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- Dec 19, 2009
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It's "benefit to the player" in sanctioned play when the vote in the group on the ruling is tied. If the ruling itself is unclear, then the player should take a provisional by marking and playing from the largest piece and let the TD decide after the round whether the small piece is ruled a hole out or not.
It would be nice if that was how the provisional rule worked, but it's not. There are only two situations where a player can make provisional throws. "Because the group wants to punt to the TD" is not one of the two.
As the disc in this scenario is definitely not OB, lost, or missed a mando, the "save time" reason in 809.02 B. 1. is not applicable.
So, for this situation the only way the Provisional section can be invoked is if a player makes an appeal, in which case 809.02 B. 2. comes into play.
The proper order would be to:
- Try to get more players ruling one way than the other.
- If the group can't, rule in favor of the thrower.
- THEN if anyone doesn't agree with that ruling and thinks it should be overturned, they can make an appeal. At that point - IF there is no one nearby to appeal to - the thrower MAY, but is not required to, make a set of provisional throws.
- If the group can't, rule in favor of the thrower.
- THEN if anyone doesn't agree with that ruling and thinks it should be overturned, they can make an appeal. At that point - IF there is no one nearby to appeal to - the thrower MAY, but is not required to, make a set of provisional throws.
[Bold added.]801.03 Appeals
A. When a group cannot reach a majority decision regarding a ruling, the ruling is based on the interpretation that is most beneficial to the thrower.
B. A player may appeal a group decision to an Official, or an Official's decision to the Director, by clearly and promptly stating that desire to the group. If an Official or the Director is readily available, the group may stand aside and allow other groups to play through while the appeal is being heard.
C. If an Official or Director is not readily available, the thrower may make a set of provisional throws for each additional possible outcome of the ruling, and later appeal the ruling to an Official or to the Director when practical.
[…]
809.02 Provisional Throw
A. A provisional throw is an extra throw that is not added to a player's score if it is not ultimately used in the completion of the hole. The player must inform the group that a throw is provisional prior to making it.
B. Provisional throws are used:
1. To save time. A player may declare a provisional throw any time:
a. The status of a disc cannot be readily determined because it may be lost, out-of-bounds, or have missed a mandatory; and,
b. The group agrees that a provisional throw may save time.
The thrower then continues play from whichever of the two throws is deemed by the group or an Official to have resulted in the correct lie.
2. To appeal a ruling when there are different resulting lies. A set of provisional throws may be taken to complete a hole as part of an appeal when a player in the group disagrees with a group decision and an Official is not readily available, or if a player in the group wishes to appeal the decision of an Official. The scores from both sets of throws are recorded. Once the appeal has been resolved, only the score from the correct set of throws is counted.