Agreement to Ignore Rules in Match Play
2 min read
The Situation
In match play, if Player A's ball strikes Player B's ball on the putting green and they disagree on the correct ruling, can they agree to halve the hole without penalty, or are they disqualified for ignoring the Rules?
The Ruling
If the players disagree on the correct procedure and decide to halve the hole to resolve the issue, the question is whether they face disqualification for disregarding the Rules.
The Rules permit players to agree on resolving disputes. Rule 20.1b(1) states that players can agree on how to settle any Rules issue during a match. This agreement is binding, even if incorrect, provided they are not deliberately ignoring a known Rule or penalty. The crucial point is that the agreement must be made in good faith, without knowingly disregarding the Rules.
Disqualification under Rule 1.3b(1) applies only if the players know the correct Rule and intentionally agree to ignore it to gain an advantage. For instance, if they understand a penalty but choose to disregard it, they are disqualified, even if the incorrect outcome benefits them.
In the given scenario, if the players disagree or are genuinely unsure about the correct ruling—such as the procedure when one ball strikes another on the green—and decide to halve the hole to resolve the issue, their agreement stands without penalty or disqualification. However, if they know the applicable Rule (like Rule 20.1b, which addresses replacing the moved ball) and deliberately choose to ignore it, disqualification would apply.
In summary, honest uncertainty allows players to resolve issues by agreement, which is final. Only deliberate, knowing violations lead to disqualification. This distinction maintains fairness while allowing match play to proceed smoothly without a referee.
The Rules permit players to agree on resolving disputes. Rule 20.1b(1) states that players can agree on how to settle any Rules issue during a match. This agreement is binding, even if incorrect, provided they are not deliberately ignoring a known Rule or penalty. The crucial point is that the agreement must be made in good faith, without knowingly disregarding the Rules.
Disqualification under Rule 1.3b(1) applies only if the players know the correct Rule and intentionally agree to ignore it to gain an advantage. For instance, if they understand a penalty but choose to disregard it, they are disqualified, even if the incorrect outcome benefits them.
In the given scenario, if the players disagree or are genuinely unsure about the correct ruling—such as the procedure when one ball strikes another on the green—and decide to halve the hole to resolve the issue, their agreement stands without penalty or disqualification. However, if they know the applicable Rule (like Rule 20.1b, which addresses replacing the moved ball) and deliberately choose to ignore it, disqualification would apply.
In summary, honest uncertainty allows players to resolve issues by agreement, which is final. Only deliberate, knowing violations lead to disqualification. This distinction maintains fairness while allowing match play to proceed smoothly without a referee.