Scorecard

Question
Hi I was playing in a better ball stableford competition on the weekend after returning the card we have found out that the marker has mixed mine and my partners gross score up on hole 13 but put the correct stableford point down in the points box.
Is this an automatic disqualification from the competition? I have tried going through the rule book but I cannot find anything relating to this situation.
Thanks

Answer
HI Dan,

The rule that applies here reads:

RULE 6-6d:


d. Wrong Score for Hole

The competitor is responsible for the correctness of the score recorded for each hole on his score card. If he returns a score for any hole lower than actually taken, he is disqualified. If he returns a score for any hole higher than actually taken, the score as returned stands.

Thus, it is the committees responsibility to determine and add the number of points for the competition. Read Rule 33-5:

33-5. Score Card

In stroke play, the Committee must provide each competitor with a score card containing the date and the competitor抯 name or, in foursome or four-ball stroke play, the competitors?names.

In stroke play, the Committee is responsible for the addition of scores and application of the handicap recorded on the score card.

In four-ball stroke play, the Committee is responsible for recording the better-ball score for each hole and in the process applying the handicaps recorded on the score card, and adding the better-ball scores.

In bogey, par and Stableford competitions, the Committee is responsible for applying the handicap recorded on the score card and determining the result of each hole and the overall result or points total.


The committee has some discretion though:

33-7. Disqualification Penalty; Committee Discretion

A penalty of disqualification may in exceptional individual cases be waived, modified or imposed if the Committee considers such action warranted.

Any penalty less than disqualification must not be waived or modified.


So, summary, the error should lead to disqualification unless the rules committee decides to waive.

Hope this helps.

Best,
Ken Tannar
www.probablegolfinstruction.com