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Microsoft Word - Document1 Related Rules & Decisions for the Starter

6-3. Time of Starting and Groups
a. Time of Starting
The player must start at the time established by the
Committee
.
b. Groups
In stroke play, the
competitor
must remain throughout the round in the group arranged by
the
Committee
unless the
Committee
authorizes or ratifies a change.
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 6-3: Disqualification.

(
Best-ball
and
four-ball
play see
Rules 30-3a
and
31-2
.)

Note: The Committee may provide in the conditions of a competition (
Rule 33-1
) that,
if the player arrives at his starting point, ready to play, within five minutes after his
starting time, in the absence of circumstances that warrant waiving the penalty of
disqualification as provided in
Rule 33-7
, the penalty for failure to start on time is
loss of
the first hole in match play or two strokes at the first hole in stroke play
instead of
disqualification.

33-3. Times of Starting and Groups
The
Committee
must establish the times of starting and, in stroke play, arrange the groups
in which
competitors
must play.
When a match-play competition is played over an extended period, the
Committee

establishes the limit of time within which each round must be completed. When players
are allowed to arrange the date of their match within these limits, the
Committee
should
announce that the match must be played at a stated time on the last day of the period
unless the players agree to a prior date.

6-3a/1.5 Circumstances Which Warrant Waiving of Disqualification Penalty Under Rule
6-3a

Q.
A Committee may in exceptional circumstances waive the penalty of disqualification
under Rule 6-3a for failure to start on time (Rule 33-7). With reference to the following
examples, what circumstances are considered exceptional such that the Committee would
be justified in waiving the penalty if the player failed to start at the time laid down:

(1) The player gets lost on the way to the course.

(2) Heavy traffic results in the journey to the course taking longer than expected.

(3) A major accident results in the journey to the course taking longer than expected.

(4) The players car breaks down on the way to the course.

(5) The player was present at the scene of an accident and provided medical assistance or
was required to give a statement as a witness and otherwise would not have failed to start
on time.

A.
There is no hard-and-fast Rule. The proper action depends on the circumstances in
each case and must be left to the judgment of the Committee.
Generally, only example (5) constitutes exceptional circumstances which might justify
waiving the disqualification penalty under Rule 6-3a.

It is the players responsibility to ensure that he allows enough time to reach the course
and he must make allowances for possible delays.

6-3a/2 Time of Starting; All Competitors Must Be Present

Q.
In a stroke-play competition, A, B and C were drawn by the Committee to play
together starting at 9 a.m. A and B were present at the appointed time. C arrived at 9:02
a.m. after A and B had played from the teeing ground, but just in time to play in the
correct order.

What is the ruling?

A.
C is disqualified for failure to start at the time laid down by the Committee (Rule 6-3a)
unless circumstances warrant waiving the penalty under Rule 33-7.

All competitors in a group must be present and ready to play at the time laid down by the
Committee, in this case 9 a.m. The order of play is not relevant.

If the Committee had adopted the Note to Rule 6-3 as a condition of the competition, the
five-minute period would have started at the time laid down by the Committee. Therefore,
in this case the time started at 9 a.m. and C would incur a penalty of two strokes, rather than be
subject to disqualification.


6-3a/2.5 Meaning of Time of Starting

Q.
A players starting time is listed on the official starting sheet as 9:00 a.m. He does not
arrive at the 1st tee until 9:00:45 a.m. and claims that, as it is still 9:00 a.m., he is not late
for his starting time. What is the ruling?

A.
When a starting time is listed as 9:00 a.m., the starting time is deemed to be 9:00:00
a.m. and the player is subject to penalty under Rule 6-3a if he is not present and ready to
play at 9:00:00 a.m. Therefore, the player is disqualified unless circumstances warrant
waiving the penalty under Rule 33-7. (New)

6-3a/3 Time of Starting; Both Players in Match are late

Q.
In a match-play competition with the Note to Rule

6-3 in effect, A and B were to start
their match at 9 a.m. A arrives at the 1st tee at 9:01 a.m., but before B, who arrives at 9:03
a.m. What is the ruling?

A.
If neither player had circumstances which would warrant waiving the penalty for
failure to start on time, each player would incur a penalty of loss of the 1st hole (Note to
Rule 6-3). Therefore, in equity (Rule 1-4), the 1st hole is deemed halved and the match
would commence on the 2nd hole.


6-3a/4 Time of Starting; Player is Late but Group Unable to Play Due to Delay

Q.
A player is assigned by the Committee to a group with a 9 a.m. starting time. He
arrives at the first tee at 9:06 a.m. but for whatever reason (e.g., weather, slow play or a
ruling) the starting time has been delayed until after he arrives (e.g., 9:10 a.m.). What is
the ruling?
A.
As the group was unable to start at the time originally established by the Committee
and the player arrived before it could do so, the player is not in breach of Rule 6-3a.