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December 2007 - Keeping Score
Rule 6 outlines the various responsibilities of the player. The most important aspect of this Rule is the section on scoring in stroke play (Rule 6-6). Note that there is no subsection in Rule 6 titled "Scoring in Match Play." Contrary to a popular myth, a scorecard has no standing in match play and is not required.
In stroke play, the player is responsible for making sure that the gross scores recorded on each hole by his marker are correct. If the player signs a scorecard with a score for any hole lower than he actually made, he is disqualified. He must, however, accept the score on the card for any hole where the recorded score is higher than he actually made.
This seems to be an overly harsh penalty, particularly in situations such as Roberto de Vicenzo's in the 1968 Masters, where the world saw him make a birdie three on the 17th hole of the final round, but his signed scorecard showed a four. The extra stroke left him one behind.
However, the logic behind this principle of the Rules is based on common sense. The scorecard is a player's written guarantee to the rest of the field that he completed the course with a specific score and did so under the Rules of Golf. There are no official scorers in golf. A player is bound to both call penalties on himself and to certify that his official score is correct.
Recording an incorrect score for a hole is in the main not a case of dishonesty – just carelessness. One of golf’s mysteries is why a person would spend days practising for a tournament and then certify to the results without spending an extra minute or so to check his card.
Although the player is responsible for the accuracy of the score recorded for each hole, the Committee is responsible for the addition of the scores and application of the handicap recorded on the card.
The Committee is also responsible for the accuracy of the result of a hole in a par or stableford competition. If, for example, a player has four strokes correctly recorded on a hole but the result is incorrectly recorded as two points instead of three points, the Committee should alter the result to reflect three points for the hole.
Under Rule 6-6 the player is also responsible for the following:
o Settling any doubtful points with the Committee,
o ensuring that the marker has signed the card,
o Signing the card himself, and
o returning the card to the Committee
The Rule goes on to say that no alteration may be made on a score card after the competitor has returned it to the Committee. If the Committee requires a player to return his score card by placing it in a box, it is considered returned when placed into the box. On the other hand, if the Committee designates a “scoring area” such as a tent or a desk near a scoreboard for players to return their score cards, a player is considered to have returned his score card when he has left that scoring area. In this situation, if the player has not left the scoring area, alterations may be made on the score card even if it has been handed to a member of the Committee.
With regard to the signing of the score card, there is no penalty if the marker signs in the space provided for the competitor’s signature and the competitor signs in the space provided for the marker’s signature.
Another responsibility of the player is to ensure that his handicap is recorded on the score card in a handicap stroke play competition (Rule 6-2). If the player fails to record his handicap or the recorded handicap is higher than that to which he is entitled and this affects the number of strokes received, he is disqualified from the handicap competition; otherwise, the score stands. Note that the disqualification applies only to the handicap competition; the player is not disqualified from the gross (scratch) competition.
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