G’day fellow golfers.
I have a query…Here is the scenario…...I am on the teeing ground, I placed my ball on my tee and step back for a practice swing, then I step up and place my clubhead behind my ball, in doing so I knock my ball of the tee, The rules book… rule 11-3 states (that if a ball falls off or is knocked off the tee by a player adressing the ball there is no penalty).
When I began my quest for my handicap and played my first game with an experienced player, I did exactly thatand he penalised me four strokes one for each time i did it. was he right? or should i debate this isue with him next time we play?

Bring the good book and show the experienced player Rule 11-3.

You may not be the only one getting penalized by him, so it would be a good idea to settle it.

Good point I will bravely attempt to put him right.
wish me luck, he is not very good at being told he could be wrong

Poider120

I’ll gladly come over and help you explaining the Rules to your experienced player. RD might well come along with me. All you have to do is book us airline tickets and a reasonably comfortable hotel.

Seriously, all clubs have members like your club has, and they are difficult to convince when they are wrong.

Good luck,
Johanna

Just yesterday I had the socalled rules guru of the club try to tell me when taking relief under 28c , you measure 2 clubs from the ball and drop withen 1 clublength of that spot ….

This guy is the handicapper , is accredited and is the bloke the match committee look to to answer their queries

Dont take anything as gospel from anyone , without double and triple checking

thanks for all your advice i will definately be studying the book and taking it with me when next i accompany my nemesis, by the way he seems to be an ok guy. when he is not attempting to officiate

oh and by the way i broke 120 on the weekend i got 115

oh and by the way i broke 120 on the weekend i got 115

trying to break 120

Well done Poider, got to change your sig. now, what’s the next target???

110 off course

Poider,

Find out who is on your match committee, and have a quiet word with one of them – along the lines of, “I did this, and the player I was with told me that it was a penalty. Is that correct?” Once they give you the correct answer, then say, “Well, you’d better tell so-and-so then…”! If they give you the wrong answer, ask them to show you in the rule book, and as you are flicking through it, and get to 11-3, say “Hey, is this it?”... :-)

Poider120,

Keep those scores heading down…good to see.

As far as learning the rules as you go along from experienced players like the one you found yourself with…that’s not the best way. If you’re keen on getting a handicap and playing comps, start reading up on the rules. A good basic knowledge (it might take a few reads through) will help you in the long run. As you read up, think of circumstances on your local track that apply to certain rules e.g where there are water hazards, work out where you drop according to the rules.

Also remember, that as the player, you decide on a course of action regarding a ruling. Your marker is not your referee. He may object to what you are doing, but that is all he can do.

Take the course of action you think is correct and clarify it with the committee before you submit your card. Your marker should probably be part of that conversation – but you do the talking about what you course of action you took

Listening to these experienced players may cost you shots. Get in first – read up!!!

Cheers
Trysil