Who should play first?

[jeff]

A player's ball is on the green but far away to the hole. B player's ball isn't on the green but close to the hole. Who shall play first?

Thanks!

[LobWedge]

A player's ball is on the green but far away to the hole. B player's ball isn't on the green but close to the hole. Who shall play first?

Thanks!

The player furthest from the hole should play first, in either stroke play or match play, but there's no penalty for playing out of turn. However, if it's match play and Player B plays first, Player A can make him cancel his stroke and wait until A plays closer to the hole before B can replay his stroke.

[PapaPat]

The player furthest from the hole should play first, in either stroke play or match play, but there's no penalty for playing out of turn. However, if it's match play and Player B plays first, Player A can make him cancel his stroke and wait until A plays closer to the hole before B can replay his stroke.

For those who are looking for a definitive answer to this question, I'm afraid you are out of luck. LW has correctly stated the position of the RofG. However, buried in the wording of Decision 10-2b/1, there is this:

Although condoning putting out of turn in stroke play may be questionable in view of the explicit language of Rule 10-2b, there is no penalty for doing so (Rule 10-2c), it is not in conflict with the intent of Rule 10-2b, and it may tend to speed play.
Accordingly, it is considered that the practice should not be discouraged.

To insist on having the furthest away play first in most Stroke Play situations would be out of step with actual widespread practices of everyone chipping on and continuous putting when appropriate. Is there any question why people are uncertain about this one?

Of course, as LW points out, in Match Play correct order of play really is intrinsict to the nature of the game.

[jeff]

Many thanks LobWedge and PapaPat!

The situation was one of our players insisted on having the furthest away play first in our Stroke Play games from time to time which made us busy with taking flagsticks off and putting them back on. We discussed the rules but had no final answer. Thank you very much for your explanations.

[stevek]

I find this is the source of much of the slow play on courses today. Players that putt, mark their ball, wait till they are 'away' (often after much discussion) then putt again take FOREVER on the green. When the group ahead of you are doing this you can be sure it will be a 5+ hr round.

When my regular group play we normally let the 'away person' putt out after the first putt if the ball is 5 feet or less from the hole. (And yes there are generous 'gimmees' (unless for birdie or parr), after all we are not pros and will never be).

For us keeping up with the group ahead is much more important.

[PapaPat]

I find this is the source of much of the slow play on courses today. Players that putt, mark their ball, wait till they are 'away' (often after much discussion) then putt again take FOREVER on the green. When the group ahead of you are doing this you can be sure it will be a 5+ hr round.

When my regular group play we normally let the 'away person' putt out after the first putt if the ball is 5 feet or less from the hole. (And yes there are generous 'gimmees' (unless for birdie or parr), after all we are not pros and will never be).

For us keeping up with the group ahead is much more important.

Have you considered an automatic two putt rule? I understand it really moves things along.

In fact, the golf gods have, for them, bent over backwards to consider pace of play by winking and nudging at their own rules. And, this is after all a rules forum.