If a round of golf is to be used for handicap purposes (i.e. will be submitted to GolfLink), the player must have a Marker who is able to verify the player’s score.

This requirement is clearly explained in the Rules of Golf.  Rule 3.3b states specifically the responsibilities of each party as follows:

(1) Marker’s Responsibility: Entering and Certifying Hole Scores on Scorecard. After each hole during the round, the marker should confirm with the player the number of strokes on that hole (including strokes made and penalty strokes) and enter that gross score on the scorecard.

When the round has ended:

  • The marker must certify the hole scores on the scorecard.
  • If the player had more than one marker, each marker must certify the scores for those holes where he or she was the marker.

(2) Player’s Responsibility: Certifying Hole Scores and Returning Scorecard. During the round, the player should keep track of his or her scores for each hole.

When the round has ended, the player:

  • Should carefully check the hole scores entered by the marker and raise any issues with the Committee,
  • Must make sure that the marker certifies the hole scores on the scorecard,
  • Must not change a hole score entered by the marker except with the marker’s agreement or the Committee’s approval, and
  • Must certify the hole scores on the scorecard and promptly return it to the Committee, after which the player must not change the scorecard.

If the player breaches any of these requirements in Rule 3.3b, the player is disqualified.

In March, 2020 The Grange introduced a temporary modification to the conditions of play to allow Members to enter scores without exchanging score cards during COVID-19. Under this modification:

  1. A player may record their own score on their score card. It is not necessary for the marker to do it.
  2. The player should enter their score as Player 1 and their marker’s score as Player 2.
  3. At the end of the round the player and marker must verify that the scores are correct.
  4. The player must sign the card and, in the marker’s signature area, write “Verified by (Marker’s Name)”.

More recently, players have been able to use the MiScore scoring App to record their scores during a round and scoring is done as above.

Members are currently recording scores using the traditional method (exchanging score cards), the temporary COVID-19 method and the App.  Regardless of which method is used, the player must have a marker, the scores have to be verified by both parties and the marker must be able to be identified.  If these requirements are not met, the player is disqualified.

 

John Thomas

Captain