[ambiddetcat]

Smallie, if that ever happens to you, I'll take the penalty for you!

You won't have to worry about that Claire! But the rules are designed to cover every possible scenario.

[fiettariaps]

You won't have to worry about that Claire! But the rules are designed to cover every possible scenario.

Except no system of rules can every really do that.

[ambiddetcat]

I know, that's why they have a list of decisions every year! But that's the goal anyway.

[neeclindy]

Although I still can't see how you should be penalized if you happen to hit a shot that should never have reached the green, but somehow did, while others (the group ahead of your group) are there and someone is tending the pin. (Seems to me I saw this scenario on another forum). What if you can't see the green and don't know someone is tending the in for someone else, whether it's your group or the group ahead of you?)

If you read Rule 17, you will find that the scenario you mention cannot result in a penalty for anyone concerned. It is not unauthorized attendance for your group if the flagstick is being attended by the group in front of you for a player in that group. Unauthorized attendance can, by rule, only occur if the act is taken by an opponent or by a fellow competitor. By definition, both of these persons must be part of the group you are playing with.

Competitor
A "competitor" is a player in a stroke-play competition. A "fellow-competitor" is any person with whom the competitor plays. Neither is partner of the other.

In stroke-play foursome and four-ball competitions, where the context so admits, the word "competitor" or "fellow-competitor" includes his partner. Opponent is not listed in the Definitions in the rule book but it is fairly self explanatory. Your opponent is the person or side you are playing against in match play. Under the rules, a match can only be contested by players who are playing in the same group. The definition is given for competitor because it is less obvious. A competitor is anyone in the tournament field in a stroke play competition. Fellow competitor only refers to those competitors playing in your group.


It cannot be considered authorized attendance because you have not so authorized, nor can it be deemed as authorized if you can't even see the hole from your location and no member of your group is anywhere near the green. For the purpose of this rule, attendance is generally considered as a function of the player's fellow competitor, opponent, or any of their caddies. In order to be deemed as an authorized attendant, any person not part of that group would have to be specifically asked to attend the flagstick.

This is just a long winded way of telling you not to worry about it unless you are playing an approach shot from well out in the fairway and one of your playing companions is on the green and stupidly standing next to the hole. Just make sure he moves away from the hole before you play.

[ambiddetcat]

Works for me, fourputt!