Golf Nut I was recently playing a round of golf with a foursome. We got to hole #12 a par 5. Three golfers all hit in the water on their 2nd stroke, then 2 of those golfers hit in the water on their fourth stroke. They both pick up their balls and head to the next tee. I ask this question because I am a beginning golfer.

My buddy makes a 9 but the two players that quit the hole said "We both took an 8" so my buddy tells me that the correct ruling is you can't hit over an 8 on any hole and shaves a stroke off his score.

I looked on the USGA site and it says any player failing to hole out is disqualified (Sounds a bit harsh for amateur golf, especially very amateur golf). Do you have any idea of the ruling on this? I'm sure the pick up and take an 8 isn't right, I shoot 10's and 11's pretty regular, I could drastically improve my game if that's the correct ruling. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

You really have two golf questions here so let's take them one at a time. The Rules of Golf clearly state in Rule 3-2 that if any golfer fails to hole out and does not correct his mistake before he makes a stroke on the next tee, then he is disqualified. That, plain and simple, is the rule.

However, since you are a beginner, let me add this. I have only seen this enforced in tournament play. All golfers that I know and play with allow a frustrated partner to pick up and move on to the next hole. We have all been there where we just can't seem to mentally finish a golf hole and the best thing for our round is to pick up and start again on the next tee. It's technically against the rules but most golfers do it.

Now as to the recorded score. If you are following the rules, it's a moot point because you are disqualified. However, the handicap system addresses this issue of what is the correct score to record. And this is how the golf groups that I play with handle this.

First, the USGA handicap system states: "If a player does not finish a hole or is conceded a stroke, record the most likely score for handicap purposes. A most likely score is the number of strokes already taken, plus in the golfer's best judgment, the number of strokes needed to complete the hole from that point more than half the time."

Second, the handicap system has a maximum score that a player should record on a hole when he scores a number significantly higher than normal. It is based upon his/her handicap. So when someone scores an 8, 9, 10, 11 etc. the score that they should record for turning in the card for their handicap goes as follows:

Handicap------------Score to Record

9 or less------------ Double Bogey
10-19---------------------7
20-29---------------------8
30-39---------------------9
40 and above--------------10

Most golfers I know just use the above handicap rule and tell them to record a double through 10 depending on their handicap when a golfer picks up. It keeps it easy and consistent. So your buddy was wrong that the highest you can record is an 8.

Thank you for the question and good golfing.