C’s ball and makes the putt while C’s ball remains lying inches away. D then lifts C’s ball and tosses it to C.

What is the result of the hole?

A. The hole is tied

B. The hole is won by A/B

C. The hole is won by C/D

D. One of the two sides is disqualified from the competition

[Hawkeye77]

C.

[dmecca2]

A? This sounds like a lot of words for a fairly normal captain and mate interaction. I feel like I'm missing something. 

[rogolf]

4 hours ago, dmecca2 said:

A? This sounds like a lot of words for a fairly normal captain and mate interaction. I feel like I'm missing something. 

What about A putting while his ball-marker is still in place (Rule 14.1a)?

[dmecca2]

12 minutes ago, rogolf said:

What about A putting while his ball-marker is still in place (Rule 14.1a)?

Isn't that normal practice for captain and mate? 

[rogolf]

1 minute ago, dmecca2 said:

Isn't that normal practice for captain and mate? 

I can't comment on that.  But Rule 14.1a is clear - making a stroke with the ball-marker in place is a one stroke penalty.

[dmecca2]

Just now, rogolf said:

I can't comment on that.  But Rule 14.1a is clear - making a stroke with the ball-marker in place is a one stroke penalty.

Interesting, so every captain and crew team breaks this rule on every hole?

[rogolf]

1 minute ago, dmecca2 said:

Interesting, so every captain and crew team breaks this rule on every hole?

Sounds like it.  Replace the ball, pick up the marker, put a tee in the ground to indicate the estimated spot (weasel words).

[dmecca2]

17 minutes ago, rogolf said:

Sounds like it.  Replace the ball, pick up the marker, put a tee in the ground to indicate the estimated spot (weasel words).

Isn't the tee a marker anyway?

[rogolf]

51 minutes ago, dmecca2 said:

Isn't the tee a marker anyway?

Not in my opinion, it's just an indicator of an estimated spot, not a marker or "the" spot. (I realize that's splitting hairs, hence the "weasel words" comment - they let me weasel out of the situation.)

[antip]

Life's too short to bother with this one.

[Sawgrass]

14 hours ago, antip said:

Life's too short to bother with this one.

IMO the Rules have long ignored the very popular game of scrambles, except with the US previously providing some team handicap allocation guidance.  Since 2019 scrambles have been "allowed," but with zero guidance as to how they should be conducted.

 

I think delving into the complexities of this game is long overdue, and worth bothering about.

[antip]

7 hours ago, Sawgrass said:

IMO the Rules have long ignored the very popular game of scrambles, except with the US previously providing some team handicap allocation guidance.  Since 2019 scrambles have been "allowed," but with zero guidance as to how they should be conducted.

 

I think delving into the complexities of this game is long overdue, and worth bothering about.

I appreciate we are a diverse lot and appreciate you bringing a different perspective based on the relevance in your golfing space, just as I am only referring to their role in my golfing universe. So please have at it and enjoy.

 

Here, called "Ambrose", they exist once or twice a year in most clubs, virtually always four person versions. I have never seen a single one be clear and unambiguous about the way the rules need to apply, they truly are a shambles of inconsistently applied rules. That said, I really do enjoy the once or twice a year experience for the novelty and sometimes really interesting golfing outcomes. For example, year or so ago, playing with 3 25 markers and me on 4 we managed a gross score of 55 on a par 70 with one run of 13 consecutive birdies. That is not your everyday golfing experience. Another memorable and impressionable event was a different day with another 3 guys all on 25+ handicaps - I found it an incredibly illuminating experience, just how scary it is to play golf from where those guys put their tee shots.

 

I couldn't agree more, if you are going to have a significant event in this format, you better be clear about the way the rules apply. But that just doesn't happen here and I can't get excited about an MGA quiz offering in this space, might as well be a question about lunar golf.

[charli]

I hate these 

[Mr. Bean]

This is a typical MGA question with not enough information to come to a correct conclusion. I wonder what they think this question gives to a person as there is no one clear answer.

 

FWIW, I have never ever heard that in scramble format two (or more) players of the same team would be allowed to putt from a different spot on the putting green.

[TerpFangolfer]

Agree C here (putting with marker down). The committee guide section 9 should say something about how the "spot" marker (its not a ball marker?) can remain for other players. 

[Newby]

#9 C Rule 14.1a