Barton Cup - Issue about Different Balls

Johnny_Fontane

Was subbing for Barton Cup today and an issue came up on the 10th tee.

It was this:
our guy had tee'd off on first hole, declared his ball to be a Titleist 4 (Pro V1). On second tee our other guy declared his ball a Titleist 4 (Pro V1x)

continued using alternate balls until the 9 when our guy used his ball (the pro v1) - just simply cos it was in his pocket -

Opposition called him up on it on the 10th tee - saying it was a softer ball and unfair advantage. That he chose the ball 'because it was softer'. This was rigorously denied.

head scratching ensued - rules books were pulled out - captains met, discussed it - spoke to all parties and decided that there was nothing in the rule book to cover this. Basically it came down to whether you could declare two balls playing foresomes.

Anyone know what the actual rule is? What the penalty would have been?
Personally, I found it to be very petty and against the spirit of the game.

stumpypeeps

There is nothing in the Rules of Golf that prevents a golfer from switching to a different brand of golf ball (i.e., from a Titleist to a Bridgestone) on every hole on the course - so long as the change is made between the play of holes.
However, there is something in the Rules of Golf that says a tournament committee can impose such a rule.

It's called the "one ball condition" (in the rulebook, it's in Appendix 1, Part C), more commonly known as the "one ball rule." As you probably know, all Tour events are played under the "one ball rule." And any rules committee may adopt the "one ball rule" for its competitions.

The "one ball condition" requires the player to use the exact same brand and type of ball throughout the round. For example, if you tee off the first hole with a Titleist Pro V1x, then that's what you must play throughout the round. You may not switch to any other brand of ball, nor even to any other type of Titleist ball. You started with the Pro V1x, so the Pro V1x is what you must use on every stroke.

If the "one ball rule" is not in effect, however, golfers may swap out different types of golf balls at any point in a round of golf, so long as the change is made between holes rather than during the play of a hole.

Rule 15-1 states: "A player must hole out with the ball played from the teeing ground ..."

thegen

Did you still manage to win?

madds

This rule may have changed I remember during the '91 Ryder Cup in Kiawah Island Seve pulling a US pairing (think Azinger was one of the US players) up over changing to a softer compression ball before hitting their tee shot on a par 3. The end result and one that I thought still stood was that you can only change your ball if it was damaged, i.e. was cut. I certainly wasn't aware you could switch balls between holes even if the ball was not damaged??

ShriekingSheet

The biggest element of confusion here is the cross-over between famous incidents in the pro-ranks, and the amateur game. The rules are very different. The R&A, largely responsible for the amateur side, are pragmatic, and don't seek to punish everyday golfers for playing whatever ball is in their bag/pocket. Pro's however, who invariably have access to free equipment, must stick to the same ball.

So yes, you can absolutely play a par 5 with a TopFlite, and the following par 3 with a ProV1.

It p*sses me off to see regular handicap golfers bringing matches into disrepute over supposed rules and technicalities. The guy is welcome to change to a softer ball if he wants to, whether it was by strategy or coincidence. Wrongly causing such a fuss over something like that is a disgrace.

Our BC Captain kept insisting the players didn't chat to the supporters, like "how's it going? cheers for coming down, how are the lads doing up ahead?" kind of stuff - for fear the opposition would accuse someone of "giving advice". Muppets.

Be sure of the rules or STFU.

Johnny_Fontane

We ended up losing the tie before the above mentioned match was completed.....it was very delicately balanced going onto 17th tee.

As for the support - we had a great day away yesterday basking in the sunshine - everyone was chatting away be it supporters or players, team managers and captains. Once the issue came up, it became very strange as everything stopped for 20 minutes. Fair dues though to the home team, their guys played well and we probably deserved to get beaten.

I think it was discussed previously about how seriously amateur golf can be taken to the detriment of the enjoyment of the game - yes I know its pressured but there has to be a trust element in golf between amateur players - things can happen like a player picking up a 2 inch putt before it being given, mixing your balls up in your pocket - but just get on with it. It wont affect the result and trying to force a result this way is not in the spirit of the way I play my game.

Let common sense prevail and enjoy your golf.

Mister Sifter

I've said it countless times that the GUI cups & Shields are a great initiative. They really do seem to bring out the arsehole in so many though.

Have to wonder whether it's really worth it - scurrying about trying to make practice/trials, battling clicks, having teams chosen by some comittee member with zero golfing cop-on, the ****ty formats that the Barton etc are played in, idiots in the opposition spending their time looking for infringements rather than just winning their match by playing good golf...

Give me my own ball and a singles competition any day!

ShriekingSheet

Mister Sifter wrote: »

I've said it countless times that the GUI cups & Shields are a great initiative. They really do seem to bring out the arsehole in so many though.

Have to wonder whether it's really worth it - scurrying about trying to make practice/trials, battling clicks, having teams chosen by some comittee member with zero golfing cop-on, the ****ty formats that the Barton etc are played in, idiots in the opposition spending their time looking for infringements rather than just winning their match by playing good golf...

Give me my own ball and a singles competition any day!

Well it's all down to how your club organises things. The likes of Jimmy Bruen Shield, Pierce Purcell, Junior Cup etc ideally should all have a team captain who's better than the given handicap bracket. It's not vital, but I think it certainly helps.

There's nothing worse than excessive "practice" and "trials". Most clubs probably don't do enough to compete though. And tbh I find those get togethers can be good craic, but it's important they're on at reasonable times, so people aren't put out too much.

And with Barton Cup, a good people-manager with little or no political interest in the club is best. The results board, past experience and personal dynamics among pairings, and a bit of cop-on with "horses-for-courses", is all a good BC captain needs to take into account imo.

As for clicks... if places on the team are given out for any reason other than who's most likely to win the match, you don't stand a chance.