Rule 3 is all about competitive golf and how committees can run a competitive golf event. It’s pretty dry stuff, really, but there are some nuggets for each one of us to remember and understand. So, bear with me while I try not to lull you to sleep as we discuss the first section (3.1) of the rule.
In general, there are two basic ways that the USGA favors to run a competitive golf event (stroke play or match play). In some of the supporting documentation regarding the rules, you’ll also find this:
“The combining of match play and stroke play is discouraged as certain Rules are substantially different between the two formats.”
And what do we do on every night in the Ruggles Evening Golf League? We do exactly what is discouraged – we combine match and stroke play. More on that topic a little later in this edition.
Match play is a hole-by-hole win/loss event. Each hole is worth the same and when you’ve beaten your competition by more holes than are left you’ve won your match. Each night in REGL we play this format in our Singles matches. We also use it (sort of) in determining who gets each of the 9 points available by combining each team’s two scores and comparing them to see who gets a point for each hole. In match play, it’s not necessary to record the hole scores and a competitor can concede the hole at any time – he doesn’t need to finish any hole.
Stroke play is much simpler. The winner of any stroke play event is the person who has the fewest number of strokes to complete that event. Stroke play events can either use the total gross strokes or incorporate the individual handicaps to compare total net strokes. We use stroke play when we figure out who’s won Team Net for the night on each of our scorecards. You simply tally up all of the strokes for each team, reduce that score by the total handicap strokes for the two competitors and compare the two sets of numbers. It is necessary (under regular stroke play rules) that every competitor finishes every hole and records a score for every hole.
It’s assumed that for a stroke play event that every competitor will play the same course, and that’s why it’s incumbent on each and every competitor to “protect the field” by enforcing the rules of golf. One competitor should not be able to gain an advantage on any other if they’re playing the same course under the same rules.
Although some rules are the same in both match and stroke play, some rules change depending on the form of play – hence the discouragement of using both match and stroke play elements in the same event. However, although it’s discouraged, the guidance from the USGA is that IF you have an event which has both stroke and match play elements, the stroke play rules take precedence, and that’s exactly why there is a REGL rule which says “We use stroke play rules.”
Other than the “regular” form of stroke play, there are also others that may be used. Examples include the Stableford system (which gives points based on score of the hole) or maximum score (in which competitors might not have to complete a hole if they accept a maximum score for a given hole – maybe something like double par for the hole). All of these other stroke play formats are discussed in Rule 21, and we’ll save those for another time. Keep in mind, however, that the “Maximum Score” option has been discussed in past years during team meetings for REGL, and it’ll probably come up again (in the interest of speed of play, embarrassment, fatigue, etc).
It’s important to note that Rule 3 recognizes competitions as single players or as partners on a side (Rules 22 and 23), and there’s also recognition of team events (Rule 24). We’ll also save discussion of those rules for another day.
We’ve been playing for 5 weeks after a year’s hiatus and I’ve seen and heard about some things that have happened in league play, and we’ll talk about some of them.
1) Don’t pick up your ball marker unless you’ve replaced your ball or a putt has been conceded. Moving your marker (without the ball in front of it) is the equivalent of moving your golf ball and you should give yourself a stroke penalty and replace your marker.
2) Hitting the wrong ball is a 2-stroke penalty and you’ll have cancel that stroke you made on the wrong ball and find your own. The person who’s ball you stroke can go retrieve the ball you hit or hit another one from the same location after a drop.
3) Don’t move your ball for a better lie UNLESS YOU’RE SURE you’re in your own fairway. If you’re unsure, consult your opponent.
4) When you move your ball during a practice swing (even when your practice divot hits it) incurs a 1-stroke penalty and you MUST replace your ball.
5) A whiff is a stroke. If you intended to hit the ball and you missed, add a stroke to your score for the hole. Only YOU know, but be honest with yourself.