Tactics will come into play at the Solheim and Ryder Cups, without doubt. Have you tried any dodgy ones that worked for you?
Walker Cup captain Peter McEvoy told me of one he regularly employed. If an opponent's shot looked to be heading for a bunker he'd say "Oooh, you lucky devil! Did you see that? It just skipped out." (knowing full well it was buried). "The look of dejection on the player's face when he arrived to discover his plight, didn't give him chance to recover his composure and inevitably he hit a poor escape." Nice one, Pete.

Evil. Having been in many a bunker myself, I know the sinking feeling that arives on discovering your well struck second shot plugged in a greenside bunker. It does make it even worse if you have trudged up the fairway wishfully thinking that it might have jumped out or squeaked past!

Whispering to your partner and giggling after your opponents have played a hole badly.

Giving putts generously initially and then making them putt tap ins.

Celebrating loudly, giving 'high fives' to your partner after winning a hole.

Watching intently every shot they play - willing them to cock it up. They can sense this.

genially asking, 'there for 3?' knowing full well that he took an extra two to get out of the rough stuff. 'oh really? that's tough luck.' Make them think about it a little.

Great if you are a rules guru - use every opportunity to state the precise ruling.

If your opponent is looking for a ball ask him to identify it - verbally and precisely - ask if there are any particular markings if he just states "Titleist 3".

Be extremely supportive of errors that your opponent makes.
"Oh, bad luck"
"Oops"
"It's a bit right"
"At least it didn't go in the deep stuff"
Say this with a smile on your face.

When they play a great shot - ignore it. Matchplay is no time for compliments.

I like the Peter McEvoy one quoted by Bob but I'm not sure about Alan's contribution (other than the tactic regarding putts - always been a believer in that one).

Best bit of advice I ever received - "on the tee, never leave your opponent with the sole responsibilty of thinking of all the things which could go wrong....."

I like to vary my rhythm a bit i.e. walk away fast one hole then dawdle a bit the next. Keeps then guessing.

Also at least once early doors I will make them putt out something that should be a gimme.

My secret weapon though is to keep saying to myself "make him play, make him play" you grind them down that way.

I dont consider it cheating or anything as it one of the tools you have

Don't go with not giving them a short putt too early, Huge. I would tend to allow a few gimmes early on, then they'll be expecting them and the prelude to their not being given one could probably be: 'this green's a bit bumpy, only just made that one' as you pick yours out the hole.

Now this will sound boring. I don't resort to any tactics.I think they have a fair chance of back firing. I think it is worth trying to be bomb proof on any tactics coming your way also.

I think it is about enjoying the match. How important is the result really? Worth as much as stooping to sneeky tactics. Within the rules and all that -but is it in the spirit of the game?...and is it one step from cheating?

OK I am not wearing a halo but...

I think we should demonstrate fair and ethical play and spread the good play
at our level....then it will be endemic and everyone benefits.

I played in a (very ) friendly match
where an 11 h'capper partner of mine called a penalty on an occasional 28 h'capper
for missing a short putt and running into another ball(I think one of ours) which hadn't been marked- so we halved the hole.
OK strictly right...and I know you can't waive rules etc etc. But the 28's partner (Also 11 h'capper) and I would not have called it in the circumstances.
We would have told him afterwards ...there was nothing on the match...left a bad taste
all round.

I am sure what comes around goes around...so if you play in a fair spirit it will come back the other way.

If you set out to use tactics I guess it should be of no suprise if it backfires..and golf is the loser.

So watch out if I cough on backswings at the next Golfmagic outting whenever it is!

Absolutely right, Geoff, couldn't agree more, can't bear bad form, ungentlemanly conduct, mee-self!

It's good when you can't stand the little sod and you win,though, eh?

Bob you too are absolutely right.

I have played in some excellent club matches this year...

i.e. Opponents friendly/showing you the line on their course/looking for your ball "enjoying" the game the way it should be...and I can't wait to return the favour on return matches.

Yes of course we play to win. Goes without question -but the result is secondary to the pleasure of a decent match against decent people. It's not life or death -we don't earn our living through golf and after all there after enough stress during the week it should be about pure fun.

All that said. If players don't want see that and are miserable/cold/humourless unpleasant ...then screw them!

G

I agree with most of your points, particularly regarding the enjoyment being more important than the result. The vast majority of matches I play are in that spirit. Here's a thought though. If you know the rules but agree they are not relevant within the spirit of the match that's one thing. Not KNOWING the rules can be disastrous if the guy you're playing is not of the same attitude or it's a serious competition where they do matter. I played a match earlier this year and my opponent hit a shot into a ditch marked with yellow stakes for a water hazard. He decided to play out of the ditch and as he climbed in used his club as a walking stick to support himself. As it happens, he duffed the shot and conceded the hole so there was no scruples question for me but the important thing is he didn't know it was a loss of hole penalty (grounding club in a hazard) and if he hadn't been made aware of it he could have done it again when it would have had far more serious consequences. So yes, play within the spirit but learn the rules before you disregard them.

Sorry - can't agree with the "disregard" of rules bit even in social games - the only way that adherance to the rules becomes second nature is by adhering to them and applying them in all games/matches and levels.

Here, here - the game is golf, its fascination is its variety and abundance of rules.

The spirit of honestly abiding by them to the point of declaring a penalty on yourself is the thing I admire about (most) proper golfers.

Bob - how about the next GOLFmagic society day being arranged on a matchplay basis?

Two teams - staff versus members (have to make sure of getting enough members to come along)

Malcolm

Dont you take the moral high ground on the rules. I am sure carrying 13 woods and a putter must be against some sort of rule

Huge

None that I know of - anyway, I've now leaned to put with my driver to make space in my bag for my new 70 degree lob wood.

Malcolm

"Disregard" was probably not the best choice of words but let me give another example of something that happened in a four ball match I was playing and see what you think.

Opponent A is on the green, opponent B is chipping and to have a chance of counting he must chip it in. He doesn't and tells his partner to knock it back to him. Using his putter, opponent A hits B's ball across the green back to his partner.

Technically, he has committed at least two penalties - playing the wrong ball and testing the speed of the green prior to putting.

Realistically, he gained no advanvantage, didn't affect the outcome of the hole and the only thing acheived was to speed up play for the rest of us. The hole was halfed.

Would you have called the penalty?

Rule 16.1 d I think.

What has to be determined was whether the player deliberately tested the putting surface.

As the ball was just casually knocked back to his partner, not along his own putting line, then there was no infringement of this rule.
Therefore no penalty.

And playing the wrong ball? Should the stroke have counted?

Anyway Alan, it wasn't meant to be a rules question more a test of whether the spirit of the game should sometimes override the letter of the law.