But What Tees?

A rarely used USGA rule saved an undetermined number of players in a Minor League Golf Tour (MLGT) event from being penalized or disqualified after competitors played one of the holes from an incorrect tee. The ruling occurred on the first day of the three day tournament with a $10,000 first place check, and caused some players frustration while saving others.

The MLGT has run events in South Florida for 20 years and the last 10 with Scott Turner at the helm. The established tour is well-respected among players with a schedule mostly consisting of one and two-day events. MLGT also has some three-day events throughout the season, like the event that took place this week at Sun ‘N Lake Golf Club in Sebring, Florida. 

The MLGT staff set out the tee markers at Sun ‘N Lake in the dark before the day’s first tee times. The tour does not have its own tee markers, so they set the black tee markers from the club. There was member play before and after the tournament, so the course’s maintenance staff placed the remaining tee markers out later in the morning. 

Without the MLGT staff's knowledge, the course crew had set out the blue tee markers two paces ahead and to the right of the black markers. The blue markers were positioned where the MLGT logo was painted on the tee box alongside a tournament water cooler, making it appear, at first glance, that the blue markers were the designated tournament tees.

On top of that, the MLGT banner was placed on the right-hand side of the black tee (picture below), obstructing the view of the black tee markers. According to players, this banner is usually on the far side of the tee. The sum of these misplacements led to multiple groups playing the wrong tee. 

Two threesomes were informed they had played from the wrong tee on 10 before they teed off on 11. Each player in one of the threesomes made birdie on the drivable par four.

USGA Rule 6.1b states that if a player plays the wrong tee they must return and replay the hole with a two-stroke penalty before hitting a shot on the next hole. If they play a shot on the following hole, the penalty for playing from a wrong tee on the previous hole is disqualification. Initially, the groups were told they had to go back and replay the 10th hole from the proper tee and a two-stroke penalty would be added to their score. 

After the first round was completed, it was brought to Turner's attention that at least one other group had played from the incorrect tee, and it became clear there were likely many more. This put Turner in a tough position. He realized he may need to identify every player who played the wrong tee and disqualify them. One problem with that, Turner believed, was the tee markers were so close together that the players may genuinely not remember when asked. Turner was faced with the dilemma of DQ'ing the groups he knew played the wrong tee while many others may go unpenalized.

The players who admitted to playing the wrong tee argued passionately that the logo paint, water cooler, and banner placement were mistakes on the Tour’s part.

Multiple players I spoke with weren't even aware of an issue, confirming Turner’s concern that some may have played the incorrect tee without knowing it. 

Adding to the complication was the angle of the incorrect tee. Although the tee was only a couple of paces ahead of the correct tee, the markers were placed on the right side of the dog-leg left creating a more accessible angle to the reachable green. The google earth images of the hole with both angles are below.

Turner consulted with expert rules officials from the USGA and decided to let the results stand regardless of what markers competitors played. A “committee error" resolution is an option allowed by the rules if the tournament staff made an error. Turner chose this option and all penalties or potential disqualifications were removed.

In an email to the players after the tournament's first round, Turner explained his ruling. The entire email is below. 

Most of these frustrated players also understood that Turner was in a challenging position, especially at a mini-tour event where the competitors are customers and the intent is to prepare as many of them for Q school as possible. 

"We are a developmental tour. Our goal is to get players ready for the next level. I didn't think DQ'ing a large portion of the field would accomplish that. I decided because of our error, this was the best way to proceed," Turner explained to me. 

Jimmy Hervol defeated Brian Richey with a birdie on the first playoff for the title. In a fitting end to the week, the playoff started and finished on the 10th hole where Hervol and Richey played the correct tee.