So I had a 4-ball match Saturday, in a season long match play tourney. We
got 4 holes in before the course was closed for lightning. One team was 2 up after those 4 holes. Match has been rescheduled for this Saturday. One team wants to restart the match where we left off, the other team wants to start over. What say The Lounge? Is there anything official in the rules that addresses this situation?
26 Replies
3y
about suspended play rules surrounding such things, I would argue it's the only fair thing. Why should those 4 holes not count?
Competition generally resumes where left off in my experience of sporting competition.
(In response to this post by Brown Water)
3y
5.7 Stopping Play; Resuming Play
a. When Players May or Must Stop Play
During a round, a player must not stop play except in these cases:
Suspension by Committee. All players must stop play if the Committee suspends play (see Rule 5.7b).
Stopping Play by Agreement in Match Play. Players in a match may agree to stop play for any reason, except if doing so delays the competition. If they agree to stop play and then one player wants to resume play, the agreement has ended and the other player must resume play.
Individual Player Stopping Play Because of Lightning. A player may stop play if they reasonably believe there is danger from lightning, but must report to the Committee as soon as possible.
Leaving the course is not, by itself, stopping play. A player’s delay of play is covered by Rule 5.6a, not by this Rule.
If a player stops play for any reason not allowed under this Rule or fails to report to the Committee when required to do so, the player is disqualified.
b. What Players Must Do When Committee Suspends Play
There are two types of Committee suspensions of play, each with different requirements for when players must stop play.
(1) Immediate Suspension (Such as When There Is Imminent Danger). If the Committee declares an immediate suspension of play, a player must not make another stroke until the Committee resumes play.
The Committee should use a distinct method of telling players about an immediate suspension.
(2) Normal Suspension (Such as for Darkness or Unplayable Course). If the Committee suspends play for normal reasons, what happens next depends on where each playing group is:
Between Two Holes. If all players in the group are between two holes, they must stop play and must not make a stroke to begin another hole until the Committee resumes play.
While Playing Hole. If any player in the group has started a hole, the players may choose either to stop play or to play out the hole.
The players are allowed a brief amount of time (which normally should be no more than two minutes) to decide whether to stop play or play out the hole.
If the players continue play of the hole, they may go on to complete the hole or may stop before completing the hole.
Once the players complete the hole or stop before completing the hole, they must not make another stroke until the Committee resumes play under Rule 5.7c.
If the players do not agree on what to do:
Match Play. If the opponent stops play, the player must also stop play and both players must not play again until the Committee resumes play. If the player does not stop play, the player gets the general penalty (loss of hole).
Stroke Play. Any player in the group may choose to stop play or go on to continue the hole, no matter what the others in the group decide to do, except that the player may continue play only if the player’s marker stays to keep the player’s score.
Penalty for Breach of Rule 5.7b: Disqualification.
Exception – No Penalty If Committee Decides That Failure to Stop Was Justified: There is no breach of this Rule and no penalty if the Committee decides that circumstances justified the player’s failure to stop play when required to do so.
See Committee Procedures, Section 8; Model Local Rule J-1 (recommended ways for Committee to indicate immediate and normal suspensions to players).
c. What Players Must Do When Play Resumes
(1) Where to Resume Play. A player must resume play from where they stopped play on a hole or, if between two holes, at the next teeing area, even if play is resumed on a later day.
If a player resumes play from a different spot than where they stopped play, see Rules 6.1b and 14.7.
(2) When to Resume Play. The player must be present at the location identified in (1) and ready to play:
At the time set by the Committee for play to resume, and
The player must resume play at (and not before) that time.
If the ability to resume play is delayed for any reason (such as when players in the group ahead need to play first and move out of the way), there is no breach of this Rule if the player is present and ready to play when the player’s group is able to resume play.
Penalty for Breach of Rule 5.7c(2): Disqualification.
(In response to this post by BG Hokie)
You wouldn't have restarted if it was the next day, right?
So why would you now? I've never heard of a golf tourney restarting a round due to weather delay.
(In response to this post by Brown Water)
3y
I seem to recall a time or two where a small chunk of the field went out in brutal conditions, before the round was ultimately cancelled for the day and those guys who started got a "do over" the next day....
(In response to this post by Nova Hokie 95)
3y
I could also be making this up....but it feels right....
(In response to this post by Brown Water)
Okay, now you're potentially implying added variables
Was the weather on those four holes such that it wasn't really "golf" but was instead more a form of slop endured to try to get the round in? If the play little resembled golf, then I would lean toward a full restart. If it's just you played four holes in okay conditions and then the heavens opened up, pick up where you left off.
(In response to this post by Brown Water)
3y
started raining yet and maybe a 10-15mph breeze for those 4 holes.
(In response to this post by Nova Hokie 95)
Got it. No reason to restart IMHO, then
(In response to this post by Brown Water)
G
Geekull
3y
(In response to this post by Brown Water)
3y
i think you start on 5- but the tournament committee ( pro) has to make the decision if you can't agree in my opinion.
(In response to this post by Brown Water)
3y
(In response to this post by MP4VT2004)
How would you re-start at the 5th hole if the course isn't empty?
** Edited by statmanfromHCyrs at 4/24/2023, 10:49:12 AM
(In response to this post by Brown Water)
3y
(In response to this post by statmanfromHCyrs)
3y
if the team that was losing wins those first four 'warm-up' holes and gets *****y about it.
(In response to this post by Brown Water)
3y
** Edited by Brown Water at 4/24/2023, 1:22:17 PM
(In response to this post by vt90)
3y
(In response to this post by Brown Water)