 |
The Latest Questions For Hadyn: |
Stab Him with the Flagpole!
From Chris:
Whilst playing in a four ball competition last week I had a putt with the flag being tended by one of the opposing pair. My ball rolled quite slowly past the hole to the side where the person tending the flag stood. He watched the ball all the way and allowed it to hit his foot, deflecting it further away from the hole.
Nobody new what to do and nothing was said even though it was seen by the four of us. We halved the hole subsequently but it tarnished the atmosphere as there was no reason for the player to let the ball hit his shoe as he was fully aware of its position and speed.
Can you help with what should have happened?
Thanks fo the question from Chris.
The proper procedure should be to ask the offender to remove the relevant shoe and then to stab him in the foot with the flagpole.
The alternative is to apply Rule 17 - and the interpretation rests on intent. If the opponent deliberately failed to move his foot out of the way, knowing that Chris would incur a penalty, then, as they appear to have been playing matchplay, he is disqualified. If his motive was not evil, but leaving his foot there was deliberate (perhaps out of ignorance) then the rules are not quite so clear. In stroke play both parties would suffer a 2 stroke penalty, but in match play it is a little more difficult as both parties cannot lose the hole - so probably the opponent, or his side, would be penalised by losing the hole.
If the opponent could not get out of the way, or just wasn't paying attention, then there would be no penalty on him and Chris would suffer the loss of hole penalty.
Best regards,
Hadyn
Click here to read previous questions to Hadyn.
| 
