Art,

1. False allegations of hitting from wrong tee box:  Question:

Can 4’some B be penalized or disqualified based on 4’some A’s unanimous misperception that each of them observed 4’some B actually hit the ball from the wrong tee?

Is there a penalty for making false, undocumented, irresponsible allegations of rule infractions?            

It is a question of fact whether A played from outside the teeing ground. The matter should be resolved on the basis of the weight of the evidence. In a case where it is B's word against A's and the weight of evidence did not favor either competitor, the benefit of the doubt should be given to A, the player(s) who made the stroke (Decision 34-3/4).

There is no penalty that would apply to foursome B for a false allegation.

 2. Plugged Ball: Question:

What is player A 's score? Can player B change the essence of the issue after the issue has been submitted for resolution? Who’s Score is Correct?      

I’m going to answer this question based on the assumption that a “plugged ball” is an “embedded ball”. Let’s begin with a few definitions found under Rule 25-2:

Embedded Ball: A ball embedded in its own pitch-mark in the ground in any closely mown area through the green may be lifted, cleaned and dropped, without penalty, as near as possible to the spot where it lay but not nearer the hole. The ball when dropped must first strike a part of the course through the green. “Closely mown area” means any area of the course, including paths through the rough, cut to fairway height or less.  A local rule would have to be adopted (permitting embedded ball relief through the green) to allow a player to take relief for an embedded ball in rough. 

 Decision 25-2/0.5: When Ball Embedded in Ground:

For a ball to be considered embedded, it must be in its own pitch-mark, with part of the ball below the level of the ground. However, the ball does not necessarily have to touch the soil to be considered embedded, e.g., grass or loose impediments may intervene between the ball and the soil.

Therefore, if the ball was indeed embedded  in a closely mown area, Player A is entitled to free relief and his score would be a 4.  Or if the local rule allowing embedded ball relief was in effect, and the ball was embedded in rough, the score would be a 4.  If the ball was not embedded in a closely mown area (but embedded in rough) and the local rule allowing embedded ball relief was not in effect the score for the hole would be 6. Similarly to your first question, if it is one player's word against another, the player whose ball is in question should be given the benefit of the doubt.

3. Score of “5” vs. “6”: Question:  

Is Player A’s score a “5” or “6”. Should Player A be disqualified?

The Committee should make every effort to get an accurate score for the hole. This may mean interviewing each player separately and then as a group to retrace the strokes. With two players verifying that the score was actually a 6 the evidence weighs against the player in question. Player A should be disqualified for signing for a score lower then what he actually made.

Regards,

-----Original Message-----
From: Artdansby@aol.com [mailto:Artdansby@aol.com]
Sent: Tuesday, August 14, 2007 7:03 PM
To: msweeney@scga.org
Cc: ALGMMay11739@aol.com
Subject: help!

I have 3 rule issues for review:

1. False allegations of hitting from wrong tee box.

In a highly competitive tournament this past weekend at Doubletree Golf Resort, San Diego, 3 members of a of 4’some A reported to tournament authorities that each of them observed all 4 players in 4’some B hit their balls from the blue tees on hole # 18 instead of the white tees as required.

Both 4’some’s were required by tournament rules to hit from the white tees.

The tournament authorities approached the golfers in 4’some B and informed them that the golfers in 4’some A  had reported that each of them had observed all 4 players in 4’some B hitting from the blue tees, and that the whole 4’some is subject to disqualification if in fact  4’some A’s observation was correct.

Each of the golfers in 4’some B vehemently denied hitting from the blue tees on any hole.

However on the 18^th hole, one of the players in 4’some B actually tee’d his ball up at the blue tees, and took several practice swings while waiting for the group ahead to clear the fairway.  This same player walked away from the tee box for a few minutes to get something from his cart, leaving his ball tee’d up at the blue tees and while waiting to hit.  When the group ahead finally cleared the fairway, another player in 4’some B shouted and stopped the player, who was now at address to hit his ball from the blue tees, and informed him that he was at the wrong tee.  The player picked his ball up and went to the white tees and hit from the white tees.  The other 3 members of 4’some B also hit their balls from the white tees.  It apparently appeared to the players in  4’some A, (as they played the 10^th fairway),  that all players in 4’some B must have hit from the wrong tee because they hit from where they had earlier seen of the players taking practice swings at the blue tees.

Question:

Can 4’some B be penalized or disqualified based on 4’some A’s unanimous misperception that each of them observed 4’some B actually hit the ball from the wrong tee?

Is there a penalty for making false, undocumented, irresponsible allegations of rule infractions?            

1. Plugged Ball

            Player A’s ball is plugged on a par 3……….…through the green.

Player A informs player B that the ball is plugged and that he is taking a drop under the rules.

Player B protests because he had never heard of a free drop for a plugged ball.  Player B had never heard the term "plugged ball".

Player A then announces that he will play 2 balls and submit the dispute to the golf course professional. He makes a "6" with the "plugged" ball and a "4" with the "free drop" ball.

The club pro ageees with Player A.  Player A records a "4". 

Player B then asserts that the ball was not really “plugged” in the first place, and that the ball instead was in deep rough.

Question:

what is player A 's score?

Can player B change the essence of the issue after the issue has been submitted for resolution? 

       3.  Who’s Score is Correct?

In a 3’some, at the end of the round, the players are verifying their scores for submission to the tournament Staff.  Player A reports a “5” on Hole # 5.  Players B & C informs Player A that she actually had a “6” on hole  #5.  Player A disagrees with Players B & C and proceeds to record a “5” and signs the card and gives it to players B & C to turn in to the tournament staff.  Players B & C informed the tournament staff of the dispute before signing the score card.  Players B & C eventually signed the scorecard “under protest” of player A’s claim to making a “5” on #5. 

             Question:

1.      is Player A’s score a “5” or “6”.

              2.   should Player A be disqualified

                                2007 Round 5 Flight Final

         Championship Flight            shandin hills  doubletree1    doubletree2    knollwood   brookside#1 Low 3

B Flight