SCORING PROCEDURES DUTIES OF OFFICIALS IN THE SCORING TENTS It is the responsibility of this assignment to ensure that all official score cards are properly handled and any disputes are settled prior to a player leaving the scoring tent. In order to maintain order in the scoring tent, ONLY the players and USGA officials are allowed in the scoring area. All conversations with players should be kept to a minimum unless answering any Rules disputes. If there are any problems, please notify a Rover or the Review Committee. 1. Scoring Tent Items A. A skirted 8-foot table, an appropriate number of chairs to accommodate all players and scoring officials, and a waste basket will be needed in the scoring area. B. Before leaving the USGA Office, please make sure you have the following items: Pencils with erasers Radio 3 x 5 cards Groupings and Starting Times for the day Day 2 of stroke play phone number for players to call for first round of match play 2. Scoring Procedures USGA officials receiving score cards should establish a routine such as the following: A. Note the finishing time of the group (when the flagstick goes in) on the Groupings and Starting Times sheet, or similar if provided by the SIC, and return it to the USGA Office at the end of your shift. B. Ask the players if they have any Rules questions and/or Pace of Play Appeals. C. Ask each player to check his/her score for each hole. D. Make certain both the player and marker have signed the score card. USGA RULES NOTEBOOK SCORING PROCEDURES 23
E. Make sure the player checks hole-by-hole scores along with his/her marker. F. Check the hole-by-hole scores and verify that scores are recorded for the correct hole (check those that started on a hole other than No. 1.). Total the nines for each score card. G. Make sure the players wait until one of the USGA officials has reviewed all of the score cards. A score card is considered officially returned when the player (or both players on a side) has exited the scoring area. H. Check that the name on the score card belongs to the player whose score it actually is. I. You and the player should agree on the total score. J. Write the correct total score and record it in the upper right-hand corner of the score card and initial the score card. K. Once the players have left the scoring area, please fill in the 3 x 5 cards. 1. Obtain 3 x 5 record cards from the USGA Office also a pencil, an eraser, a file box, a piece of paper to keep a running summary sheet, and a copy of the Groupings and Starting Times. 2. Record the score on the 3 x 5 card. 3. File 3 x 5 cards as follows: After the first round, file in the same order as starting times. After the second round, file in order of scores, with the lowest on top. File ties in order of return. In case of ties in a group, file in order listed on the Groupings and Starting Times sheet. On the second day, if a group plays through another group, their scores are filed in the order of return. Number ties as they come in with a small #1, #2, etc. 4. The 3 x 5 cards are used for the play-off and the match-play draw, so it is essential that they be correct. 5. After completion of each wave, please proof the 3 x 5 cards to the scoreboard. 6. Return the 3 x 5 cards to the USGA Office after your shift. 24 USGA RULES NOTEBOOK SCORING PROCEDURES
L. The score card runner should take the score cards to the scoreboard after every group or as assigned. Incomplete Score Cards It is important for incomplete score cards to accurately reflect what actually happened. Therefore, the scorer should write on the player s score card one of the following notations, if applicable. WD This notation is used in cases where a player officially withdraws by notifying a USGA official or staff member. DQ The appropriate classification for a Rules violation, which necessitates a player s disqualification including when a player fails to appear for his/her starting time without prior notification or fails to return a score card. Note: In four-ball stroke play, a side may be represented by either partner for all or any parts of a stipulated round. ANNOUNCING SCORES IN MATCH PLAY Referees will handle the official score card for each match. Referees are asked to announce the result of each hole and the status of the match at the conclusion of each hole played. Scores are then relayed to the scoreboard and posted on the Internet. Hand-held scoring devices are used in most USGA championships. These devices are updated by a walking scorer or by the Referee. The same score announced at the conclusion of each hole should be entered into the hand-held scoring device. If the hand-held scoring devices are not used, the Referee is requested to radio in to the scoreboard each individual hole-by-hole score at the conclusion of each hole. The Staffin-Charge may also request that scores be called in by radio, in addition to being entered in the hand-held scoring device, during later rounds of match play. This will be determined by the Staff-in-Charge. When scores are required to be radioed in at the conclusion of each hole, please contact the scoreboard. Wait for a response from them. After the scoreboard acknowledges your call, please say match #, hole #, player name on line 1, score, player name on line 2, score, match status. The scoreboard will then repeat your information for confirmation. USGA RULES NOTEBOOK SCORING PROCEDURES 25
Example: Match 4 to Scoreboard. Scoreboard: Scoreboard, go ahead. Match No. 4, Hole No. 1. Smith-3, Jones-4. Smith is 1 up. Four-Ball: Adams/Johnson-3, Burns/Haley-4, Adams/Johnson is 1 up. Scoreboard: Match No. 4, Hole No. 1. Smith-3, Jones-4. Smith is 1 up. Correct. PLEASE NOTE: It may be difficult to reach the scoreboard in some areas of the golf course. If you are unable to reach the scoreboard after two or three attempts, please wait until after the next hole to contact the scoreboard. Also, since there could be many matches in progress, please make sure that no one else is speaking before you try to contact the scoreboard. Referees are asked to announce the status of the match following each hole. At the conclusion of each hole, please announce to the players and spectators as follows: Example: Smith-3, Jones-4. Smith is 1 up. Four-Ball: Adams/Johnson-3, Burns/Haley-4. Adams/Johnson is 1 up. After announcing the results to the players and spectators following the match, please confirm that the scores are correctly entered in the hand-held scoring device, and if required, radio the results in to the scoreboard. In all rounds of match play, even if hand-held scoring devices are in use, at the conclusion of your match, please radio the scoreboard with the final result. Ensure that the airways are clear before making your announcement. After radioing the scoreboard, please take the score card to the scoreboard. Thank you for your assistance. This will enable others on the golf course as well as the media and those following the match online to be updated. 26 USGA RULES NOTEBOOK SCORING PROCEDURES
EXAMPLES OF HOW TO SCORE VARIOUS SITUATIONS Notes: 1. Players and spectators watching the match normally understand the result of a hole when viewing it in person. However, the results are also posted on the scoreboard and online and it is necessary to record a numeric score in most cases to make the result understandable to those not following the match in person. Therefore, the following are provided as guidelines to record and report this information. 2. When a concession of a hole is made, ALL balls involved in the match are deemed to be holed on their next stroke, regardless of the distance involved. 3. When a concession of a hole is made, any penalty strokes not yet applied are accounted for in scores entered into the hand-held scoring device and radioed to the scoreboard. Example A: A tee shot is played out of bounds and a concession occurs. The player lies 2 (1 stroke and 1 penalty stroke), and the score after the concession for this player would be 3. Example B: A player s second shot is in a water hazard and he then concedes. His score is 4 (2 strokes, 1 penalty stroke and +1 for the conceded stroke). 4. If a player incurs a loss of hole penalty, his score for the hole is reported as X. The opponent s score is the number of strokes already made plus 1 for the conceded stroke. 5. Report any penalties requiring an adjustment to the state of the match to the scoreboard: Rule 4-4a, Rule 6-4, etc. 6. If a hole is conceded when the players have taken the same number of strokes, the player who concedes gets an X for the hole and the score for the other player is the number of strokes taken plus one for the conceded stroke. USGA RULES NOTEBOOK SCORING PROCEDURES 27
SAMPLE SITUATIONS Situation 1: Situation 2: Situation 3: Situation 4: Situation 5: Situation 6: Situation 7: Situation 8: Both players lie 3, Smith makes his putt, Jones misses and picks up without holing out. Smith-4, Jones-5. Smith is 1 up. On a par 4, Smith has a 10-foot putt for par. Jones holes a 20-foot putt for birdie. Smith-4, Jones-3. The match is all square. On a par 5, Smith lies 3, 4 feet from the hole. Jones misses his putt for par. Jones then concedes Smith s putt or the hole. Smith-4, Jones-6. Smith is 1 up. Both players have played two strokes. Smith s second shot is out of bounds and he concedes the hole. Smith-4, Jones-3. The match is all square. Both players lie 2. Smith improves the area of his intended swing prior to his third stroke. Smith incurs loss of hole penalty (X), Jones-3. Jones is 1 up. Smith lies 2 near the hole on the putting green. Jones plays his second into a water hazard. Jones surveys his chances of recovering from the hazard and concedes the hole. Smith-3, Jones-4. The match is all square. During the fourth hole, it is discovered that Smith started the round with 16 clubs in his bag. Both players hole out in four strokes. Smith-4, Jones-4. Smith incurred a twohole adjustment to the status of the match penalty. Jones is 2 up. Smith and Jones both lie 2 on the putting green, Smith has a 60-foot putt and Jones is only 3 feet away. Smith concedes the hole. Smith concedes the hole (X). Jones-3. Jones is 3 up. 28 USGA RULES NOTEBOOK SCORING PROCEDURES
Situation 9: Situation 10: Smith is 1 up playing the last hole and both players lie 2. Smith holes his putt for 3 and Jones shakes his hand. (See Decision 2-3/2) Smith-3, Jones-3. Smith wins, 1 up. Smith is 1 up playing the last hole and b oth players lie 2. Jones misses, two-putts and then shakes hands with Jones. (See Decision 2-3/2) Smith-3, Jones-5. Smith wins, 2 up. PLEASE NOTE: When reporting the scores over the radio to the scoreboard, do not use Mr., Ms., Mrs. or Miss. Keep the announcement as short as possible to minimize radio time. However, courtesy titles may be used when announcing scores to players and spectators at the completion of each hole. Always announce/report the scores of the players in the order of how their names appear on the score card. In other words, if Smith is listed on the top line and Jones on the second line, announce Smith s score and then Jones score, regardless of who won the hole. If Jones is 2 up with two holes to play, announce that Jones is 2 up and dormie. If a match goes to extra holes, the winner of the match will always win by one hole. Therefore, announce the result of the match as Jones wins in 20 holes. At the conclusion of your match, please radio the scoreboard with the final result of the match and then take the score card to the scoreboard. USGA RULES NOTEBOOK SCORING PROCEDURES 29
C. 1. Check that there are 18 individual hole scores - one in each box. 2. Check that each is legible. B. Marker Signature Checking a Score Card G. When everything is checked and agreed upon, place your own initials in area provided. A. Competitor's Signature matches the name on card. D. Add up each nine holes and fill in the total or confirm/correct the total. F. Add this card's total to previous round(s) total. E. Add the "OUT" and "IN" totals and fill in the total score or confirm/correct the total. 30 USGA RULES NOTEBOOK SCORING PROCEDURES
Checking a Score Card Four-Ball Stroke Play There will be two USGA Scoring Officials in the scoring tent. Each scoring official will work specifically with one side to review the side s score card. Procedure: Introduce yourself to the members of the side. Explain to the side that you will be working individually with them to thoroughly review their score card. Ask the players if there are any outstanding Rules questions or issues remaining. Allow the sides to exchange score cards in order to review. Check that the hole scores are individually identifiable for each player, including any Xs or blanks for a player with no individual score for a hole, and all are legible. Confirm the counting score for each hole, having the players make any corrections of errors, and highlight the counting score. Total each nine, confirm the nine-hole totals with the side, and record the nine-hole totals. Add the OUT and IN totals, confirm the total with the side and record the total score. Ensure competitor s signature matches a name on the card. Only one representative of a side needs to sign. Ensure marker s signature is present - only one representative of the marker s side needs to sign. Record/Add this card s total score to previous round(s) total score in top-right area on score card. Exchange the card with the other scoring official for additional review. When everything is checked and agreed upon, place your initials in verified area provided. USGA RULES NOTEBOOK SCORING PROCEDURES 31
Checking a Score Card Four-Ball Stroke Play 32 USGA RULES NOTEBOOK SCORING PROCEDURES