Use of "Automotive Equipment" (carts) - Say Something or Let is Go

[bkuehn1952]

I am in the middle of the City Championship. They allow "automotive equipment" or golf carts. In the written Conditions of Competition the committee specifically allows the user of a cart to give a ride to a walker from #9 green to #10 tee (long distance) and from #13 green to #14 tee (huge hill) in the interest of pace of play. All other use of the cart by anyone other than the player and/or their authorized driver (caddie) is prohibited and subject to a 2 shot penalty for each infraction, subject to a maximum of 4.

On #10 we are standing in the fairway waiting on our 2nd shots. The group in front is searching the vegetation over the green for one of their group's ball. After an extremely long 5 minutes (maybe 7 or 8??) they abandon the search and one of the walking players jumps in the other guy's cart and drives back to play from the spot he last hit from.

Hmmm, I think, that doesn't seem like a permitted exception. On the next tee, the Director of Golf Operations is sitting in a cart monitoring groups and how they play the lateral hazard that is very much in play off the tee.

Do you say something or shrug it off since riding back makes sense rather than walk back and waste even more time?

[Ernest Jones]

So anybody and everybody is allowed a cart but if you opt not to use a cart you aren't permitted to hitch a ride except for between the 9th-10th and 13th-14th green to tee?

Seems like a pretty stupid rule to me, I mean how is anyone gaining an unfair advantage when they are perfectly free to use a cart for the whole 18 holes if they so desire? Maybe I'm missing something....

I wouldn't say anything because I think the rule is asinine and I certainly wouldn't feel like there is a need to "protect the field" in this case, after all the field as a whole is allowed to use carts anyway.

I might report this though -

Quote:

The group in front is searching the vegetation over the green for one of their group's ball. After an extremely long 5 minutes (maybe 7 or 8??) they abandon the search

That's a rule I definitely agree with, mofos take too long already without lollygagging about in the tulips like they're at day camp.

[Patch]

I voted " No advantage was gained and it helped the pace of play - let it go", which is the wrong choice per the rules you described.  Not my furniture so to speak, since pace of play is important also.

[Fourputt]

I can understand your indecision.  Pace of play is so much in our thoughts these days that you have to applaud any attempt to make things better.  I'd have been more concerned about the amount of time they spent looking, but I'd have felt obligated to mention the prohibited ride to the committee as well, and let them decide if it was a warranted breach.  The rule, odd as it seems to me, must have been instituted for some reason, so it's up to the committee to decide if pace of play trumps their rather peculiar condition.

[Asheville]

The "field" probably doesn't need protection in this case. Had a rules official been handy he would have provided the service, in the interests of pace of play. But, yes, inform the committee, but don't be surprised if they're disinclined to prosecute.