Golf rule of the week

“All I can take on this hole is a 8, so I am going to pick it up .... ”

Rule 3-2. Failure to Hole Out If a competitor fails to hole out at any hole and does not correct his mistake before he makes a stroke on the next teeing ground or, in the case of the last hole of the round, before he leaves the putting green, he is disqualified.

QUESTION: What is the maximum score a player may have for a hole? ANSWER: The Rules of Golf do not set a maximum score for a hole; the ball must be holed (see Rules 1-1, 2-1, and 3-2). In match play only, your opponent may concede your next stroke — see Rule 2-4.

Golf Canada’s handicapping system specifies that players must adjust their scores under Equitable Stroke Control (ESC) prior to posting those scores for handicapping purposes or enter hole-by-hole scores and the score centre will do it automatically. Any adjustments for ESC are made after the round is completed.

Notes: Failure to hole out is for events such as a local/provincial tournaments where players are required to hole all putts. Remembers there are no “gimmies” under the Rules of Golf. In regular games on the weekend or with a friends, try holing out all putts once in a while provided it does not slow down your group. You may be surprised as to how many “gimmies” you actually miss.