The order of play is fundamental to the strategy in match play. When assigned to a match in its entirety, you as the Referee may need to assist the players with determining whose turn it is to play. The following offers guidance for such situations. 

• For determining whose turn it is to play when not in the teeing area, allow players to take the lead and figure this out themselves. Don’t proactively declare whose ball is farther from the hole and if you have an observer, don’t ask them to go on the putting to determine who is away – we want to limit traffic on the putting green whenever possible. 

• If asked by a player to determine who is away, promptly make the determination. The determination should be made quickly and with confidence.  

• • • If not on or near the putting green and the determination is close, you can approach each player to see what distance they got with their rangefinder. You as a Referee should not use a rangefinder (or carry one with you). You should also not be loudly asking players for this information.  

• • • If on (or near) the putting green, stand at the midpoint of the two balls and make the determination. If the balls are on opposite sides of the holes, stand at the hole to make the determination. You should not use a gotcha device to measure who is away as they are very often tricky to use. If balls are close enough to the hole and you cannot determine who is away, you could use the flagstick to measure.  

• • • Make sure you have a coin or tee with you if needed to determine the order by play by random method.