This incident is the possibility of another emotional release…
During the NCAA Women’s golf Championship last week (May 21, 2017) 2 players were penalised 2 strokes for using the toilet. The reason being that they used a motorized cart to go to the restroom. One of the rules of competition stipulates the players are not allowed to use any motorized vehicle. But on certain holes, volunteers were available with cart to move the players from a green to the next tee.
After finishing the play of the 18th hole (her 9th hole), a girl took a cart to go to the club house’s restrooms. She did not read the Notice to Competitors identifying a toilet on the back of the 18th hole.
On the 13th hole, another player was driven by her coach to the club house’s restroom. This is not permitted and is a 2 stroke penalty for using a cart without authorisation.
What to learn fron this ruling?
I am sure you have many comments on this ruling but it is very important for any competitors to read the Notice to Competitors. Girls need to know where are the restrooms and that information is available on the Notice to competitors. For many reasons, boys don’t have the same problem…
In a golf tournament, never ride with someone even if you know the driver!!!
What to do in case of an emergency?
At Golf Quebec we are quite flexible. On the score card we have a phone number to call an official. It is better than on the Notice to Competitors because many players don’t read this important piece of information. A player may ride only if approved by the Rules Committee. It happens that we receive a phone call and we give authorisation on the spot. I don’t recall any reason to refuse.
In certain tournaments, we have coaches following the players, they all must obtain authorisation for each occasion that a player may need the usage of a motorised cart. The authorisation is needed even if it is to return to the tee for a loss ball.