Here is a "fair ruling" with unfair result

[DaveLeeNC]

Lightning Interrupted Match

Our Men's Golf Association Match Play Tourney started last week. It is multiple 16 person flights (four rounds - flights determined by index). The first round was terminated mid-day because of on-going lightning threats.

A couple matches were completed, a couple had never started, and most were stopped mid-match. The tournament was to continue the next day and it would have been simple to just start play where things left off the previous day - HOWEVER play for day #2 was on a different course and that was not change-able.

So the tournament committee decided that scores for all completed holes would stand, and that play would start all over for holes not completed (on a different course, obviously). I was not part of the decision process, but given what I know of the situation I can't think of a better solution.

But one poor guy was even on the 18th hole. Both he and his opponent were 10-20 yards off the green (par 4) when play was stopped. But "he" was laying 2 while his opponent was laying 4 (tee shot OB). So by the rules they replayed the entire hole on the following day and "he" lost the match.

THAT is a tough break.

dave

[larrybud]

As long as the rules are spelled out in advance, I have no problem with it.

 

However, at my club championship last year, rain interrupted us on the 11th hole. We waited an hour, the the course drained, and we continued play.

 

Around the 14th hole a kid comes out to tell us that whatever you shot on the front 9 is your qualifying score, because, and I quote "Some people came in and complained that they didn't want to play in the rain".

 

Now, it's one thing if the rules are there for everyone to see, but for the pro to alter the rules because some members put pressure on him is complete BS. I would have told the members if you don't want to play, then it's a WD.

 

I shot decent enough to qualify (only 8 spots for 20 players), but this one poor guy shot a 43 on the front, but was -2 through 14 on the back. He was in a groove and probably would have qualified.

 

The kicker on that is this guy complained the prev year that there were too many qualifying spots (16 for 22)... he got his wish!