In matchplay, both putting for par. My ball marked 2 feet below the hole, opponent ‎with a 5ft tricky sidehill.‎

Nervously, he tapped down some spike marks on his line with his putter head. While ‎I was still trying to get my head around that, he stepped back and putted, missed and ‎conceded mine for the win.‎

If he’d made the putt and not conceded, do I have to claim before putting out? I was ‎not 100% sure of the penalty for the breach, and would have putted before checking ‎it. Is the hole decided once a loss of hole penalty is incurred, and what happens after ‎irrelevant as long the claim is made before the next tee?‎

Thanks

R.2-5 – the claim must be made before any player in the match plays from the next teeing ground, of if the last hole before all players leave the putting green.
Make the claim in accordance with 2-5 (read Dec. 2-5/2), so you could wait until after his putt or get in his face with a claim before he putts, the hole is decided upon the result of the claim, so IMO play out the hole if no member of the committee is around at the time to decide the claim, in case the claim is not successful.

Under Rule 2-5 you have until you have teed off on the next hole to make a claim.

I think it’s best however to raise any issue as soon as you see it occur.

Under Rule 2-5 you have until you have teed off on the next hole to make a claim.

I think it’s best however to raise any issue as soon as you see it occur.

Trentham Golf Club
http://www.trenthamgolf.com

I agree – except I was a bit stunned that he was unaware and there was only a second ‎or two from tap to putt to concession.‎

Did briefly consider “getting in his face” by tapping down my entire line to see what ‎he said : -)‎

Did briefly consider “getting in his face” by tapping down my entire line to see what ‎he said : -)

That would have been interesting, what would the outcome have been if he had challenged you, do u lose the hole because he got his challenge in first, does he lose the hole because his infringement was first and anything after that doesn’t count, or is the hole halved. Anyone know?

The hole is lost (finished) when the first breach occurs – provided it’s claimed.

Someone will quote the rule/decision.

R.2-1 …..In match play the game is played by holes…..

R.2-6 The penalty for a breach of a rule in match play is loss of hole except when otherwise provided.

The fact that a claim is made does not mean that the hole is over, the opponent is within his rights to dispute a timely claim, it is then that the committee have to decide and either uphold or reject the claim to bring resolution. If an opponent makes a claim and you are not sure don’t surrender, insist on a ruling. If a claim is invalid and it is not disputed before a player plays from the next TG then the result will stand (D2-5/5).

I would have thought that “by tapping down my entire line to see what ‎he said” would constitute DQ for a blatant intentional breach of the rules of golf.

I understand your original predicament, because a lot of players are not aware of the situation regarding spike marks.

Once he had missed the putt and conceded the hole it gave you a wonderful opportunity to say “Are you aware that you can’t repair spike marks until after you have putted out?”. Might have played with his mind for a hole or two. Also a neutral way to point out the rule to him.

I would have thought that “by tapping down my entire line to see what ‎he said” would constitute DQ for a blatant intentional breach of the rules of golf.

I understand your original predicament, because a lot of players are not aware of the situation regarding spike marks.

Once he had missed the putt and conceded the hole it gave you a wonderful opportunity to say “Are you aware that you can’t repair spike marks until after you have putted out?”. Might have played with his mind for a hole or two. Also a neutral way to point out the rule to him.

I never point out a breach of the rules to an opponent in Matchplay until it will advantage me. For example, I was playing in the Club Matchplay Champs at Queanbeyan, my opponent played before me out of a fairway bunker, he really stuffed the shot up badly so I said nothing because if I had asked him to play again he would most likely have hit a better shot. He played off 5 so errors were few and far between.

Why not say anything? Well what if he does it again and this time hits a really good shot on the next hole? THEN I say something and make him play again, seems harsh but I live by the adage, “alls fair in love and Matchplay!” I did say something to him at the 19th, he was shocked and argued with me that because he was in the bunker he gets to play first, like the old one where a lot of people believe if you are off the green then you play before the players on the green. I got the rule book out and showed him….he appologised.

I learnt this lesson in very first Matchplay comp when I was playing in the Caddy tournament at the Australian. I hit a chip out of turn, it was not a very good chip, but it was ok. My opponent took great pleasure in asking me to play again, I chipped it in. Could have knocked him over with a feather, needless to say I won the match.

I would have thought that “by tapping down my entire line to see what ‎he said” would constitute DQ for a blatant intentional breach of the rules of golf

Probably – hole was conceded before I knew what to do, but it was drummed into me as a junior that the putting line is sacred and couldn’t have put that into action.

There were other encounters – the conversation could have run “Are you aware of the Rules of Golf?” :-)

Politeness pays I think – especially when your opponent does not know and is not trying to con an advantage.