Can yardage to pin be 'private' knowledge?

[joekelly]

Played with a fellow last week, the first time i met him.  He seemed a dour sort; unsmiling, smoking, serious and IMO somewhat arrogant. He also had a laser yardage device which he pulled out as he desired. I did not bother him.  On the 16th tee box, a par , he pulled out the gadget and peered out towards the flagstick. I was on the edge of asking him 'what's the yardage' but refrained. Mostly because due to various small incidents throughout the previous holes he and I were 'agreeing' not to interact. But after he looked at his gadget and found the yardage, and had i asked him about that 'fact' (number of yards) could he has said to me, 'sorry, that is my private information but you may consult the scorecard'?  Could there ever be a rules violation for keeping your mouth shut?

[Valleygolfer]

I would have said, you're kind of a dick. Kinda lame. Most people are friendly but every so often you meet one of these guys. Was his name shorty?

[Dormie1360]

Originally Posted by joekelly

Could there ever be a rules violation for keeping your mouth shut?

Not for giving you yardage, but in match play if you ask him what he lies, or what he scored on the last hole and he keeps his mouth shut, he just lost the hole.

9-2/3.5

Player Refuses to Tell Opponent How Many Strokes He Has Taken

Q. In a match, B asks A how many strokes he (A) has taken during play of a hole or on a hole just completed. A refuses to give B the information requested. What is the ruling?

A. A incurs the general penalty of loss of hole (Rule 2-6 ) for failing to act in accordance with the requirements of Rule 9-2a . The penalty applies to the hole being played or, if the hole has been completed, the penalty applies to the last hole played.