Long BUT Important Statement

*YOU need to READ ALL in order to understand.!*

This statement is NOT directly intended to cause offence or embarrassment to any individual player.


To ALL our DOGS community

Whilst playing our tour matches the committee and I, have been hearing disgruntled players talking among themselves after a round and occasionally speaking to one of us about the problems encountered on the course.

I have been made more aware of the issues recently by having several phone conversations from a number of players, usually one or two weeks after an event.           My initial answer to most of the players raising questions is the same. ”DID you question this issue at the time on the course” ? and the usual response is “NO, I did not want to have a confrontation, because last time I questioned a player he blanked me all day”

     The issues being discussed are about CHEATING.

Our rules pages are easy reading about the process you should employ when making any challenge to another player, or making group decisions if unsure of a correct application to a rule. If you are questioned on the course, don’t take offence or take it as a personal attack against you, discuss the issue and try & resolve it amicably.

Our rules (see rules pages >>) & the R&A rules are there for all of us READ THEM. None of us knows all the correct rules, I certainly don’t, but I have to try and learn as many as possible to give you guidance, so should you, to become a better more informed player. 

Golf….the game we strive to conquer, but mainly to enjoy, is supposed to be a game of honesty & integrity among players. But unfortunately there are a multitude of ways to play incorrectly, whether it is done intentionally, or bending of the rules, simple forgetfulness or general ignorance of rules.  

We have all been guilty at some time of cheating in some form or another, regretfully I know I have, usually it is the one off unintentional or forgetful occasion.

 But sadly it appears there are some players making cheating into an art form and are regularly doing something perceived as cheating, these are the people that are deliberately ruining the enjoyment of others for their own gain. The same handful of players are regularly being discussed by others, now it has reached a stage where many established players are debating if they want to continue playing with the Society or leave because they have become disillusioned by some of the antics they witness on the course. 

This is something we have to Stamp out NOW, we can’t have people talking about us as a cheating Society with disregard of rules and I hope you should all agree.

    These are just some of the regular cheats : 
Number 1/ It might not seem like it but Not having an identifying mark on your golf ball is wrong, it opens the way to other cheats.    Number 2/ Claiming Incorrect shot scores, poor counting.
Number 3/ The miracle ball that never gets lost in the woods and then finds a clear shot forward to the green or gets lost in long rough grass (see number 1 above).            
Number 4/ Unnecessary touching & lifting a ball “to check it’s mine ” (see number 1 above) especially if you don’t pre-mark the ball location and replace EXACTLY where it was ie: under the 6 inch long grass.
Number 5/ The incorrect rule being applied to your own advantage ie: claiming GUR in unmarked area.

The list is endless and I’m sure you could all come up with many more, Fairway Divot shift, Footjoy wedge, Green coin flip, Claiming questionable relief from Animal digs or dung ? or from Tree roots off fairway, Bunker grounding….Etc Etc..  

The general DOGS community mostly try to abide by Our & the R&A rules but it is the few…. and Believe me            We Know who YOU are.!  that seem to be all out hell bent for winning rather than the challenge of sport and enjoyment with like minded people.

Please remember you ARE playing Competition golf, rules Do matter. This is NOT the casual friendly weekend knock around where nothing but pride counts.

I will not divulge the culprits nor the players that have made accusations, but this has to STOP NOW.

I have personally invested time, money and very much effort over the past 22 years to try and make the DOGS a Society where people enjoy playing golf without too much to worry about. Perhaps it may be time for a rethink about why things are going wrong… has the Society become too competitive with our leagues etc. ?? maybe.. !

I sincerely hope everyone has read this and agree to try to improve their own behaviour on the golf course for the enjoyment of us all.

Now that you have read this statement I urge you to act for the benefit of all of us.

I do understand that we are not professional golfers but that does not make us exempt from trying to play fairly.

  If we all agree to stop the perceived cheating,YOUR Society will improve and be more enjoyable for us all.

 We might lose players but at least we will retain the players that want to abide by our rules of fair play.

Thank You

On behalf of the DOGS

 committee & community


Mario





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