Competitive golf and bigger prizes are back, which means the cheaters will soon emerge from under their rocks, writes Northern Golfer editor Dean Bailey
The Great Escape trouser leg drop, the leather wedge, the miscounted six which was an eight… We’ve all heard the stories and the return of competitive golf, board competitions and bigger prize funds in full field events means those who wish to win by hook or by crook will also be back out there.
So, what can we do if we suspect a playing partner is cheating?
The simple answer is to report them, have them disqualified and ultimately banned from competitive golf – though sadly these things aren’t always so black and white.
A poor counter is easy enough to tackle, just get their card in your hand in a competition and make sure you follow and record their strokes carefully. Correct them two or three times and they’ll get the message soon enough.
Other forms of cheating – the mysterious ball which changes markings when hit into the woods, the coin push or the leather wedge shuffle – are far more difficult to prove 100%, and far harder to bring up for club golfers who don’t want to cause a scene in the clubhouse.
However, there are remedies. The first is to raise it with the player if you’re confident you’ve seen them break a rule. You have a duty to play by the rules and if others choose to not follow them, you have a duty to raise it. If you’re sure you’ve seen a breach of the rules, try a quiet word at the soonest opportunity or on the next tee.
Alternatively, raise your concerns with the handicap committee after your round. They are charged with ensuring competitors play to the rules and should take up the issue on your behalf to protect the entire field. If you’re the player’s marker, you also have the option to refuse to sign their card.
If you find others with the same concerns, it becomes easier to monitor in the future and will give the handicap committee more leverage to punish the offending player.
The key to raising any issue is to be certain you have seen a breach of the rules. After all, there is nothing worse for a golfer’s reputation than to be labelled a cheat.
Sadly, that still won’t stop those who are determined to win no matter the cost.
