Penalty?

davo10

What is your opinion on this one guys?

On monday night I was out watching a Jimmy Bruen interclub match. The club where I am a member was the away team. Before the matches at the other club started, one of their players asked if it was ok if he used a buggy, he had a Doctor's cert for a bad back. No prob there.

Monday evening's weather was pretty bad with heavy showers. On the 6th hole, the partner of the guy in the buggy attached his bag to the buggy and proceeded to play out the rest of the match being driven by his partner with the cert. He did not ask our team for permission to use the buggy and whereas our players got soaked for the next 12 holes while exposed to the elements they sat in the buggy with side covers dry as a bone only getting out to hit their shots. Our guys were debutants in interclub golf and did not know what to say or do about this so they said and did nothing. They lost their match on the 18th and our club lost the tie.

I think it showed a lack of courtesy on the other teams part not to ask permission for the second player to also use the buggy. I am unsure if this was deserving of a penalty during the match (loss of hole/disqualification), our club is not persuing the matter, what is your opinion on this?

cpb

From the GUI general rules for the annual Cups and Shields found here


23. Motorised buggies may be utilised only by the players in
possession of a medical certificate of disability issued in the
current Calendar Year, and then only if the host club permits the
use of such machines. In such circumstances it is the
responsibility of the players concerned to provide a buggy, not
the Golfing Union of Ireland.The buggy may be used only by the
player named on the certificate and may carry only his equipment
and caddy. (Penalty - disqualification of the offending player/s).

Fore Iron

I'm not entirely sure here but,

Firstly very simply, the second guy could not and should not have used the buggy if he did not have a medical cert, plain and simple. It is possible that use of a buggy when it's use was not allowed would have resulted in disqualification of the pairing certainly and possibly even of the entire team.

The first thing you should do is go and ask your club to look into it. There is a chance that they might be entitled to claim the match if the other club were in breach. however, it is also possible that sinec nobody from your side said anything at all at the time, that it may just simply be too late.

Whatever about a local club matchplay competition where I probably wouldn't be bothered making a deal of it and saying anything to anyone about it, in an interclub match like that I would be very very picky about the rules and if I had any concerns about whether something was allowed or not I would be asking for clarification before I hit another ball...

Fore Iron

cpb got there before me!

There you go so. Since it is possible that disqualification of that one pairing may have made a difference to the outcome of the entire match, the other club may be completely disqualified from the round if it is brought to the attention of the GUI.

Myksyk

Eh where was your manager?

davo10

He was at our club.

Myksyk

davo10 wrote: »

He was at our club.

??
You mean he wasn't at the match?

davo10

Myksyk wrote: »

??
You mean he wasn't at the match?

There was 2 matches at our club, 3 at theirs, work meant he could only be at home club

zztop

All managers have an assistant as far as I know.Was it you Davo;)

davo10

Nah, I was only there to watch a few holes and support the guys, I regret not saying something at the time but I did not want to embroil two young fellas in controversy on their first outing.

Fore Iron

I think they would have preferred to win their match and see their team go through!! Understand what you mean though. It can be tough to stick your neck out in a situation like that.

Next time show no mercy in interclubs!!