Following the last articles regarding Pace of Play in Interclubs, I received many comments and some were quite sexist.
You should not compete in a Match Play competition if when arriving on the first tee you decide and say you will play your own game in Stroke-Play without looking at your opponent’s game and you will not concede any putts because it is too complicated.
If before starting the match, you say to your opponent you will not concede any putts or you will concede putts that are only under 6 inches, you are subject to disqualification.
Here are examples of aberrations I witnessed in Match Play competitions:
ask an opponent to mark his ball lying at 12 inches from the hole because in your book a 12-inche putt can be missed specially if it is for a birdie. You never concede a birdie putt.
(This is very common even in our day to day golf round)
Player A has a 10-foot putt for a par 3. Player B has a 12 footer for a 5. Player A does not concede a 5 to his opponent or Player B does not concede the hole to player A
(If you don’t understand this one, don’t play in a Match Play)
Telling your opponent, to take care of the score card and inform him of the results only when the match is complete.
(Some players have difficulty to take care of their own score, don’t ask them to look at the opponent’s score)
Because of the particular nature of Match Play, it is important to always have an idea of where your opponent stands on the hole being played. Also an opponent will lose the hole if he does not inform you as soon as practical that he incurred a penalty, the case may be.
NOTE ON A STROKE PLAY COMPETITION SUDDEN DEATH PLAYOFF
In a sudden death playoff, a player may not concede the next stroke to the other player but he is allowed to concede victory and the winner does not have the obligation to complete the hole.
