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Somerset Ladies’ County Golf Association

Handicaps

The view from the Referee’s buggy

During County Match Week at Saltford I was invited to join R & A referee Sonia Harvey in her buggy while she toured the course waiting for a call to say that a decision was needed. I had a brilliant time and learnt a lot about refereeing procedures but problems were few and far between!
We were on the 11th hole when a call came – problem on the 6th – sadly the other referee was nearer. We waited by the 17th (the little drop hole with water) and eventually 2 matches actually kept going long enough and one, just one, provided a situation: a drop from a water hazard – hole won by Somerset!

pauline360

SLCGA Handicap Advisor
 Pauline Thorogood

EMAILS; Message from Pauline - ‘I always respond to emails within one day so if you don’t hear from me, please resend the email’.

Sonia talked me through the equipment you need to take with you: Rule Book and Decisions Book obviously, stop watch (to time 5 minutes), mobile phone, start sheet, card, local rules, waterproofs, food … the list is endless, plus Sonia’s trade mark: a shower cap to cover the steering wheel and protect your paperwork from the rain.
I asked her what was the most commonly asked question – after some thought the answer came: “whose shot is it?” Naturally referees hope there will be no difficult problems but, on those rare occasions, they do need to get the answer right. Try your hand at the following situation that occurred at Saltford in the foursomes matches.
Player 1 plays from a bunker - the ball goes beyond the green into thick rough. Player 1 starts to rake the bunker. Player 2 goes to look for the ball and then decides to take stroke and distance and replay a ball from the bunker; but Player 1 has raked the bunker where the ball is to be dropped. Try using the Rule Book to decide the penalty situation.
A great deal of a referee’s work is done before the competition: walk the course, talk to the Greenkeeper, decide on the best vantage points, study the local rules, identify problem holes etc etc. The more work that’s done in advance, the less hassle there will be on the day.

Sonia is a great role model – she seemed unflappable, and that I think is the secret of refereeing: know the rules and where to find the answers, but above all be confident.
 

OTHER INFORMATION
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For EWGA medal conditions, please click here
For EWGA - handicap FAQs, please click here
For CONGU - FAQs, please click here

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