MGA Question 8

[Newby]

8. On the morning of Day 1 of a two-day stroke play competition, a player and a caddie walk the golf course before their round as neither has seen the golf course before. On each green, the player uses a digital level to measure the degree of slope change near the hole while the caddie rolls balls towards the hole. After measuring each green, the player writes a few sentences and creates hand drawn images of each green on 3x5 index cards summarizing the results of their measurements. During play of the first round, they frequently refer to the index cards to assist them in reading the greens. Following the completion of play on that day, the player and caddie repeat this process, this time with the player rolling balls towards the next day’s hole locations while the caddie uses the digital level. The Committee is informed of the player’s actions before the beginning of his round on Day 2.

How should the Committee proceed?

A. The player is disqualified for multiple breaches of Rule 5.2

B. The player is assessed one two-stroke penalty for multiple breaches of the Clarification for Rule 4.3 for a series of related acts under Interpretation 1.3c(1)/1.

C. The player is disqualified for multiple breaches of the Clarification for Rule 4.3 for a series of related acts under Interpretation 1.3c(1)/1.

D. The player has committed no penalty breaches.

[Hawkeye77]

LOL, really want to say "D", but have a reason for saying "A" that I doubt will fly, but going with "A".

 

Won't explain because I don't want to influence any other answers (not that anyone would go by my thoughts, haha).

[dmecca2]

I'm gonna say A. His actions after the round are fine, but he's already DQ'd at that point for his actions before the round

[rogolf]

4 hours ago, dmecca2 said:

I'm gonna say A. His actions after the round are fine, but he's already DQ'd at that point for his actions before the round

Which actions before the round were a breach of what Rule?

[dmecca2]

4 minutes ago, rogolf said:

Which actions before the round were a breach of what Rule?

Practicing on the course before the round in a stroke play competition. Rule 5.2

 

EDIT: Ooohhhhhhh I see the catch now. He didn't roll any balls before the round, his caddie did, and his caddie is immune from that rule

Edited February 12, 2021 by dmecca2

[rogolf]

8 minutes ago, dmecca2 said:

Practicing on the course before the round in a stroke play competition. Rule 5.2

The player was using the digital level before the round, that's not practicing.  It was the caddie that was rolling the ball.

BTW, these questions are purposely written to cause confusion.

Edited February 12, 2021 by rogolf

[dmecca2]

1 minute ago, rogolf said:

The player was using the digital level before the round, that's not practicing.  It was the caddie that was rolling the ball.

What can I say. I never tested well on trick questions. 

[rogolf]

6 minutes ago, dmecca2 said:

What can I say. I never tested well on trick questions. 

There are 25 trick questions in the MGA Quiz!

[antip]

5 hours ago, rogolf said:

There are 25 trick questions in the MGA Quiz!

That assumes only one per question! It's more than that.

[antip]

Caddie rolling ball on green before round is permitted. Player rolling ball on green after round is permitted (but many multiday tournaments shut this down with the Terms of the Competition/Local Rules). 

Is using a digital level by the player before the round "testing the surface"? I see nothing published on that, one for the RBs. (Perhaps the MGA perpetrator has already done that, but if they have they are not sharing and even when they publish the MGA answer that will not tell us the RB view.)

[rogolf]

33 minutes ago, antip said:

Caddie rolling ball on green before round is permitted. Player rolling ball on green after round is permitted (but many multiday tournaments shut this down with the Terms of the Competition/Local Rules). 

Is using a digital level by the player before the round "testing the surface"? I see nothing published on that, one for the RBs. (Perhaps the MGA perpetrator has already done that, but if they have they are not sharing and even when they publish the MGA answer that will not tell us the RB view.)

Imo, "testing the putting green" is limited to rubbing the surface or rolling a ball (Rules 5.2 and 13.1e).

[TerpFangolfer]

Yes, also came up with D. Couldn't use the level during play but prior to start of the players round its ok and doesn't meet definition of practice. 

[davep043]

I just a few minutes ago finished listening to one of the USGA "Night School" sessions, specifically about Rule 5.  I'm fairly sure the answer is D.

[Newby]

#8 D Rule 5.2b, Interpretation 13.1e/1, Interpretation 4.3a/1