It’s all downhill when you try to cut corners

Aug 25 2007 by Tim Taylor, The Journal

EVERY Saturday morning during the golf season, Open Championship referee Desmond Duffy is posing two questions. But would you know the answer should either situation crop up in your club’s competition?

QUESTION: Two players on the 8th hole play their approach shots to the 8th green. They agree to tee off at the 9th hole and then putt out on the 8th green. This is to avoid having to walk back up a hill to the 9th tee and save time. What is the ruling?

A: In strokeplay both competitors are penalised two strokes.

B: In matchplay the first player to tee off the 9th tee loses the hole.

C: In matchplay both players are disqualified.

ANSWER: C

QUESTION: A player finds a ball he believes is his original ball, deems it unplayable and drops it under Rule 28b or c. He then discovers that the ball is not his but is, in fact, a stray ball. What is the ruling?

A: The player must continue with this substituted ball which he is entitled to put into play under Rule 28.

B: The player was not entitled to proceed in this manner without finding the original ball. He must therefore resume his search or proceed under Rule 27-1.

C: The players ball was lost when he put this substituted ball into play. He must therefore proceed under Rule 27-1.

ANSWER: C

ANY club who would like to see the results of their competition published in Monday’s Journal can read them over to our copytakers’ department tomorrow between 2pm and 10pm. The freefone number is 0500 590 711. You can phone over the results of Sunday competitions between the same times on the same number. If you have any questions, ring the sports department between 3pm and 11pm any day except Saturday on (0191) 201 6010.