How to proceed when there’s a stalemate over a score
In a strokeplay competition, a player always needs to have someone other than themselves mark the scorecard. This person is called the marker, and the purpose of a marker is to certify that a player’s score for each hole is correctly shown on the player’s scorecard.
A marker is typically chosen by the player in a way approved by the committee, which is choosing someone in your playing group. Then we either physically exchange scorecards or select each other in a scoring app (or a combination of the two).
That marker should be the player’s marker for the entire round, unless the marker needs to withdraw from the round, at which point another player needs to mark the scorecard.
As a marker, you have only two things to do. After each hole during the round, the marker should confirm with the player the number of strokes on that hole (including strokes made and penalty strokes) and enter that gross score on the scorecard. When the round has ended, the marker must certify the hole scores on the scorecard by signing the scorecard. That’s it.
If you don’t agree with the score your player provides you, a simple and polite, “Are you sure?” can broach the disagreement you have. If need be, take a moment to recall every stroke (including any penalty strokes) with the player. In most cases, these are very quickly and easily resolved. While this is a potentially awkward conversation between player and marker, hopefully both parties can respect that there may be a different perspective on the situation and keep playing.
If you still disagree with a hole score, as a marker you may refuse to certify a player’s hole score, i.e. refuse to sign their scorecard. This is rare at club level, however it remains key to maintaining the integrity of the competition.
In such a case, the committee will need to consider the available evidence and make a decision on the player’s score on the hole. The committee may certify the hole score or accept certification from someone else who saw the player’s actions on the hole in question.
Importantly, as a marker, you are not a referee (rules official) and therefore have no authority over the player. You cannot give them ‘permission’ to take certain actions. As a courtesy, a player should keep their marker up to date with penalties or relief procedures, etc. However, ultimately the player is responsible for establishing the facts and applying the rules to their ball.
After a round, a player should be given an opportunity to resolve any issues that need to be clarified with the committee, check their scorecards and have any mistakes corrected. If there is a mistake on the scorecard, a player may ask the marker or the committee to make or ratify a change to their scorecard, up to the time that it is returned.
The rules also allow for simple mistakes by the marker. For example, you are starting your round on the 10th tee and the first few scores you enter are for the front nine on the scorecard. If a marker enters the player’s front nine scores in the back nine boxes and the back nine scores in the front nine boxes, the scorecard will still be acceptable if the mistake is corrected by altering the hole numbers so that they go with the right score for each hole.
As a marker, you act as accountability for the competition, as we all do with every player.
Stuart McPhee is a referee for the PGA Tour of Australasia and co-host of the No.1 podcast in the world dedicated solely to discussing the Rules of Golf: The Golf Rules Questions Podcast.
Photo: Sunshine Seeds/istock
