Rules Guy: Is it legal to accept a cart ride to a tee during a tournament?

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A mate of mine was playing in a competition final. The rules stated that golf buggies were only allowed if a doctor’s note was provided. After finishing out on a green, my mate’s playing partner, who had approval for using a buggy, offered him a lift to the next tee, which was quite a long walk. He accepted — and was later reported and disqualified. Your opinion, please. —John Higgins, via email

Rules

I’m going to go out on a limb here, John, and guess that you’re from across the pond.

Regardless, the rules are clear, in this case, Model Local Rule G-6. Your mate’s penalty should not have been disqualification but rather the general penalty of two strokes in stroke play or loss of hole in match play for each breach, with the penalty applied to the hole following, not preceding, the offending lift.

The Committee in charge bollixed the decision, bigly.

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