Worse incidents of Cheating in amateur golf

[gaussman1]

This happened some years ago in our member-member tournament, which is the big $$ Calcutta at our club. There was a team who had both had their indexes restricted by the handicap committee on more than one occasion, both for failure to post scores and for posting multiple high internet scores on the same day. The final hole of the event one of them was green side pitching off a steep bank near a hazard, and he needed to get down in 3 to get in the money. He took a couple practice swings, then took a big cut at it and completely whiffed. He then chipped out sideways and claimed the whiff was a practice swing. There were 50 guys + the pro shop staff all standing around the green. In front of everyone he insisted it was a practice swing, even after the pro came out and said it was clearly an effort to hit the ball. The guy stuck to his story, and the pro said he couldn't prove otherwise so no penalty and the crowd began to boo. The player ended up taking several putts to get the ball in and his team finished out of the money, but guys continued to boo as he putted out.

I would like to say they both quit the club, or were barred from future competition, but of course they continued to pump in fake scores and the next year won in a rout. After getting the money then they quit the club. If the club had been member owned they both would have gotten kicked out years before, but since it's owned by a corporate 3rd party they never would allow anything to be done as long as they continued to pay dues.

[sp0rtsfan86]

Not sure cheating per sey, but playing in match play championship. I had 6 foot for par, guy I'm playing against had 2 for bogey. He raked both balls and said something like mine was for par. I went along wiht it cause it was early and I play better when I'm down and out.

 

(down two with two left I tied him only to miss an 8 footer on hole 19 to lose the championship).

 

Other one was a "friend" in a money game breaking a limb not a branch a limb from a tree. Didn't play with him ever again.

[gaussman1]

Not sure cheating per sey, but playing in match play championship. I had 6 foot for par, guy I'm playing against had 2 for bogey. He raked both balls and said something like mine was for par. I went along wiht it cause it was early and I play better when I'm down and out.

 

(down two with two left I tied him only to miss an 8 footer on hole 19 to lose the championship).

 

Other one was a "friend" in a money game breaking a limb not a branch a limb from a tree. Didn't play with him ever again.

If he gives the wrong score and you know it you must correct him. I know it's uncomfortable but you simply cannot go along with it. You must call him out. I'm curious how that would be decided by a rules committee. It's possible you could both be DQed. Him for knowingly giving false score and you for allowing it.

[QuadBogey]

One of the worst ones I've ever seen happened just today!

 

On a par 5, 3rd with water on the left, this guy hits it right into the water off the tee. Reloads, hits another off the tee into the water. His 5th shot goes into the trees. Takes one to get out.

I stopped paying attention after that till we were on the green, where he chips on, two putts, and with the utmost confidence declares, "Put me down for a bogey."

 

 

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Saw similar in the second or third tournament I ever played in. The guy took 2 drops on a par 5 and then said he made double bogey.

 

 

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[Mr. 82]

I've seen several incidents of sandbagging in member guest tournaments, which IMHO is the worst form of cheating.

 

Played in my Dad's member-guest about 12 years ago where we played five 9-hole matches of best ball handicap with the other members of your flight. Two guys that were both around a 8 or 9 handicap, outdrove me by 50 yards right down the middle every time, and were putting for birdie on every hole. I think I was giving them strokes on several holes, as I was about a 6 handicap at the time. I think we lost 3 and 4 or something like that, as it wasn't even close. Out of curiosity I looked at the member in the group that beat us handicap in the sytem, and there wasn't even one score posted under 80 in the system, and all scores were bunched within 1 or 2 strokes of the other. I mean, come on. I'm a 4 handicap, and can shoot 73 one day, and come out and fart out an 86 the next day. But for an 8 handicap to never post anything in the 90s, or something in the 70s is pure BS. I think my Dad talked to the head pro about this guy, but ultimately nothing was ever done. That was the last member-guest my Dad ever played in.

 

I played in another member-guest with a friend here locally at his club, and we were flighted, again by handicap, and played 18 holes of stableford points on Saturday, with a best ball score for each team, and then your points were determined based on whatever handicap you reported before the tournament started. Basically, if your handicap was legit, if you ended the day +3 or +4 for your team, you were shooting lights out. The guys leading our flight went +12. Totally impossible on a legitimate handicap. Essentially they were saying they normally shoot 84, but that day they shot 72. I mean, come on. On Sunday the format was to play your own ball down, and both you and your partners scores would be counted as is and totalled up, and then your score would be factored against your Saturday results. The two day total would determine the winner of the flight, which in this case would get a check for about $1,500. My buddy was having a horrible day, and wanted to quit after about 2 holes, and therefore a non-factor. I told him not to worry about it, and just forget about it. Meanwhile, I was shooting lights out, and ended up with a 74. Didn't really matter, because my buddy ended up shooting in the 90's, which meant my score was meaningless. But the guys who had sandbagged to such an enormous lead on Saturday, just cruised to victory. The telling sign in all of this was that when their names were announced as winners of the flight, many loud calls of "SANDBAGGERS!!!" were heard from multiple voices in the crowd. No other winners of any other flight were met with anything but applause. I spoke to the pro at the club about the situation, and he just shrugged it off and did nothing about it.

 

Moral of the story for me is that sandbagging is the same as stealing if there is money on the line in a tournament. If the tournament directors or club pros don't do anything to prevent it, then they are just as culpable as the sandbaggers in this issue. I never played at that course with my buddy there ever again. What a complete scam.

 

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[Charli]

I have two good friends that improve their lie on every shot.... and we play for money. Thoughts? I never noticed because I'm focused on what I'm doing but it was pointed out to me by my partner this weekend. And we got stomped also

[robertson153]

I have two good friends that improve their lie on every shot.... and we play for money. Thoughts? I never noticed because I'm focused on what I'm doing but it was pointed out to me by my partner this weekend. And we got stomped also

I make it clear before the first tee shot if we're going to play it down everywhere or rolling it.

 

 

Blake

[SteddyGolf]

Few incidents I've seen:

 

- marking the ball in front of the ball then placing ball back down behind the ball tryng to gain a few inches on the green.

 

- utilizing green lifesavers to tee the ball up on the fairway.

 

- bumping the ball with your club to improve the lie then stating, “ yep Taylormade 2, it's my ball”.

 

- scraping out a trench behind the ball in a fairway bunker to create a tee type lie.

 

- forgetting the stroke count always in your favor.

 

- adjusting driver settings in the middle of the round

 

- illegal clubs (mostly wedges and two sided chippers)

 

- way to many clubs.

[SteddyGolf]

I have two good friends that improve their lie on every shot.... and we play for money. Thoughts? I never noticed because I'm focused on what I'm doing but it was pointed out to me by my partner this weekend. And we got stomped also

I would just bring it up in a casual conversation as a point of discussion. Maybe you read a comment in a forum about the behavior. They'll get the hint I'm sure and your friendship will stay intact. I imagine you are probably not playing friends for big money 💰 so best to assume positive intent before going full on face to face.

[Kanoito]

If playing for money or prize, follow strict rules. And I will call you out!

 

Otherwise do whatever you want.

[Toro3150]

Not necessarily cheating, but in a HS tournament one guy kept trying to get another kid to hole out with the pin still in. To make it worse the kid probably ended up shooting 120 anyway without any help, but the other guy was just downright cruel trying to hang a two stroke penalty on him. Awful.

 

 

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[Peanut05]

There was a guy I used to play with quite often that constantly cheated.  He lived by the motto the fastest cart has the best lie.  As soon as we all teed off, he'd haul butt to get to his ball to improve his lie.  Just about every time he hit his ball and it definitely went in either the water or the woods, he would find it and have a clear shot at the green.  There was one day he actually fake tripped and when he stood back up, there was his ball laying right beside where he "fell".  He used to "accidentally" drop a towel on the ground and find his ball right under it.  I will have to see he was pretty creative with it though.  

 

The one that really got me was when he ran up the fairway before anybody else could get up there and I saw him go near my ball.  When I got to my ball, I was directly behind a tree and had no swing at all.  I almost lost it that day.  

[pulledabill]

Ive played league at a couple courses where guys are posting rounds in the 30s but have hdcps in the mid teens. Regular occurence and they are always in the cash.

 

Old golf buddy never lost a ball in his lufe .

[GB13]

There was a guy I used to play with quite often that constantly cheated. He lived by the motto the fastest cart has the best lie. As soon as we all teed off, he'd haul butt to get to his ball to improve his lie. Just about every time he hit his ball and it definitely went in either the water or the woods, he would find it and have a clear shot at the green. There was one day he actually fake tripped and when he stood back up, there was his ball laying right beside where he "fell". He used to "accidentally" drop a towel on the ground and find his ball right under it. I will have to see he was pretty creative with it though.

 

The one that really got me was when he ran up the fairway before anybody else could get up there and I saw him go near my ball. When I got to my ball, I was directly behind a tree and had no swing at all. I almost lost it that day.

Wow, that is bad. I don't know how you kept playing with him. I would have lost it or at least not played with him anymore.

You sir, have more patience than I.

[Mr. 82]

The one that really got me was when he ran up the fairway before anybody else could get up there and I saw him go near my ball.  When I got to my ball, I was directly behind a tree and had no swing at all.  I almost lost it that day.  

Just to clarify, he moved your ball to behind the tree from the fairway?  If he had done that to me that would have been the last shot I hit playing with him.  I'm not so concerned about your ball.  if you want to cheat and there are no stakes involved, that's on you.  But move my ball, and that's the end of our relationship, period.

[Peanut05]

Just to clarify, he moved your ball to behind the tree from the fairway?  If he had done that to me that would have been the last shot I hit playing with him.  I'm not so concerned about your ball.  if you want to cheat and there are no stakes involved, that's on you.  But move my ball, and that's the end of our relationship, period.

 

I barely missed the fairway and was pretty sure my ball would be sitting just in the right rough.  I was a member of that course and played there several times a week, so I pretty much knew right where my ball would be sitting.  He, for reasons I don't know, took off to my ball first before he went to his. When I got to mine, it was a little farther right than I hit it and was sitting square behind a tree.  

[Charli]

Yeah that wouldn't fly. I would have just moved it back and told him to f*** off

[Mr. 82]

I barely missed the fairway and was pretty sure my ball would be sitting just in the right rough.  I was a member of that course and played there several times a week, so I pretty much knew right where my ball would be sitting.  He, for reasons I don't know, took off to my ball first before he went to his. When I got to mine, it was a little farther right than I hit it and was sitting square behind a tree.  

Um no.  Dude would have been dead to me at that point.  I would have even considered intentionally screaming at his ass, and then heading for the parking lot, essentially telling him we were done, and that I never wanted to see him again.  What kind of a prick does that?

[perseveringgolfer]

watched a guy play a wonderful 3 wood onto a par 5, then I noticed he'd tee'd it up on the fairway! he saw that I saw, then he stuttered that he just wanted to try it and see if he could reach!

 

I haven't played golf with him since!

[THEZIPR23]

Third party story but a buddy of mine was playing in a high school tournament. Him and a teammate and 2 players from opposing team. Opposing team player hits ball in rough and can't find it. My buddy's teammate finds it and says "watch this" and proceeds to take his heel and push the ball down into the ground until it is almost completely buried then tells opposing team that they can't find it and go re-tee.