Golf rules? Who putts first?

johncdbass · #1 (**permalink**) 02-24-2007, 01:23 AM

I had a question regarding a situation that occurred today. If someone is four feet off the green but closer to the hole, than someone on the green, who in golf rules should go first? Does it make it make difference if the person off the green is using a putter? Thanks for the help, John

prowlsta · #2 (**permalink**) 02-24-2007, 04:06 PM

The person furthest away from the hole should go first but it is quite normal in a medal or bounce game for the person on the green to just say "Do you want to come onto the green" therefore saving the time and effort of messing around with the flag.

LowPost42 · #3 (**permalink**) 02-24-2007, 04:32 PM

In the rules of golf, the person who is away is the one that is farthest from the hole; regardless of where their ball lie.

Now, in every competition I've ever played in, the green is treated seperately, so that once the pin is pulled, it can be ignored.

As we all know, for a player who is NOT on the green (and the fringe is not the green), they can choose to have the flag in, out, or attended, while a player who is on the green cannot allow their putt to touch the flagstick.

bdbl · #4 (**permalink**) 02-24-2007, 09:17 PM

The rules ofcourse, at least in stroke play I'm not sure about match play, don't insist that the player furthest away goes first at any time, on the green or not, merely that you can't seek to gain an advantage by going out of order.

As below, by switching order to avoid "messing with the pin" is a good way to keep the game going as is (common in my Sunday 3-ball) when you are spread across 3 fairways when "ready golf" is the only sensible option.

In the OP the person furthest away but on the green "should" go first but common sense and the flow of the game suggests that the guy to chip might as well do do so unless he insists otherwise

LowPost42 · #5 (**permalink**) 02-24-2007, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdbl

The rules ofcourse, at least in stroke play I'm not sure about match play, don't insist that the player furthest away goes first at any time, on the green or not, merely that you can't seek to gain an advantage by going out of order.

What?

Quote:

Originally Posted by R&A

10.1 Match Play
a. When Starting Play of Hole
The side that has the honour at the first teeing ground is determined by the order of the draw. In the absence of a draw, the honour should be decided by lot.
The side that wins a hole takes the honour at the next teeing ground. If a hole has been halved, the side that had the honour at the previous teeing ground retains it.
b. During Play of Hole
After both players have started play of the hole, the ball farther from the hole is played first. If the balls are equidistant from the hole or their positions relative to the hole are not determinable, the ball to be played first should be decided by lot.
Exception: Rule 30-3c (best-ball and four-ball match play).
Note: When the original ball is not to be played as it lies and the player is required to play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5), the order of play is determined by the spot from which the previous stroke was made. When a ball may be played from a spot other than where the previous stroke was made, the order of play is determined by the position where the original ball came to rest.
c. Playing Out of Turn
If a player plays when his opponent should have played, there is no penalty, but the opponent may immediately require the player to cancel the stroke so made and, in correct order, play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5).

10.2 Stroke Play
a. When Starting Play of Hole
The competitor who has the honour at the first teeing ground is determined by the order of the draw. In the absence of a draw, the honour should be decided by lot.
The competitor with the lowest score at a hole takes the honour at the next teeing ground. The competitor with the second lowest score plays next and so on. If two or more competitors have the same score at a hole, they play from the next teeing ground in the same order as at the previous teeing ground.
b. During Play of Hole
After the competitors have started play of the hole, the ball farthest from the hole is played first. If two or more balls are equidistant from the hole or their positions relative to the hole are not determinable, the ball to be played first should be decided by lot.
Exceptions: Rules 22 (ball assisting or interfering with play) and 31-5 (four-ball stroke play).
Note: When the original ball is not to be played as it lies and the player is required to play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5), the order of play is determined by the spot from which the previous stroke was made. When a ball may be played from a spot other than where the previous stroke was made, the order of play is determined by the position where the original ball came to rest.
c. Playing Out of Turn
If a competitor plays out of turn, there is no penalty and the ball is played as it lies. If, however, the Committee determines that competitors have agreed to play out of turn to give one of them an advantage, they are disqualified.
(Making stroke while another ball in motion after stroke from putting green - see Rule 16-1f)
(Incorrect order of play in threesomes and foursomes stroke play - see Rule 29-3)

It's right there. I mean, you're right - there's no penalty per se (save match play where you can cancel the stroke). You don't HAVE to play 'away' (there is no insistence). But it's obviously the way the game was meant to be played.

bdbl · #6 (**permalink**) 02-25-2007, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LowPost42

You don't HAVE to play 'away' (there is no insistence). But it's obviously the way the game was meant to be played.

Well yes I know that but you miss the point I was trying to make.

The game is also meant to played at a reasonable pace. Under some circumstances playing the way it was meant just slows the game down so much.

I've been behind groups where the flag has been in and out like a fiddlers elbow as they play in the right order rather than the sensible order; the same kind of group tends to wait for each other to play when they are a fairway and a bit apart - under these circumstances the people I play with agree to "see you at the green" and press on when we are ready.

All I'm saying is that since the rules allow you just to get on with it (etiquette and partners permitting) why not do so.

I might just be sensitive but for various reasons I've been playing a fair bit of mid week solo golf lately and slow play is becoming a real pain - especially as so many people seem oblivious to holding up play.

LowPost42 · #7 (**permalink**) 02-25-2007, 01:25 PM

Sorry - I did miss your point.

I don't understand trying to rush around the golf course. I don't understand the complaints about a 5 hour round.

I'm out there to have a good time and hit the ball, chase the low score - not try and set a land speed record while playing golf!

To me, if one cannot allocate 5 hours to play, maybe accepting 9 holes or choosing something other than golf is a better plan. Sure, back in the day you may have been able to zoom around in 4 or 4 and a bit, but it seems that if you're not playing a private club, you can expect 5+ on the weekends.

Now, that said, it is frustrating to watch a group of 20+ handicaps take 7 strokes to get to the green (while they all play etiquette golf), then read putts like their mortgages are on the line. By the same token, if that's what you're up against on a given day, then that's what you're up against. I class it like freshly watered greens. An unexpected, nasty surprise... but I'm here to play against whatever the course throws at me (including hot beer girls. However, I'll admit it's not the hot ones that distract me so much as the opposite-of-hot ones).

bdbl · #8 (**permalink**) 02-25-2007, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LowPost42

Sorry - I did miss your point.

I don't understand trying to rush around the golf course. I don't understand the complaints about a 5 hour round.

Half agree with you; I don't want to rush either (it's bad for my golf for one thing) but where does not rushing become playing too slowly?

I absolutely (for obvious reasons) have nothing against 20 cap golfers and sure you might as well talke your time on the green if the course is crowded and there's nowhere to go.

But I really have seen - more than once in the same round - players both on the wrong fairway (with the right one in between) wait for each other, which makes no sense to me.

I'll set aside 5 hours on a Sunday with friends - maybe thats what a four ball has to take these days - but as a single on an empty course?

Ah maybe my gripe isn't actually with slow play at all but at not being let through on an empty course.

LowPost42 · #9 (**permalink**) 02-26-2007, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdbl

Ah maybe my gripe isn't actually with slow play at all but at not being let through on an empty course.

I'll get behin that gripe. Sure, take your time when there's no place to go. But when there are holes open ahead of you, let me through!!

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