Written by: Darin Green, Senior Director of Rules & Competitions
Happy New Year! The weather has been excellent in Florida lately and reports are that the amount of golf being played is higher than average. During this time of year, many golf clubs have match play competitions going on so I felt we should look at a scenario that is exclusive to match play.
We all know that when playing stroke play you must hole out to have a score; however, in match play it is very common to not hole out. For instance, if your opponent concedes your next stroke, the hole, or the match you can just pick up your ball and move on. Additionally, if your opponent achieved a score on a hole lower than your currently lie (it is impossible for you to win or tie the hole), then you can pick up your ball and head to the next hole.
What happens when the player mistakes a comment or gesture from his or her opponent as a concession and picks up their ball? For instance, the player lags a lengthy putt up to three feet from the hole and the opponent says, “that is a good putt” however the player mistakes the comment as a concession and picks up the ball (the player thought he heard “that is good”). The opponent then tells the player that the putt was not conceded. How do they proceed?
Rule 3.2b(2) explains how concessions are made. A concession can be made either verbally or by action that clearly shows the player’s intent to concede the stroke (such as making a gesture, like giving a thumb up or pick-it-up motion with their hand). If the player lifts his or her ball or ball marker up with a reasonable misunderstanding that the opponent’s statement or action was a concession there is no penalty and the ball must be replaced on its original spot.
Match play is a unique and fun way to play golf. It is just the player and the opponent out there battling each other. Players are expected to act with integrity and show consideration to others (Rule 1.2a). Exclusive to match play, if a player and opponent agree on a rule of golf, or outcome of a hole, the agreement stands as long as they are not knowingly breaking the rules.
Pictured right is the famous concession from Jack Nicklaus to Tony Jacklin on the final hole of the 1969 Ryder Cup. Widely considered the greatest acts of sportsmanship in golf, the concession left the Ryder Cup in a 16-16 tie after many years of U.S. dominance in golf. Read more on this historic story here.
GHIN Score Posting in Match Play
You must also post your score to your GHIN handicap after playing a match play round. If you start a hole, but do not hole out you must take your most likely score on that hole for handicap posting purposes. If the match ended early and you did not play a hole or more than you must take net par (par plus any handicap strokes you would receive) on those holes for handicap posting purposes.
Have a great 2021!!!
