Chris, Tom, JVB- Let me give a thorough explanation of why I am so adamant about my conclusions re this question. First, let me say that I respect each of you and your individual and collective knowledge of the Rules of Golf. Chris is in the golf business, a family business in which he proudly participates. Chris is also president of the Georgia State Golf Association and takes matters such as this seriously. Tom Paul is a lifelong gentleman golfer, the son of a champion golfer and quite accomplished in his own right. Like Chris, Tom has also served as president of a regional golf association and has a keen interest in the rules. John V loves the Rules of golf so much that he has made it his livelihood, traversing this country in a quest to be a part of it all. All of this I know and appreciate. Nevertheless, I find all of you learned gentlemen are mistaken in your conclusions.
A fundamental of the game is that it must be played with no more than 14 clubs; stroke play or match play, this is a core precept of how golf is played. As Tufts states in The Principles Behind the Rules of Golf, “the purpose of the Rules is to insure that as far as possible, everyone plays the same game. The penalties serve to police the chance that by taking advantage of an inadequately protected Rule, players will play a game wholly different from golf.” Tufts also writes “the penalties must always be of sufficient magnitude to discourage the player from seeking or receiving advantage under the Rules.” The penalty of disqualification is indeed a harsh penalty to meet upon A. She likely was innocent in her error of beginning her round with more than 14 clubs; however, the Rules offered her an out, if she informed her opponent immediately upon discovering her error, and declared the excess clubs out of play, she would at worst be sanctioned two holes lost. (Rule 4-4a Penalty Statement) If a player fails to comply with the notification/declaration, the penalty is clearly stated as disqualification.
It is a mistake to believe that a penalty of disqualification implies dishonorable conduct. Most dq penalties are the result of mistake. I can accept that A mistakenly started with more than 14 clubs, but she was not mistaken when she consciously chose to not inform her opponent of her offense. She knew she could only play with 14 clubs. Her statement that she didn’t know what to do, and she did not want to create an advantage or disadvantage for someone clearly establish she knew she was wrong while playing the fourth hole. Nevertheless, she did not inform her opponent until after teeing off on the 9th hole. Given this knowing violation of the Rules, should A be penalized? How can you say no penalty at all should be handed down. A player cannot play with more than 14 clubs, that is fundamental to the game. Unlike many rule infractions, the penalty for violating 4-4c is disqualification regardless of whether the game is match play or stroke play. Disqualification is the harshest penalty, and it is reserved for those infractions in which a one or two stroke, or loss of hole penalty (the match play equivalent of the two stroke penalty) is inadequate. The governing bodies of the game could have differentiated the penalties for stroke play versus match play violations, but did not. It is dq either way. A already had the two lost hole sanction available, but she chose to stay mum, so she must be further penalized for the continued 4-4 infraction. No other penalty short of DQ is available. Tufts writes that ‘when it comes to penalties, the golfer can be confident of one fact: the pressure for their mitigation has been terrific. If the governing bodies have not reduced them, it has most assuredly been due to an inability to devise ways and means of doing so without creating a violation of the principle under discussion.” So the penalty for violating Rule 4-4c is disqualification. It is clearly stated in the penalty statement.
To waive or otherwise not apply the disqualification penalty for 4-4c, you have to conclude that the facts of the situation are not addressed by the rule. According to Tufts, “the penalty for a rule of golf is not adjusted to fit the attendant circumstances. The answer lies rather in defining analogous situations and according them all the same treatment.” Players who play with more than 14 clubs are all treated the same. They are disqualified if they don’t immediately speak up to rectify the situation.