Time spent looking for a ball - penalty?

[Colossus]

Overheard a conversation in the clubhouse today about a fourball on our course at the weekend. The group in question were a mile ahead of the group behind, but on the approach to the 18th, one of the group's approach to the green, missed left and plugged. They started looking for the ball, and ten minutes later, the group behind had caught up. We were on the adjacent 5th at this point. The fourball searching called the approaching group through and continued to search for the missing ball. By this time they had already been looking for over ten minutes.

The next fourball played through and finished the hole, and by this time the fourball after them were approaching the green. The group STILL searching for the plugged ball called THEM through as well, but as they approached the green the plugged ball was found and the group finished the hole. In total they were timed as looking for the ball for 20 minutes, and probably longer by the time someone noticed this.

They were reported to match and handicap, along with three witnesses PLUS the first group that played through (which included the Captain), but their score was allowed to stand. The competition on Saturday was played in pairs, and the pair which included the guy whose ball plugged went on to win their section.

What SHOULD have been done by the rules of the game? I know there is a time limit to look for lost balls (five minutes IIRC), but if the group go past this allocated time, what should be the proper course of action to be taken against them?

It doesn't bother me at all, I'm more than happy for someone to spend all day looking for a ball, as long as it doesn't hold me up or affect my game, but I know some people are real sticklers for the rules. I suppose I'm just curious really.

[The Lyth]

If the ball that was being looked for was the ball that ended up as the scoring ball then it should be DQ.
The guys themselves would most likely claim that they were not infact searching for a 'Lost Ball' but a plugged ball and the five minute rule did not apply.:confused: :confused: :confused: :rolleyes:

[Colossus]

If the ball that was being looked for was the ball that ended up as the scoring ball then it should be DQ.The guys themselves would most likely claim that they were not infact searching for a 'Lost Ball' but a plugged ball and the five minute rule did not apply.:confused: :confused: :confused: :rolleyes:

That's what I thought. If the plugged ball wasn't the scoring ball, would that make a difference? i.e. Would his partner still be able to score with his ball, or would the pair be DQ'd? I don't even think M&H raised the issue with them, but just allowed the score to stand.

Funny thing is however, that M&H raised an issue with me, that one of my playing partners didn't rake a bunker at the 18th, and they were going to raise it with him, until they saw the state of the bunker for themselves. It was rock hard, and even if you jumped in it, you couldn't leave an imprint, so there was no point in raking it. Even so, I had to back him up and vouch for him that he doesn't usually leave a bunker unraked, or not replace divots or replace pitchmarks.

[The Lyth]

It would be totally up to M&H but the whole group could be penalised under Rule 6-7 which covers Undue Delay, Slow Play.
Sounds to me like "Old Pals Act" and they picked on your partner to show it.

[Tin Pot]

Is it possible to report the committee to the R&A?

If the club won't apply the rules of golf, what hope is there?

[PowerPenguin]

That is simply shocking behaviour. Not only have they broken a rule on course about tiem spent looking for lost balls, but the comittee have effectively broken the rule about agreeing to waive the rules.

If I had come second in that section I wouldn't have taken it lying down!

You need more objectivity on your comittee, as do most clubs really. Most of them tend to be the retired people who play everyday, with their retired mates, and as The Lyth says, its one rule for mates and one rule for others.

Dave

[Foxholer]

Rules of Golf are quite specific on time allowed to look for ball - 5 mins. Then must go back and replay.

Sounds like DQ - or out of hole - to me!

Good to see Old-Fartdom is alive and well in the Emerald Isles (too).

Ross

[Scotty01292]

I know some people are real sticklers for the rules. I suppose I'm just curious really.

You can say that again... I played a guy in a junior team match last year, and twice, when I was looking for a ball, he pulled a STOPWATCH out of his bag to time my 5 minutes...

[emc]

Was he from a different club? If then, expect it as he won't have to talk to you ever again really, I've seen a lot wprse things than that happen in interclub matches. Best thing owuld be asking him to start his stopwatch if he hits a crooked one

[sevenfourate]

You can say that again... I played a guy in a junior team match last year, and twice, when I was looking for a ball, he pulled a STOPWATCH out of his bag to time my 5 minutes...

Was he from a different club? If then, expect it as he won't have to talk to you ever again really, I've seen a lot wprse things than that happen in interclub matches. Best thing owuld be asking him to start his stopwatch if he hits a crooked one

Our County (Suffolk) has positively suggested we do carry a stopwatch on our bags for just such purposes.

The looking for a ball for 5 mins is a rule of golf so whats the problem ? No different to carrying 22 clubs in the bag or stamping behind the ball to improve the lie........