PDGA Rulebook

[Schoen-hopper]

I just reread my rulebook and thought I'd note some things I learned, confirmed, still question, or just thought to mention. Good for discussion.

*Misplaying the course. Wrong tee, wrong target, missed mando, OB, wrong order of holes: the basic penalty is rethrowing the shot correctly + 1 penalty stroke if it is discovered before another shot is made. If a shot has been played after the errant ruling, the hole score stands + a 2 stroke penalty. Often, the penalty for discovering it afterwards can be less servere, such as with wrong target or OB.

*2 things that can help settle tough situations where no help is available: Provisional throws can be used any time there is disagreement between a player and the group. If the group is undecided, the player should get the benefit of the doubt. Also, everyone should read the first section, 8.01.01, on courtesy.

*Rule of Verticality. This is basically for shots that are being marked after considered OB or those shots landing within 1m of the OB line. As always, the marker can be placed anywhere up to 1m away from the OB line on the perpendicular. The vertical part is that it can also be played on any playing surface on the vertical line. Think rocks near water.

??? Question ??? How are playing surfaces treated that are vertically overlapping OB? Such as rocks overhanging water. What if a disc hit a large, flat rock overhanging water before kicking into the water: could the disc be played from the rock above the water? If the rocks are not specifically designated as a playing surface, would they also be considered OB as defined by the water below?

*Solid Obstacles preventing taking a stance within 30cm of marker. You are to take your stance immediately behind the obstacle on the line of play. This does not mean the marker is moved behind the obstacle.

*Falling Putts. You have to show balance and not step forward, when putting within 10m. It does not say anything about whether the disc has come to rest in the target or not. All stance violations such as falling putts, must be called within 3 seconds, and then seconded. Then the shot is replayed. Warning first time, 1 stroke penalty afterward.

*Casual Obstacle Relief. You can move stuff like dead seperated limbs or leaves that are in your stance. You cannot move anything that is between your lie and the hole unless you are sure it was placed there during the round.

??? Question ??? What does "between the lie and the hole" mean? In my opinion, this should read "closer to the hole". A player could justify removing tangled dead branches from a tree to open up a route because it isn't on the "line of play". On the other side, according to this interpretation, a player could not move a stick in the lie if any part of it was closer to the hole than the back of the marker, even if it was closer off to the side. How are small or large rocks treated? Can they be moved?

*Casual Water. Like other casual obstacles (after trying to move the obstacle), you are allowed to take immediate relief on the line of play, up to 5m back. Rule says TD has to say beforehand that taking more than 5m is OK. Otherwise, player has the option of taking an unplayable lie.

*Unplayable Lie. A player can at any time, for any reason, declare their lie unplayable and rethrow their previous shot from the approximate lie. 1 stroke penalty + stroke for original throw. They also have the option to play their lie anywhere up to 5m back on the line of play.
There is no longer an option to take yet another penalty stroke for lateral relief.

*Throwing from another player's lie. 2 stroke penalty and it counts as your throw. I've played that one wrong before.

*Lost Disc. After 3 minutes, it is played from the previous lie with a 1 stroke penalty plus the lost disc throw.

*OB/ Lost Disc. When it is reasonable to the group that a disc went OB rather than lost in bounds, the benefit of the doubt should be given to the player. This can make a big difference in the outcome of the hole score.

??? Question ??? If the group decides that the disc went OB, does the player still have 3 minutes to search for it in case it eded up in bounds?

*Water. A disc thrown in water is at rest once under control of the water or wind on the water.

*Holeing Out. A disc stuck in the basket is good. It doesn't need to be pulled through. It does need to be retrieved before falling out.

??? Question ??? Similarly, a disc blown out of the basket before retrieved would not count as a made putt?

??? Question ???
8.04.06 E. It reads "If conditions differentially affect play among sections, the director may consider using a sectioning procedure for cut and advancement. Under this procedure, a proportionate number of advancing players are taken from each section by score and the scores are not carried forward."

I'm reading this as a multiple cut from multiple courses before regrouping. Is there any tournament that has employed this?

??? Question ???
Equipment Technical Standard. Anyone know what a rim configuration rating or a flexibility rating is and how it is generated?

[mrsenortyler]

??? Question ??? How are playing surfaces treated that are vertically overlapping OB? Such as rocks overhanging water. What if a disc hit a large, flat rock overhanging water before kicking into the water: could the disc be played from the rock above the water? If the rocks are not specifically designated as a playing surface, would they also be considered OB as defined by the water below?

I know that the Rules committee addressed this in the Q & A section on the PDGA Website:

Multiple Playing Surfaces

[mrsenortyler]

*Throwing from another player's lie. 2 stroke penalty and it counts as your throw. I've played that one wrong before.

I always thought this was stupid. If someone's drive is under the basket, and my drive went OB 60 ft from the basket, I could go putt out their lie and get a three. If I played my own lie I am most likely a 4, with little chance of a three.

[mrsenortyler]

??? Question ??? Similarly, a disc blown out of the basket before retrieved would not count as a made putt?

I know this happened to Smitty at the Winfield Pecan Grove tournament at the beginning of the year, they counted it as not made.

[Schoen-hopper]

*Throwing from another player's lie. 2 stroke penalty and it counts as your throw. I've played that one wrong before.

I always thought this was stupid. If someone's drive is under the basket, and my drive went OB 60 ft from the basket, I could go putt out their lie and get a three. If I played my own lie I am most likely a 4, with little chance of a three.

This would be 2 shots + 2 stroke penalty = 4 for the hole.

[Schoen-hopper]

Here's one ??? Question ??? I forgot to mention.

8.04.05 Disqualification and Suspension

(4) Says a player shall be disqualified for breaking any local laws, park laws, or disc golf course rules, such as the consumption of alcohol or use of drugs.

That could be a really ugly one. I'm just interested in the wording here. If alcohol is not against any laws, or rules for a particular park, does that mean that it would be legal for the tournament? What am I missing here?

[mrsenortyler]

Post Deleted.

[mrsenortyler]

*Throwing from another player's lie. 2 stroke penalty and it counts as your throw. I've played that one wrong before.

I always thought this was stupid. If someone's drive is under the basket, and my drive went OB 60 ft from the basket, I could go putt out their lie and get a three. If I played my own lie I am most likely a 4, with little chance of a three.

This would be 2 shots + 2 stroke penalty = 4 for the hole.

You're right, I'm an idiot.

Maybe if they aced....

[scarpfish]

Here's one ??? Question ??? I forgot to mention.

8.04.05 Disqualification and Suspension

(4) Says a player shall be disqualified for breaking any local laws, park laws, or disc golf course rules, such as the consumption of alcohol or use of drugs.

That could be a really ugly one. I'm just interested in the wording here. If alcohol is not against any laws, or rules for a particular park, does that mean that it would be legal for the tournament? What am I missing here?

I thought alcohol consumption was banned during all PDGA events, even if the park or locality allows it.

And yeah, try getting any of us to call that one. I mean, I could've very well had a good portion of the recreational division DQ'd at the MIO.

Just the same, how many of us have stopped during the round and stepped into the woods to water a tree? I mean, technically, we're committing indecent exposure by that, even if we're trying to be discreet.

[Schoen-hopper]

I have a couple more ??? Questions ???

??? Shouldn't the PDGA rulebook say the players must total their round score? It says they must record their total score, which is different from round score. I don't think they are even supposed to record the total score.

Got one tricky question on this official's test. The rest seemed pretty straight forward.

'The TD sees dude drinking a beer during the round. What should he do?'

A) Ignore it.
B) Take the player aside and tell them to be more discreet.
C) Issue a tournament warning to the player and report the incident to the PDGA.
D) DQ the player immediately including forfeiture of entry fee and any prizes.
E) DQ the player immediately including forteiture of entry fee and prizes, and report the incident to the PDGA.

Here is what I am reading in the rulebook. First it says a director SHALL disqualify a player who breaks any laws. Then it says the director MAY give a warning. It talks about possible suspension, and it seems reasonable that a TD would report any DQ, but I don't see where it says that they are required to do that. Could be C, D, or E. C makes the most sense to me.

[nastyNate]

the TD should have mentioned alcohol and drug use are against PDGA rules in the players meeting. that is the warning, whether the player was at the meeting or not.

[Anita]

Here's one ??? Question ??? I forgot to mention.

8.04.05 Disqualification and Suspension

(4) Says a player shall be disqualified for breaking any local laws, park laws, or disc golf course rules, such as the consumption of alcohol or use of drugs.

That could be a really ugly one. I'm just interested in the wording here. If alcohol is not against any laws, or rules for a particular park, does that mean that it would be legal for the tournament? What am I missing here?

In the competition manual (section 3 on player's conduct), it states that one cannot consume alcohol (or other consumables, I assume ) from the 2 minute warning until the scorecard is turned in.

[Friz-Rocker]

If the PDGA rule states that any player who breaks any laws shall be disqualified,than parking your car backwards in a Herman Hill parking stall is enough to have you disqualified.It is illegal in Wichita to back into any parking stalls in city parks.

[nastyNate]

better stop parking backwards!

[Ruder]

*Throwing from another player's lie. 2 stroke penalty and it counts as your throw. I've played that one wrong before.

I always thought this was stupid. If someone's drive is under the basket, and my drive went OB 60 ft from the basket, I could go putt out their lie and get a three. If I played my own lie I am most likely a 4, with little chance of a three.

GENIUS!!!!!!!!!!

What about the island green at usdgc,would that not work?