US Mid Am Qualifier @ Yale

[Tom Huckaby]

JES:

OK, I can live with that.  So it's OK to NC in social golf situations.  Agreed and thank god for that.  I didn't focus on this part of it at all.

But change Bob's situation from the R&A Fall Meeting to qualification round for British Senior Amateur.

Now do you get my point?

And in any case, the example of the Sweeney golfer is more illustrative - or at least I think so.  Why is it so important for him to go back, disturb and annoy his fellow golfers, and post his score? [And I know you believe he can do this unobtrusively - I just do think that as much as he tries to do that, he's still an annoyance to the guys behind.]  Perhaps we will have to agree to disagree, but I really do think in this instance, courtesy and keeping play moving trumps the necessity to post a score.  My questions at the end of my last post remain.


TH

[Bob_Huntley]

Thoamas, Thomas,

My riposte is neither swift in coming and may well not be very forceful.

How do you know that the competition was not played in accordance with the Appendix C-Section wording in mind? Although I do not qualify as a professional or highly skilled amateur, there are events held in this world that may allow you to borrow a ball, but require you to finish with the make and model with which you started the round. If I started with a Pro V1 and borrowed a Calloway,  I would be disqualified.

Bob              

[Tom Huckaby]

Bob:

Well, that was not swift, but was forceful enough.

Of course if the one-ball rule is in force, you'd have to hope someone else has the same make and model.  Nevertheless, you could ask.  If none are forthcoming, then it's not really an NC, it's a DQ.  That's a subtle but important difference, wouldn't you say?

In any case your example remains fine by me - as I've said, in your shoes I'd have NC'd as well and felt no shame other than that regarding my poor play.    

My point here was just the comparison.  And as I say, the more illustrative example is the Sweeney player.  What shame or dishonor would he have in favoring courtesy to his fellow competitors over the absolute need to post a score?

TH

[Bob_Huntley]

Bob:

Well, that was not swift, but was forceful enough.

Of course if the one-ball rule is in force, you'd have to hope someone else has the same make and model.  Nevertheless, you could ask.  If none are forthcoming, then it's not really an NC, it's a DQ.  That's a subtle but important difference, wouldn't you say?


TH

Thomas,

Not as well up on the rules as a Senior Functionary of the Northern California Golf Association, but isn't it my perogative to declare a N/C than accept disqualification?

Bob

[Michael Moore]

Mr. Huckaby -

In this competition Robb and Hanley shot the highest reported scores, 93.

To the eye of the layman, or when glanced at in the traditional two-column format, it looks like they came in last.

Nobody wants to come in last, or appear to come in last, or post the highest score.

Right?

[Tom Huckaby]

Bob - the day I am a rules expert is a very sad day.  I'd think one certainly CAN NC at any time, for any reason.  I mean who's going to stop you?  I'm just wondering what the better approach is.  But in this example I am starting to count angels on the head of a pin, so... never mind.

Michael:  yes.  Thus I've said all along NCs are to be utterly cryit down.  I do still believe there's a place for courtesy and common sense, however.  And remember, Mike's player is going to shoot 88.  Those guys remain in last place.

TH

[JESII]

A DQ is better than a NC.

[Tom Huckaby]

A DQ is better than a NC.

Careful with these absolutes.  Before I start citing examples where that's not true, just tell me you understand that's not ALWAYS the case.  There are many very dishonorable ways to get a DQ....

TH

[JESII]

good point.

i was thinking in terms of accidental dq versus intentional nc.

[Tom Huckaby]

Even then I can likely think up examples where the former is worse than the latter....

Oh well.  I think in the end we're not that far off on this.  We both believe that NC's ought to be uttery cryit downe.  I just do believe that certain NCs could be cryit downe a little less.

TH

[JESII]

That "little bit less" part is what keeps the door open. I would try to avoid that.

[Jason Topp]

When things are going South for me, and I think of the embarassment of posting the score, I recall Charles Barkley's line to one of the foreign players that complained about the US formation of the Dream Team in the Olympics:  

"Take your beating like a man."

[Tom Huckaby]

That "little bit less" part is what keeps the door open. I would try to avoid that.

Of course.  We also don't want slippery slopes.  But we don't want absolutes either.

I really think we can excuse both Mr. Huntley and the Sweeney player.  But oh yes, we do have to be judicious with these excuses.  NC's should be a very last resort.

But I said that at the beginning of all this.  

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