Golf can be played in some nasty weather. We’ve seen it on Tour–players bundled up against the driving sheets of rain and huddling under umbrellas between shots hoping play will be suspended. When the conditions become unbearable, or the course becomes unplayable due to flooding in fairways and on greens, or if lightning becomes a threat, the horns will sound suspending play. If the conditions last long enough not giving the course a chance to recover, rounds can even be cancelled, and events can be shortened. Those of us who attended The INTERNATIONAL in 2005 know this first hand.
Those who attended the PGA Tour season opener –the Hyundai Tournament of Champions–also know this first hand as it too suffered multiple weather delays and was shortened. However, there was not a cloud in the sky! Why? Because they were all blown away, along with the first round scores!
After trying to start the first round on schedule, players were pulled off of the course because of wind gusts surpassing 50 mph. Eventually, Tour officials made the rare decision to “throw out” all of the scores from that round. Players didn’t hit a meaningful shot again until Monday, the scheduled day for round four, where they played 36-holes. The event was shortened to 54-holes and ended on Tuesday.
The conditions were so bad that golf shots that landed on putting greens were blown off into the rough or other terrain that would offer enough resistance to stop the ball. Flagsticks were bent over so far from the wind they were on the verge of snapping in half, and golf balls would not stay on tees rendering drivers useless. After each suspension, Tour officials had to determine whether or not to resume play from where it was suspended or to wipe out all of the scores from the round and start all over again. Because the conditions were so extreme, they determined that the proper playing of the game was impossible and that the round should be cancelled, and all scores be thrown out.
The Tour officials were well within their rights to cancel the scores from the suspended rounds. Rule 33-2d of the Rules of Golf deals with this situation. It states that “if the committee…considers that for any reason the course is not in a playable condition or that there are circumstances that render the proper playing of the game impossible, it may, in match play or stroke play, order a temporary suspension of play or, in stroke play, declare play null and void and cancel all scores for the round in question.” Again, because of the extreme nature of the conditions and because this was a stroke play competition, they could cancel the round. However, had this been a match play event, they could only suspend play and have the players resume play from where it was suspended. This is because in match play, both players have played under the same conditions so there is no disadvantage, and they can also agree to discontinue play at any time, provided the competition is not delayed in doing so.
Generally, officials will only suspend play due to wind if golf balls will not come to rest on putting greens as this is a great indication that the “proper playing of the game impossible”. These conditions are rare here in Colorado. That’s why pro shops will issue you a “rain check,” but you’d be hard pressed to find one to issue you a “wind check.”
