Hi Linda,
I was wondering if I can remind a player to move his
marker back to its original position during a stroke-play competition, or
would this mean I was not protecting the field?
Thanks again for all your help.
Lou from Ontario
Dear Lou,
Pointing out a potential violation of the Rules to another
player is good etiquette and commendable behavior. I call it “preventive
umpiring,” and I encourage it and practice it all the time.
Protecting the field consists of pointing out violations
that a player neglected to include in his score. A few examples:
• a player is asked to lift his ball on the fairway because
it interferes with another player’s stroke, and he cleans the ball;
• a player searches for his ball for more than five minutes,
finds it, and plays it;
• a player takes a practice swing in a bunker and contacts
the ground;
• a player removes loose impediments in a hazard or bunker
prior to hitting his ball.
Players should always be on the alert for potential rules’
violations, and should assist each other in avoiding them. Players who
intentionally withhold information that would save another player from a
penalty should be placed in a stock and pelted with rotten tomatoes!
Linda
Copyright © 2014 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
