Ali'i Cup Match Play Rules

Handicap Competitions

Q. Should match play scores be posted even if I do not hole out on every hole? 

A. Yes. When a hole is started but a player does not hole out, the player must record their most likely score for handicap purposes. (Rule 3.3, Rules of Handicapping)

If the match ends with holes left to play and the players continue to play, the actual scores must be posted on every hole played.

If a match ends with holes left to play and the players do not play the remaining holes, net par should be recorded as the hole scores for the remaining holes (keeping in mind at least 7 or 14 holes must be played for a 9- or 18-hole score to posted). 

Rules of Golf

3.2 Match Play

(1)Winning a Hole. A player wins a hole when: 

The player completes the hole in fewer strokes (including strokes made and penalty strokes) than the opponent, 

The opponent concedes the hole, or 

The opponent gets the general penalty (loss of hole). 

If the opponent’s ball in motion needs to be holed to tie the hole and the ball is deliberately deflected or stopped by any person at a time when there is no reasonable chance it can be holed (such as when the ball has rolled past the hole and will not roll back there), the result of the hole has been decided and the player wins the hole (see Rule 11.2a, Exception). 

(2) Tying a Hole. A hole is tied (also known as “halved”) when: 

The player and opponent complete the hole in the same number of strokes (including strokes made and penalty strokes), or 

The player and opponent agree to treat the hole as tied (but this is allowed only after at least one of the players has made a stroke to begin the hole). 

(3) Winning a Match. A player wins a match when: 

The player leads the opponent by more holes than remain to be played, The opponent concedes the match or The opponent is disqualified. 

(4) Extending a Tied Match. If a match is tied after the final hole: 

The match is extended one hole at a time until there is a winner. See Rule 5.1 (an extended match is a continuation of the same round, not a new round). 

The holes are played in the same order as in the round unless the Committee sets a different order. But the Terms of the Competition may say that the match will end in a tie rather than be extended. 

(5) When the Result Is Final. The result of a match becomes final in the way stated by the Committee (which should be set out in the Terms of the Competition), such as: 

When the result is recorded on an official scoreboard or other identified place, or 

When the result is reported to a person identified by the Committee.

 

Concessions.

 

(1) Player May Concede a Stroke, Hole, or Match. A player may concede the opponent’s next stroke, a hole, or the match: 

Conceding Next Stroke. This is allowed any time before the opponent’s next stroke is made. 

The opponent has then completed the hole with a score that includes that conceded a stroke, and the ball may be removed by anyone. 

A concession made while the opponent’s ball is still in motion after the previous stroke applies to the opponent’s next stroke unless the ball is holed (in which case the concession does not matter). 

The player may concede the opponent’s next stroke by deflecting or stopping the opponent’s ball in motion only if that is done specifically to concede the next stroke and only when there is no reasonable chance the ball can be holed. 

Conceding a Hole. This is allowed any time before the hole is completed (see Rule 6.5), including before the players start the hole. 

A player and opponent are not allowed to agree to concede holes to each other for the purpose of shortening the match. If they do so knowing this is not allowed, they are disqualified. 

Conceding the Match. This is allowed any time before the result of the match is decided (see Rules 3.2a(3) and (4)), including before the players start the match. 

 

How Concessions Are Made

A concession is made only when clearly communicated: 

This can be done either verbally or by an action that clearly shows the player’s intent to concede the stroke, the hole or the match (such as making a gesture). 

If the opponent lifts their ball in breach of a Rule because of a reasonable misunderstanding that the player’s statement or action was a concession° of the next stroke, a hole or the match, there is no penalty and the ball must be replaced on its original spot (which° if not known must be estimated) (see Rule 14.2). 

A concession is final and cannot be declined or withdrawn.

 

Applying Handicaps in Handicap Match 

(1) Declaring Handicaps. The player and opponent should tell each other their handicaps before the match. 

If a player declares a wrong handicap either before or during the match and does not correct the mistake before the opponent makes their next stroke: 

Declared Handicap Too High. The player is disqualified if this affects the number of strokes the player gives or gets. If it does not, there is no penalty. 

Declared Handicap Too Low. There is no penalty and the player must use the declared lower handicap° o calculate the number of strokes the player gives or gets. 

(2) Holes Where Handicap Strokes are Applied. Handicap strokes are given by the hole, and the lower net score wins the hole. 

If a tied match is extended, handicap strokes are given by hole in the same way as in the round (unless the Committee sets a different way of doing so). 

Each player is responsible for knowing the holes where they give or get handicap strokes, based on the stroke index allocation set by the Committee (which is usually found on the scorecard).

If the players fail to apply or mistakenly apply handicap strokes on a hole, the agreed result of the hole stands, unless the players correct that mistake in time (see Rule 3.2d(3)). 

 

Responsibilities of Player and Opponent 

 

(1) Telling Opponent About Number of Strokes Taken. At any time during the play of a hole or after the hole is completed, the opponent may ask the player for the number of strokes (including strokes made and penalty strokes) the player has taken on the hole. 

This is to allow the opponent to decide how to play the next stroke and the rest of the hole, or to confirm the result of the hole just completed. 

When asked for the number of strokes taken, or when giving that information without being asked: 

The player must give the right number of strokes taken. 

A player who fails to respond to the opponent’s request is treated as giving the wrong number of strokes taken. 

The player gets the general penalty (loss of hole) if they give the opponent the wrong number of strokes taken unless the player corrects that mistake in time: 

Wrong Number of Strokes Given While Playing Hole. The player must give the right number of strokes taken before the opponent makes another stroke or takes a similar action (such as conceding the player’s next stroke or the hole). 

The wrong Number of Strokes was Given After the Hole was Completed. The player must give the right number of strokes taken: 

Before either player makes a stroke to begin another hole or takes a similar action (such as conceding the next hole or the match), or 

For the final hole of the match, before the result of the match is final (see Rule 3.2a(5)). 

Exception – No Penalty If No Effect on Result of Hole: If the player gives the wrong number of strokes taken after a hole is completed but this does not affect the opponent’s understanding of whether the hole was won, lost, or tied, there is no penalty. 

(2)Telling Opponent About Penalty. When a player gets a penalty: 

The player must tell the opponent about that penalty as soon as reasonably possible, taking into account how near the player is to the opponent and other practical factors. It may not always be possible to tell the opponent about the penalty before the opponent makes their next stroke. 

This requirement applies even if the player does not know about the penalty (because players are expected to recognize when they have breached a Rule). 

If the player fails to do so and does not correct that mistake before the opponent makes another stroke or takes a similar action (such as conceding the player’s next stroke or the hole), the player gets the general penalty (loss of hole). 

Exception – No Penalty When Opponent Knew of Player’s Penalty: If the opponent knew that the player had a penalty, such as when seeing the player obviously take penalty relief, the player gets no penalty for failing to tell the opponent about it. 

 

(3) Knowing Match Score. The players are expected to know the match score – that is, whether one of them leads by a certain number of holes (“holes up” in the match) or the match is tied (also known as “all square”). 

If the players mistakenly agree on a wrong match score: 

They may correct the match score before either player makes a stroke to begin another hole or, for the final hole, before the result of the match is final (see Rule 3.2a(5)). 

If not corrected in that time, that wrong match score becomes the actual match score. 

Exception – When Player Requests Ruling in Time: If the player makes a timely request for a ruling (see Rule 20.1b), and it is found that the opponent either (1) gave the wrong number of strokes taken or (2) failed to tell the player about a penalty, the wrong match score must be corrected. 

 

(4) Protecting Own Rights and Interests. The players in a match should protect their own rights and interests under the Rules: 

If the player knows or believes that the opponent has breached a Rule that has a penalty, the player may choose whether or not to act on the breach. 

But if the player and opponent ° agree not to apply the Rules° or a penalty they know applies, and either of those players has started the round, they are both disqualified under Rule 1.3b. 

If the player and opponent disagree on whether one of them has breached a Rule, either player may protect their rights by asking for a ruling under Rule 20.1b. 

If a referee is assigned to one match for the entire round, the referee is responsible for acting on any breach of the Rules that they see or are told about (see Rule 20.1b(1)).