With the monsoon setting in, tournament administrators have a hard task to complete the stipulated rounds. It is particularly tough in crowded golf courses like KGA in Bangalore where categorised tournaments have to fit in with least disturbance to playing members. PGTI has recently equipped with Lightning detector, as a safety measure for the players. It is also important to plan evacuation procedures and ensure sirens are in working condition, in case of suspension of play under R 6-8.
We had a bit of a problem in Coimbatore recently. While Coimbatore gets gutsy winds,it rarely encounters heavy downpours.Most of the time, there will be light drizzles and play will continue without much ado. This was the case for three of the four days in a recent tournament.However on the final day morning, there was a sudden torrential rain accompanied by gale force winds.Due to some reason, the siren did not become functional and the committee informed the Referees to stop play which was duly conveyed to the playing groups.
Meanwhile,one group has just finished teeing off from tee 1 when the rains started. They were advised to stop play for sometime and not to proceed to the fairway for their second shot, till further instructions. In spite of this, two of the players in the group went forward, marked their balls and lifted them.
The committee discussed at length whether to apply a penalty stroke under R 6-8c and decision 6-8c/1. Eventually, the committee concluded that instruction to players to stop play is tantamount to suspension of play and under R 6-8a(i) and the opening remarks in decision 6-8c/1, the player has unfettered right to mark and lift his ball, when play is suspended.Good reason to lift,as elaborated in the second part of the decision 6-8c/1 applies to R 6-8a(ii),(iii) and (iv).
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