Penalties in match play

Many golf club have a Match Play  competition played during a few months in Summer. I receive a lot of questions on the handicap used in those competition. I have already written on the subject and I will write again in the near future. For the moment I reiterate the opinion that 80% of the handicap should be used.

Here are comments on penalties in Match Play:

1 – The 2-strokes penalties used in Stroke Play are converted in loss of hole in Match Play. here are the most common breaches:

a – playing a wrong ball;

b – playing from the wrong place;

c – give advice;

d – hit the flagstick while our ball is on the green;

e – repair a ball mark on the fringe near our ball when the ball is not on the green;

f – remove a leaf or a branch in a hazard when our ball is in the hazard;

g – touch the ground or sand in a hazard;

h – remove sand on the fringe of the green.

2 – Other penalties bring an adjustment of the state of the match and not the hole being played:

a – more than 14 clubs;

b – more than one caddie;

c – a caddie when not permitted;

d – use of a cart when prohibited;

e – carry an illegal club.

EXAMPLE: On the 2nd green, a played finds out he has 15 clubs in his bag. He must complete the play of the 2nd hole and before starting the next hole he must deduct 2 holes from the actual result. If after the 2nd hole he is 2 down, the match is now 4 down after 2 holes.

Ignore a breach from the opponent

It is permitted to close your eyes on a breach from the opponent. But if the 2opponents agree to wave a Rules of Golf they will be disqualified.

Claims

If you think the opponent was in breach of a Rule, you must tell him before playing from the next tee.

EXAMPLE: at the 12th hole, you see the opponent remove a rake in the bunker, the ball moves and he does not replace the ball. After the round, in front of a beer, you ask me if it was a breach. I will answer YES but it might be too late. You should have told him before the 13th tee, that you think it is a breach, you are making a claim and you will ask an official at the end of the round.