Playing concedes his own partner's putt ! ! !

[krp7168]

My golf league plays two player team and two player team match play. Each hole is worth two points, one point for the low net individual and one point for the low net team.

In a recent match, we were faced with a situation wherein our opponent conceded his own playing partner’s putt, assuming that they had won the hole, when in fact that conceded putt was actually needed to win the hole.

What is the penalty here? I could not find anything in the rules of golf, but obviously, conceding your own playing partner’s putt in incorrect. Is that a breach of match play rules? And if so, how is the scoring on the hole handled?

Thanks ! ! !

[djackson89]

They would automatically lose the hole, and that player would be DQ'ed for that hole, only allowing the partner who made his putt (the one who conceded the putt)'s score to count. You win the low net team, and the guy who didn't putt would be dq'ed from the low net per player for that hole.

[krp7168]

Thanks for the quick reply.

If we allow the score of the partner who actually finished his putt, his score would take one point for low net on the hole. With his playing partner DQ'ed, we would win one point for low team, thus splitting the hole.

Do you know of there is an official rule that speaks to this issue? I'll need that in order to dispute the match!

Thanks again, Kevin

[Shindig]

Well, fourball match play rules (rule 29) say that rules of match play are in effect unless something specific contradicts it. Match play only allows you to concede an opponent's next stroke (2-4). I suspect it's as if it were a two-person match play, and I conceded my own putt.

[ghalfaire]

Rule 2-3 says a player can concede an opponent's "next stroke".  No player can concede his partner's next stoke.  Not sure of the penalty but suspect it is loss of the hole as that is the general penalty in match play.

[iacas]

The concession is irrelevant. Basically, a player picked up his ball. He could replace it but, well, he'd be adding a penalty and would likely have lost the hole by that point anyway.

But consider Player A and B versus C and D.

C and D are in with par. A "concedes" player B's par putt. Player B is effectively out of the hole, and player A had better make birdie or par.

[Fourputt]

Originally Posted by krp7168

Thanks for the quick reply.

If we allow the score of the partner who actually finished his putt, his score would take one point for low net on the hole. With his playing partner DQ'ed, we would win one point for low team, thus splitting the hole.

Do you know of there is an official rule that speaks to this issue? I'll need that in order to dispute the match!

Thanks again, Kevin

A concession can only be made by one's opponent.  Otherwise you'd have players conceding a partner's shot from the fairway.  The concession was invalid, and if the opponent lifted his ball, he incurred a one stroke penalty and must replace the ball.

[Bryan SD2]

Its no different than a player picking up his ball anywhere on the course.  He can replace with a penalty and finish the hole, or he can card a X on the hole contributing to the point available for the net score of the team members.

Your team is guaranteed the net point since one of your opponents did not finish the hole.