RULES OF THE GAME

By Genger Fahleson | Director, Rules Education, USGA What’s the game today? For a variety of reasons, the choice should be or stroke play, but not both

n an attempt to keep a player plays out of order things fun and interest- in match play, the oppo- ing, those who organize nent may let the stroke leagues, outings or stand or it may be recalled the friendly Saturday by the opponent (Rule 10- Imorning round with friends 1c). But in stroke play, there often attempt to combine is no provision to recall the match play and stroke play stroke and no formats. A lot of players prob- unless the competitors ably can remember receiving agreed to play out of order directions along the lines of, to give one of them an “Play your match but keep a advantage (Rule 10-2c). If card for the stroke-play com- a competitor in stroke petition.” play did replay a stroke Such attempts should be made out of order, he nipped in the bud before any- would be proceeding one ever gets to the first . under penalty of stroke As Rule 33-1 says, and distance (Rule 27-1a). “Certain specific Rules gov- When a player’s ball is erning stroke play are so sub- accidentally deflected or stantially different from those stopped by an opponent governing match play that in match play, the player combining the two forms of may continue play from play is not practicable and is where the ball came to rest not permitted.” What are after the deflection or can- those substantial differences? cel the stroke and play a First, the scoring for the ball, without penalty, as two forms of play are very dif- near as possible at the spot ferent, as are the general from which the original penalties for the breach of a Rule. A two strokes, but he has to keep play- ball was last played. But in stroke match consists of one side playing ing and must hole out. play, if a ball is accidentally deflected against another side; no other player An irresolvable conflict between or stopped by a fellow competitor, no is involved. In match play the game is the forms of play could occur even penalty is incurred by anyone and the played by holes and a hole is won by before the players leave the first tee. ball must be played from where it the side that holes its ball in the If a player in match play starts play came to rest after the deflection. fewest strokes. If a player breaches a of the hole from outside the teeing There is no way to resolve this differ- Rule in match play, the general penal- ground, the opponent may let that ence if trying to combine the two ty is a loss of hole; that player is done stroke stand or the opponent may forms of play. and simply goes to the next tee. recall it (Rule 11-4a). But in stroke A unique feature in match play is A stroke-play competition consists play, if a competitor, when starting a the opportunity to concede a stroke, of players completing each hole of a hole, plays a ball from outside the tee- hole or the entire match. In stroke play, stipulated round or rounds and, for ing ground, he incurs a penalty of two a player is disqualified if he fails to hole each round, returning a scorecard on strokes and must start play of the out and does not correct the mistake. which there is a gross score for each hole from within the Thus, the differences between hole. Each person is playing against (Rule 11-4b). match play and stroke play are every other competitor in the compe- There are other incidents in match substantial. The game is either match tition. In stroke play, if a competitor play where a player is given the oppor- play or stroke play; you cannot play breaches a Rule, the general penalty is tunity to recall an opponent’s stroke. If both at the same time.

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