Use of yardage device.

[Bulls9999]

My son is playing in a tournament today and the association sponsoring the tournament allows use of yardage devices (laser finders, GPS, etc...something is excluded...I think if it measures windspeed or altitude it's not allowed?). So he borrowed a friends' device and plans on using it.

Question....you can't give advice or information out as a player to another player. What if someone in the group asks to borrow the device, would that be construed as the same thing (giving out information), or would it be allowed?

I forgot to inquire with him to check into that before he plays....

[atticusfinch]

Originally Posted by Bulls9999

My son is playing in a tournament today and the association sponsoring the tournament allows use of yardage devices (laser finders, GPS, etc...something is excluded...I think if it measures windspeed or altitude it's not allowed?). So he borrowed a friends' device and plans on using it.

Question....you can't give advice or information out as a player to another player. What if someone in the group asks to borrow the device, would that be construed as the same thing (giving out information), or would it be allowed?

I forgot to inquire with him to check into that before he plays....

8-1/2 Exchanging Distance Information

Information regarding the distance between two objects is public information and not advice. It is therefore permissible for players to exchange information relating to the distance between two objects. For example, a player may ask anyone, including his opponent, fellow-competitor or either of their caddies, the distance between his ball and the hole.

Except when the Local Rule allowing the use of distance-measuring devices has been adopted (see Note to Rule 14-3), information regarding distance must not have been obtained from an artificial device used during the stipulated round. A player who obtains distance information that he knew was measured by anyone with an artificial device during the player’s round is disqualified under Rule 14-3. (Revised)

[Bulls9999]

Atticus, thanks.

[JimSomebody]

Originally Posted by atticusfinch

8-1/2 Exchanging Distance Information

Information regarding the distance between two objects is public information and not advice. It is therefore permissible for players to exchange information relating to the distance between two objects. For example, a player may ask anyone, including his opponent, fellow-competitor or either of their caddies, the distance between his ball and the hole.

...

This may sound like a smart-alecky question, but it's not: What if Player A responds to Player B's request for distance information with a lie? Unsportsmanlike, to be sure, but any penalty? Or is it "caveat requestor"?

I'm imagining a situation in which a competitor gives his opponent the distance to the cavernous bunker fronting the green, and not to the hole location.

[atticusfinch]

Originally Posted by JimSomebody

This may sound like a smart-alecky question, but it's not: What if Player A responds to Player B's request for distance information with a lie? Unsportsmanlike, to be sure, but any penalty? Or is it "caveat requestor"?

I'm imagining a situation in which a competitor gives his opponent the distance to the cavernous bunker fronting the green, and not to the hole location.

No soup for you!!

The rules do not anticipate such skulduggery.

[Fourputt]

Originally Posted by JimSomebody

This may sound like a smart-alecky question, but it's not: What if Player A responds to Player B's request for distance information with a lie? Unsportsmanlike, to be sure, but any penalty? Or is it "caveat requestor"?

I'm imagining a situation in which a competitor gives his opponent the distance to the cavernous bunker fronting the green, and not to the hole location.

In stroke play there is no penalty for giving wrong information, but in a case where it was clearly given with the intent of misleading another competitor, the committee would not be incorrect in disqualifying the offender for a serious breach of etiquette under Rule 33-7. It would have to be a judgment call on the part of the committee based on the seriousness of the offense.

33-7. Disqualification Penalty; Committee Discretion

A penalty of disqualification may in exceptional individual cases be waived, modified or imposed if the Committee considers such action warranted.

Any penalty less than disqualification must not be waived or modified.

If a Committee considers that a player is guilty of a serious breach of etiquette, it may impose a penalty of disqualification under this Rule.