Weird Ruling..

[DavidFehertysBike]

This weekend i was playing in a club tournament. I was in the final group battling for the win. I fell a few shots short. But anyway, during the round i put my umbrella in a competitors cart. (i was walking) Since i put my umbrella in the cart, then that cart now becomes apart of my equipment. I understand that. During the round, the windshield from his cart falls off and he doesn't repair it, puts it in the back, and drives on. We complete the round and the old idiot rules dog there gives the guy a two stroke penalty for playing the round with altered equipment, and since my umbrella was in the cart, i got the penalty too.

Was this a justifiable penalty? It seems mindbogglingly ridiculous. I searched through the ruling book later on that night and couldn't find anything of the sort. The penalty didn't effect the outcome in anyway, and we were both already frustrated, so we didn't argue. I just want to know for posting purposes.

[TN94z]

I have never heard of that one before. I guess it could be considered as such, but it would take a real stickler to bring that out

[iacas]

This weekend i was playing in a club tournament. I was in the final group battling for the win. I fell a few shots short. But anyway, during the round i put my umbrella in a competitors cart. (i was walking) Since i put my umbrella in the cart, then that cart now becomes apart of my equipment. I understand that. During the round, the windshield from his cart falls off and he doesn't repair it, puts it in the back, and drives on. We complete the round and the old idiot rules dog there gives the guy a two stroke penalty for playing the round with altered equipment, and since my umbrella was in the cart, i got the penalty too.

Just bet the guy a hundred bucks he can't find the ruling that says your "equipment" can't be altered during a stipulated round. Heck, bet him a thousand if he's got it.

He won't find it. It doesn't exist. Closest he can get is 4-2a:

Source: Rules of Golf 4-2. Playing Characteristics Changed and Foreign Material a. Playing Characteristics Changed During a stipulated round, the playing characteristics of a club must not be purposely changed by adjustment or by any other means.

Emphasis on CLUB characteristics being altered. What he's suggesting is that you can't do something like alter the strap length on the bag you're carrying. Or open an umbrella. Or take the sleeves off your jacket. Or, if we want to go to another extreme, to write anything in your yardage book or on your scorecard, because that's altering your equipment. Oh, and you re-tied your shoes? Sorry, that's a penalty. NOT.

Source: Definitions Equipment "Equipment" is anything used, worn or carried by the player or anything carried for the player by his partner or either of their caddies, except any ball he has played at the hole being played and any small object, such as a coin or a tee, when used to mark the position of a ball or the extent of an area in which a ball is to be dropped. Equipment includes a golf cart, whether or not motorized. Note 2: When a golf cart is shared by two or more players, the cart and everything in it are deemed to be the equipment of one of the players sharing the cart. If the cart is being moved by one of the players (or the partner of one of the players) sharing it, the cart and everything in it are deemed to be that player's equipment. Otherwise, the cart and everything in it are deemed to be the equipment of the player sharing the cart whose ball (or whose partner's ball) is involved.

The guy was a dope. When in doubt, always ask the guy to show you the rule...

[JWL1957]

Hell no! There is no penalty....... and you got screwed .

[trickymicky69]

An umbrella doesnt have "playing characteristics"

I have never seen anyone take a shot with one either.

The guy is a feckin idiot

[DavidFehertysBike]

I thought as such, that didn't make any sense to me. I think he misread the rule and thought of equipment and clubs as being the same. I will challenge him on this ruling when i see him this weekend. I have this book with a list of noted rulings and couldn't find anything on it with regards to equipment penalties. Matter of fact, the only way it seems you can get penalized with your equipment is when it is hit with a ball.

[DavidFehertysBike]

Hell no! There is no penalty....... and

It didn't effect the outcome, i still finished 3rd. But still i thought it was a little outrageous.

[JWL1957]

It didn't effect the outcome, i still finished 3rd. But still i thought it was a little outrageous.

Cool............... glad to hear it.

[Where's the Cart Girl?]

Ask him if the same ruling applies if you shove your umbrella up his ass.

[ChipShot]

Ask him if the same ruling applies if you shove your umbrella up his ass.

I agree

[O.B. Right]

Crazy! I don't even know where to begin with that one. How about - Electric Carts are not even part of a pro golf tournament so how could the rule apply to carts! How about, I am not a golf cart repair tech, so screw you!

I agree with what everybody has said . .only wanted to respond to say how stupid I thought that ruling was. Go tell the guy at the course that the internet thinks he's an idiot :)

[Judah Ben-Hur]

It didn't effect the outcome, i still finished 3rd. But still i thought it was a little outrageous.

How did the guy with the broken cart do in the standings?

Ask him if the same ruling applies if you shove your umbrella up his ass.

Don't forget that all umbrellas must be opened after such act. lol

[DavidFehertysBike]

How did the guy with the broken cart do in the standings?

I dunno, i think he finished 4th or 5th gross. He finished second net, though. As tight as that old guy is i don't think you could shove a needle up his rear.

[TheGeekGolfer]

I agree

+1 +1 +1 to infinity!

[Zeph]

Weird? That one is not weird, it's wrong. How this man came up with this conclusion, I have a hard time to imagine.

[Fourputt]

Stupid ruling. The rule he thought he was applying (4-2 or 4-3?) states that a player is not allowed to carry or make a stroke with a club whose playing characteristics have been purposely altered . It has nothing to do with carts, umbrellas, or any other support equipment. It doesn't even apply to a club which is accidentally changed during normal use.... how could anyone possibly interpret that rule to include a windshield falling off a cart?????? Someone needs to take that guy down a few notches.

[DavidFehertysBike]

Weird? That one is not weird, it's wrong. How this man came up with this conclusion, I have a hard time to imagine.

The dude also doubles as the starter, and alot of players have had problems with him. He works for free (only gets playing privileges) so its hard to ask for a firing. Whats even more scary is that he been a marshall at several state am events. The ruling made no sense to me, but i was too frustrated to argue. I posted my correct score this afternoon and plan to confront him on the ruling this weekend.

[breakout89]

Well at least it didn't affect the outcome. :)

That guy sounds super anal.