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It was reported at a
recent meeting of the Handicap & Competitions Committee
that there has been several instances of players having
some difficulties or misunderstandings over starting
times.
It has to be
emphasised that all players must start at the time
established by the Handicap & Competitions Committee
(Rule 6.3).
This means that any
group of players who tee-off in a competition before the
time indicated on the start sheet and without the
permission of the Pro’s Shop to do so, should be
reported to the Handicap & Competitions Committee so
that the penalty for breach of Rule 6.3
(Disqualification) can be imposed.
Players who miss their
tee-off time by more than five minutes should also be
reported so that the penalty for breach of Rule 6.3
(Disqualification) can again be imposed.
Please note however,
that the Committee has provided in its Conditions of
Competition (Rule 33.1) that if the player arrives at
his starting point, ready to play, within five minutes
after his starting time, in the absence of circumstances
which might warrant waiving the penalty of
disqualification as provided in Rule 33.7, the penalty
for failure to start on time is loss of the first hole
in match play or two strokes at the first hole in stroke
play instead of disqualification.
It makes no difference
whether tee-off times have been determined by a start or
entry sheet or even if the starting times have been
fixed by players themselves. Please remember that
starting times agreed between players have the same
status as a starting time fixed by the Committee. So in
our singles knock-out competitions, for example, the
same penalties can be applied. But it is worth
remembering that in four-ball match play a side may be
represented by one partner for all or any part of a
match; all partners need not be present. An absent
partner may join a match between holes, but not during
play of a hole.
The H&CC hopes that
these notes will help members who are uncertain of their
rights and responsibilities under Rule 6.3 |
