RULES 101
MISCONCEPTION 2: Failure
to record a handicap results in
automatic disqualification.
Another misconception is that failure
to include a handicap on your card
leads to automatic disqualification,
regardless of the competition: NOT
NECESSARILY.
Failure to include a handicap on the
score card leads to disqualification
only in a handicap competition. In a
gross competition, a player need not
include a handicap (what for?) and
cannot be disqualified for failure to
do so.
In matchplay, if a player declares
a wrong handicap, either before
or during the match and does not
correct the mistake before the
opponent makes a stroke to begin
play of a hole or making the next
stroke to continue play of a hole,
if the handicap is too high and it
affects the strokes given, the player
is disqualified. If it does not or it’s
too low, there is no penalty and the
player must play off the declared
handicap. Rule 3.2c(1)
This means that one is disqualified
if a wrong handicap disadvantages
an opponent by giving him/her LESS
strokes or the player is advantaged
by receiving MORE strokes. Whoever
is the beneficiary of the strokes, the
giver or the recipient, is disqualified.
A lower handicap declared by a
player, or disadvantaging the player
by giving more strokes to the
opponent, and vice versa, will be
upheld.
In a handicap strokeplay competition,
failure to record a handicap on the
score card or declared handicap is
too high, the player is disqualified,
Rule 3.2b(4). Otherwise, a declared
lower handicap is upheld.
MISCONCEPTION 3. That a ball
in play that has been moved by
another ball in play should not be
replaced: WRONG.
Any ball at rest that’s caused to
move by another ball, by player,
by opponent or outside influence
(including animals) must replaced at
its original position and if the original
position is not known, it shall be
estimated. The ball that causes the
other ball to move shall be played
as it lies. Key here is that a moved
ball shall not be played from its new
Putting Area
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