Red stakes and provisional drive

[gblackwell]

Whoops, sorry, Zeg. I missed your wall of text that addresses this very issue. Additionally, I had not read the decisions on 4.1 and 4.2, which do insert some ambiguity I had not seen before. Unfortunate since the decisions are meant to remove ambiguity, not add it.

It's a big issue in my opinion, because there is a lot of slow play out there by higher handicappers like myself that want to keep a handicap, but don't understand that they *can* break the rules occasionally and still have a score to post.

[gblackwell]

In my view, the question becomes whether the hole was completed "under the principles of the rules of golf" as opposed to what I thought before, which was "under the rules of golf." There's no clear answer presented under the decision, but my answer would be "No" because he never put a second ball in play. The USGA really could simplify the interplay between 4.1 and 4.2 of the handicap rules in my opinion.

4-2/1. Explaining the Phrase "Principles of the Rules of Golf" in Accordance with "The USGA Handicap System" Manual

Q: What is meant by the phrase "in accordance with the principles of the Rules of Golf" in "The USGA Handicap System" manual?

A: The phrase "in accordance with the principles of the Rules of Golf " refers to situations where the player has played a hole in such a manner that the score would be sufficiently accurate to be used for handicap computation purposes. Occasionally, holes are not played strictly in accordance with the Rules of Golf. Thus, flexibility has been provided in the USGA Handicap System for a score to remain acceptable for handicap posting purposes in certain situations. This policy better ascertains the player's potential ability by attempting to capture more scores for handicap purposes than just those made in accordance with the Rules of Golf. For example, a player starting but not finishing a hole in stroke play (e.g., picking up before holing out) records the "most likely score" for handicap purposes (see Section 4-1).

If a player uses a distance (only) measuring device or plays a round under preferred lies, regardless of the Local Rule established, the score remains acceptable for handicap purposes. (See Decision 5-1e/2 and Section 7.) This policy also includes situations that are generally out of the player's control, such as incorrectly installed hole liners or an incorrectly marked golf course. (See Section 15-5.) (NEW)