BREAKING THE RULES
By Rich IwasZko, Director of Golf, Pocasset Golf Club
Illustrations by Jeff Camish
At the turn of the 18th century, an avid golfer named Ivon Moore Hoels invented a new golf game to play with his buddies. They would play head-to-head against each other on an individual hole basis, rather than by total score. The player who won the most individual holes would be the winner.
They were all heavy cigar smokers and would use their friction sulfur sticks to keep score. When you won a hole, or burned the other player, you would strike a stick, gloat while it was burning, then replace it into a small personal empty box. The status of the game would be determined by each player counting his burnt sticks and comparing it to his opponent’s. If you had more burnt sticks than there were holes remaining to be played, you would win. The bet would be settled, and the winner would puff his cigar the proudest. This game later became known as Match Play!
Match Play (scored by individual holes) is used a lot these days to determine club champions. While it is fun, it never proves a champion like medal play (scored by total score). It does, however, introduce the Rocky Balboa factor, as a less skilled player can rise to the occasion and easily defeat a better player in match play. And that is the fun of it! Ignorant players can also break the rules in match play and suffer no consequences.
Two terms of great importance in Match Play are Concession and Claims.
“A player may concede his opponent’s next stroke at any time provided the opponent’s ball is at rest. The opponent is considered to have holed out with his next stroke, and the ball may be removed by either side.” Phrases like “That’s good” or “Pick it up” are today’s way of conceding the next stroke.
Hillary and Barack were playing a match. Barack hit his chip shot two feet from the hole. Hillary said, “That’s good!” Not believing Hillary, Barack putted his ball anyway and missed. Hillary said, “I guess I win the hole!” Did Hillary win the hole? Of course not – for a concession cannot be withdrawn. However, if it were a team match and Barack’s putt could have helped his partner with his next shot, the concession still stands but Barack’s partner is disqualified from the hole.
Donald Trump and Steve Wynn were partners in a Big Money Match Play event. A huge Calcutta, auctioning teams in a field, had been held. The Donald and Stevie had bought their team as well as the team of Michael Corleone and Vinny Boombatz. In the final match, it was these two teams against each other. Teams got one point for a win, minus-one for a loss, and a zero for a tie. The Donald realized, after looking at his Calcutta tickets, that if they tie the match they win twice; if they win or lose the match, they win only once in the Calcutta. The Donald decided to convince Michael and Vinny to consider all holes halved so that they too could win twice. Upon returning to the clubhouse with the results of a halved match, both teams were promptly disqualified. Players agreeing to consider a hole halved without playing a stroke have failed to play a stipulated round. Stevie promptly said to Donald, “You’re fired!”
George and John left the 18th green under the impression that George had won the match. They later realized, after re-checking the scorecard five times and looking for chads of evidence, that the match was all square or even. So they referred the matter to the Supreme Court (the Tournament Committee). What happened? Since there was no indication of wrong information being given, the match stood as played. George was the winner.
A player who believes that a rule has been broken or that he or she has been wronged needs to make a timely claim. The player needs to say to his opponent, on that hole, “I don’t think that is right and I am making a claim and requesting a ruling.” If he or she fails to do so, the opponent can break just about any rule and the result of the hole will stand. A later claim gets consideration only if wrong information has been given.
If you have a doubt as to procedure, speak now or forever hold your peace. Interestingly enough, a player may disregard a breach of the rules by his opponent, but there can be no agreement between the opponents to waive the rules.
John had played the wrong ball to a green in his match with Mitt. When he got to the green, he found his original ball in the hole. Mitt claimed the hole because John had hit a wrong ball. John did not dispute the claim and subsequently lost the match. Later he learned that the decision made was wrong, because his previous shot had already been holed, rendering the wrong ball irrelevant. Which is true. John then lodged a claim with the Committee. Since John did not make a timely claim, prior to teeing off from the next tee, Mitt still won the hole and the match. John needs to learn how to make valid claims.
Mike the meat-cutter had an accident in which he lost half of his index finger. In a match with Bill the banker, Mike putted out, and Bill asked, “What score did you make?” Mike put his hand on his chest, and Bill glanced at it and promptly picked up his ball and left the green. Once off the green, Mike asked, “Why did you pick up?” Bill replied, “You had a 4.” Mike said, “No, I had a five.” Mike’s hand, in his mind, had five digits! What’s the call? A timely claim was not made, but is this wrong information? How would you rule as a committee? It’s not easy sometimes! s this wrong information? How would you rule as a committee? It’s not easy sometimes!
At the turn of the 18th century, an avid golfer named Ivon Moore Hoels invented a new golf game to play with his buddies. They would play head-to-head against each other on an individual hole basis, rather than by total score. The player who won the most individual holes would be the winner. 
“A player may concede his opponent’s next stroke at any time provided the opponent’s ball is at rest. The opponent is considered to have holed out with his next stroke, and the ball may be removed by either side.” Phrases like “That’s good” or “Pick it up” are today’s way of conceding the next stroke.
disqualified. Players agreeing to consider a hole halved without playing a stroke have failed to play a stipulated round. Stevie promptly said to Donald, “You’re fired!”
wronged needs to make a timely claim. The player needs to say to his opponent, on that hole, “I don’t think that is right and I am making a claim and requesting a ruling.” If he or she fails to do so, the opponent can break just about any rule and the result of the hole will stand. A later claim gets consideration only if wrong information has been given.