RULES OF GOLF.

Otago Witness, Issue 2861, 13 January 1909, Page 57

RULES OF GOLF.

(Continued.) SPECIAL RULES FOR MATCH PLAT COMPETITIONS. —Rule I.— On the putting-green, if the competitor whose bail is the nearer to the hole play first, his ball shall be at once replaced under penalty of the disqualification of both competitors. —Rule 2.— A competitor shall not waive any penalty incurred by his opponent, under penalty of disqualification. j —Rule 3.— j Competitors shall not agree to exclude the operation, of • any rule or local rule , under penalty of disqualification. i The rules of Golf Committee recommend? that players should .not concede putts to their opponents. RULES FOR THREE-BALL, BEST BALL, AND FOUR-BALL MATCHES. DEFINITIONS. 1. When three placers play against each j other, each playing hie own ball, the match' I is called a three-ball match. | 2. When one player plays his ball against the best ball of two or more players, the* j match is called a, best-ball match. 3. When two players play thei. bettor ball against the better ball of two other players the match is called a four-ball match. GENERAL. ! —Rule I.— Any player may have any ball in the match lifted or played, at the option of its owner, if he consider that it might interfere with or be of assistance to a player or side. I -Rule 2.— ; If a player's ball mo\e any other ball in j the match, the moved ball must be re- j placed as near as possible to the spot where ' it lay, without penalty. I —Rule" 3.— Through the green a player shall incur no penalty for playing when an opponent should have done so, and the stroke shall not be recalled. j On the putting-green tbf> stroke may be recalled by an opponent, but no penalty shall be incurred. THREE-BALL MATCHES. —Rule 4.— During a three-ball match, if no player is entitled at a teeing-ground to claim the honour from both opponents, the same order of striking shall be followed as at the last teeing-ground. —Rule 5.— In a three-ball match, if a placer's ball strike, or be stopped, or moved by an j opponent or an opponent's caddie or clubs, ! that opponent shall lo*e the hole io the player. As regaidj the other oppoiiem, ! the occurrence shall be treated as a rub ' of the gieen. j BEST-BALL AND FOUR-BALL MATCHES. — Rule 0 — Balls belonging to the same side may j re plowed in the order the side debris Lest. —Rule 7.— I If a player's ball strike, or be stopped, ' or moved by an opponent, or an opponent's ' caddie or clubs, ttre opponent's side shall lose the hole. I —Rule B.— j If a plaj'er'e bail (the player being one of a side* strike, or ho -topped by him^if, or his partner, or either of their caddies or clubs, only that plajcr bhall be disqualified for that hole. . —Rule 9.— j If a player play a stroke with his part- j ner's ball, and the mistake be discovered and intimated to the other i-ide befoie an opponent ha,a uiayed another su-oke, [

the player shall be disqualified for thafc hole, and his partner shall drop a ball as near as jjossible fo the spot from \rhicb his ball was played, without penalty. II the mistake b« .not riisfwered it'}} «fto«* *b<s ftlsi-j. ftL*ll lose Ate I/\>!e. —Rule 10.— In all other cases where a player would by the Rules of Golf incur the less of thi hole, he shall be disqualified for that hole, ,but the disqualification shall not apply to his partner. SPECIAL RULES FOR STROKE j COMPETITIONS. i RULES FOR THE CONDUCT OF STROKE COMPETITIONS. ! Committee Defined. — Wherever the word committee is used in these rules it refers to the committee in charge of che competition. — Rule I.— > 1. The Winner. — In stroke competitions the competitor who holes the stipulated round or rounds in the fewest strokes shall be the winner. 2. Order of Play.— Competitors shall play, in couples; if -from any cause there be a ! single competitor, the committee shall either provide him with a player or select; a marker for him and allow him. te^ compete alone. { The order and times of starting should, when possible, be determined by ballot. 3. Order of Starting. — Competitors should strike off from the first tee in the order in which their names appear upon the starting-lisfc. j The Honour. — Thereafter the honour should be taken as in play, if a competitor by mistake play out of turn, no penalty shall be incurred, and the stroke cannot be recalled. — Rule 2.— 1. Not to Discontinue Play in Bid Weather. — Competitors shall start in the order and at the times arranged by the committee. They shall not discontinue play nor delay to start on account of :>-»d weather or for any other reason whatever except such as the committee may consider satisfactory. The penalty for a breach of this jule ' shall be disqualification. 2. Course Unplayable. — If the committee consider that the course is not in a playable condition, or that insufficient. light renders the proper playing of the game impossible, it shall at any time have powo' to declare the day's play null and void. — Rule 3.— — Ties, , How and When Decided. — If the lowest scores be made by ;w.-» or more competitors the tie or lies shall > be decided by another round to be played, on the came day; but if the committee determine that this is inexpedient or impossible, ir shall appoint a day and time for the decision of the tie or ties. Should an uneven number of competitors tie their names shall be drawn byballot and placed upon a list; the competitors shall then play in couples in the | order in which their names appear. Tho single competitor shall be provided by Ihe ''committee either under Rale 1 (2), or by \ allowing three competitors to play together if their unanimous consent has been obtained. — Rule 4.— 1. New Holes. — New holes should fc« made on the day on which stroke competitions begin. 2. Practice on Day of Competition.— Ora the day of the competition, before startijg^ no competitor shall play on, or on to, • j any of the putting-#reen3, nor shall he . intentionally play at any hole of the stipulated round which i 3 within his reach under penalty of disqualification. — Rule 5.— 1. The Scores, How Kept. — The score for each hole shall be kept by a marker or by each competitor noting the other's scce. | Should more than one marker keep a • eoro each shall sign the part of ' the score for which he is responsible. The ncores should be called out after each hole. On completion of the stipulated round the card shall be signed by the person who l-as marked it. and the competitor shall «a that it is handed in p? soon as reasonably* i possible. The penalty for a breach of this rule shall be ditqcalification. Scoring-cards should be issued with (ha date and the player's name entered in the heading. 2. Marking and Addition of Scores. — Competitors must satisfy themselves before ! the cards are handed in that the scores j for each hole are eoriecHy marked, as no alteration can be made on any card r,ftor it has been returned. If it t>e found that a competitor has reiarned a score lower than that actually played he '-rail bo disqualified. For the additions of fha scores marked the committee shall be responsible. 3. Committee to Decide Doubtful Penil* ties. — If, on the completion of the stipulated round, a player is doubtful whether he has incurred a penalty at any hole ho may enclose his scoring-card with a written statement of the circumstances to the committee, who shall decide what penalty, if any, has been incurred. -•