From time-to-time some aspects of the rules of golf are published in the ‘Daily Cow’ for members consideration and application.
Recently there have been quite a few members forgetting to sign their scorecard either as player or marker and so it is considered necessary to remind everybody about their responsibilities at the conclusion of a round.
There is no joy in disqualifying somebody for an oversight that can be easily avoided.
In addition, as we use a maximum score for stroke rounds, it is important that the modified rules are formally explained.
Phone Scoring.
With the addition of phone scoring, it is important that members understand the correct procedure for the conclusion of their round.
If you are using the MiScore App then make sure that your marker is also using the app so you can act as each player’s marker. At the end of the round, sign and please confirm your scores. Failure to do this last step will mean a DQ.
If you don’t have a marker using the app then you will need a paper scorecard as there is no way to confirm your score otherwise.
How to record scores on a scorecard (or phone app) – rule 3.3b.
The player’s score is kept on their scorecard by the marker, who is either identified by the Match Committee or chosen by the player in a way approved by the Match Committee. Usually, it is somebody in your group with whom you swap cards at the start.
The player must have the same marker for the entire round unless a marker leaves the course because they are unwell, etc. In that case the original marker signs the card at the point they leave, and another player takes over that duty.
(1) Marker’s Responsibility: Entering and Certifying Hole Scores on Scorecard.
After each hole during the round, the marker should confirm with the player the number of strokes on that hole (including strokes made and penalty strokes) and enter that gross score on the scorecard. (You may also apply handicap stroke scores or stableford points although this is not absolutely necessary).
When the round has ended:
• The marker must certify the hole scores on the scorecard (ie sign the card).
• If the player had more than one marker, each marker must certify the scores for those holes where they were the marker, but if one of the markers saw the player play all of the holes, that marker may certify the scores for all the holes.
(2) Player’s Responsibility: Certifying Hole Scores and Returning Scorecard.
During the round, the player should keep track of their scores for each hole.
When the round has ended, the player:
• Should carefully check the hole scores entered by the marker and raise any issues.
• Must make sure that the marker certifies the hole scores on the scorecard (ie sign the card),
• Must not change a hole score entered by the marker except with the marker’s agreement or the Match Committee’s approval (but neither the player nor the marker is required to make any extra certification of the changed score), and
• Must certify the hole scores on the scorecard and promptly return it to the card box after first entering the hole scores onto the computer system after which the player must not change the scorecard.
If the player breaches any of these requirements in Rule 3.3b, the player is disqualified.
Exception – No Penalty When Breach Due to Marker Failing to Carry Out Responsibilities:
There is no penalty if the Committee finds that the player’s breach of Rule 3.3b(2) was caused by the marker’s failure to carry out their responsibilities (such as the marker leaving with the player’s scorecard or without certifying the scorecard), so long as this was beyond the player’s control.
(3) Wrong Score for a Hole. If the player returns a scorecard with a wrong score for any hole:
• Returned Score Higher Than Actual Score. The higher returned score for the hole stands.
• Returned Score Lower Than Actual Score or No Score Returned. The player is disqualified.
Maximum Scores in a stroke round at Jamberoo. Rule of Golf 21.2a Overview of Maximum Score.
Maximum Score is a form of stroke play used for all stroke rounds at Jamberoo (except where otherwise notified) where a player’s score for a hole is capped at a maximum number of strokes set by the Match Committee, such as two times par, a fixed number or net double bogey. At Jamberoo it is capped at a maximum of 9.
The Rules for stroke play in Rules 1-20 apply, as modified by these specific Rules.
Rule 21.2 is written for:
• Scratch/stroke competitions, but can be adapted for handicap competitions as well, and
• Individual play, but can be adapted for competitions involving partners, as modified by Rules 22 (Foursomes) and 23 (Four-Ball), and for team competitions, as modified by Rule 24.
21.2b Scoring in Maximum Score
(1) Player’s Score on Hole. A player’s score for a hole is based on the player’s number of strokes (including strokes made and penalty strokes), except that the player will get only the maximum score even if the actual score exceeds the maximum.
A player who does not hole out under the Rules for any reason gets the maximum score for the hole.
To help pace of play, players are encouraged to stop playing a hole when their score has reached the maximum.
The hole is completed when the player holes out, chooses not to do so or when their score has reached the maximum.
(2) Score Entered for Each Hole. To meet the requirements in Rule 3.3b for entering hole scores on the scorecard:
• If Hole Is Completed by Holing Out:
» When Score Is Lower Than Maximum. The scorecard must show the actual score.
» When Score Is Same as or Higher Than Maximum. The scorecard must show either the maximum, or any score at or above the maximum.
• If Hole Is Completed Without Holing Out. If the player does not hole out under the Rules, the scorecard must show the maximum score.
The Match Committee is responsible for adjusting the player’s score to the maximum for any hole where the scorecard shows either no score or any score above the maximum and, in a handicap competition, for applying handicap strokes.
21.2c Penalties in Maximum Score
All penalties that apply in stroke play apply in Maximum Score, except that a player who breaches any of these five Rules is not disqualified but gets the maximum score for the hole where the breach happened:
• Failure to hole out under Rule 3.3c,
• Failure to correct mistake of playing from outside the teeing area in starting a hole (see Rule 6.1b(2)),
• Failure to correct mistake of playing a wrong ball (see Rule 6.3c),
• Failure to correct mistake of playing from a wrong place when there is a serious breach (see Rule 14.7b), or
• Failure to correct mistake of making a stroke in the wrong order (see Rule 22.3).
If the player breaches any other Rule with a penalty of disqualification, the player is disqualified.
After applying any penalty strokes, the player’s score for a hole cannot exceed the maximum score set by the Match Committee.