Cheating in Tournament

[boogielicious]

7 hours ago, BallMarker said:

I personally feel it is our duty to report "improper" play in a tournament.

In non-tournament, I don't care that much.

Well, they'll say something like, "It's only a couple of inches. Why does it bother you?".

Because it is cheating. If they will risk a tournament over a couple of inches, then just imagine what else they cheat at.

[Aflighter]

On 8/1/2018 at 12:56 PM, Golfingdad said:

I have no problem with this ... except I believe you are incorrect in regards to the bolded comment.  And you gave the main reason why in your first paragraph when you said , "it's his word against mine,"  This is exactly what @Shindig is asking/pointing out, I believe.  You have the authority to point it out to him that he has committed an infraction, but if nobody else sees it and he is adamant that he did not commit the infraction, then you don't have the authority to assess the penalty.

Without any other information, I believe that a "he said/he" said situation is always going to fall on the side of the player.

Exactly.You can't just say you saw him do wrong without collaboration from others.If you said he done wrong and got penalized then he could turn around and say same about you and you would be penalized.Yeah he would be lying but if he cheats already then he has no problem same about you.

[Buckeyebowman]

On 8/1/2018 at 12:56 PM, Golfingdad said:

I have no problem with this ... except I believe you are incorrect in regards to the bolded comment.  And you gave the main reason why in your first paragraph when you said , "it's his word against mine,"  This is exactly what @Shindig is asking/pointing out, I believe.  You have the authority to point it out to him that he has committed an infraction, but if nobody else sees it and he is adamant that he did not commit the infraction, then you don't have the authority to assess the penalty.

Without any other information, I believe that a "he said/he" said situation is always going to fall on the side of the player.

I agree. The player has the right to call a penalty, it's up to the committee, or whoever is running the tournament, to enforce it. It's a tough situation for both parties, and I believe that refusing to attest to the score made the OP's point quite forcibly. 

Several people have mentioned how some leagues play fast and loose with the rules. I played in a big league (70+ guys), and by our last field day of the year in September, the course was pretty beat. It had watered tees and greens, but not fairways. So. we were allowed to mug the ball onto the nearest tuft of grass.

When the inevitable 9 hole scramble would be organized after dinner, the league secretary would try to reinforce that rule. No mugging the ball so you get out of trouble. Well, one year a guy came complaining about an opponent who did that very thing. The sec'y asked him if he had called the guy on it, and he said no! The sec'y asked, "Then what the hell do you expect me to do about it? If you don't have the guts to call the guy on it when it happens, don't expect me to back you up!"

A couple years ago I played in a 2 man team league at a little 9 hole course that was around when I was just a gleam in my Dad's eye! Most fairways are bordered by enormous old red oaks. And they throw roots everywhere! The league president, who was also the course owner, told us to move balls away from roots, whether in the rough, or if they were in the middle of the fairway. As he put it, "I don't need players coming off the course with a broken wrist!" 

Did some guys take advantage? Oh, yeah!