What happens if my marker leaves with my scorecard or doesn't sign it?

Bottom line: you are not disqualified. If your marker walks off with the scorecard or forgets to sign, and you had no way to stop it, the exception to Rule 3.3b(2) waives the penalty. The Committee will help reconstruct or re-certify the card — no strokes added.

You don't get penalized if your marker leaves with the scorecard or fails to sign it, as long as you couldn't do anything about it. The exception to Rule 3.3b(2) protects you when the breach is the marker's fault and beyond your control. You still need to get the card certified and returned, but the Committee will sort it without adding strokes to your score.

What the rule actually says

Rule 3.3b(2) makes you responsible for checking the hole scores, making sure the marker certifies the card, and returning it to the Committee. Normally, failing any of those means disqualification. But the exception written right into the rule says there's no penalty if the Committee finds the breach happened because the marker didn't do their job — like walking off with the card or leaving without signing — and you had no way to stop it.

What you should do in the moment

Don't panic and don't just walk away. Find a Committee member or the pro shop right away and explain what happened. If the marker is still around, get them to sign. If they're gone, the Committee can accept certification from someone else who saw your round, or they can certify it themselves based on the evidence. Rule 3.3b(1) explicitly allows the Committee to step in when a marker refuses or can't certify.

If the scorecard is lost or damaged

Interpretation 3.3b/3 says you can use a different scorecard — a club card, a blank sheet, even a photo of the original — as long as it has your name, all 18 hole scores, and both signatures (or Committee certification). The key is that every hole score must be identifiable to the right hole, per Interpretation 3.3b(3)/1.

Exceptions that change the answer

• The marker leaves with the scorecard or fails to certify it, and you had no control over it → No penalty under the exception to Rule 3.3b(2). The Committee handles certification and you return a valid card without added strokes.

Frequently asked questions

My marker walked off with the card after the round. Am I disqualified?

No. If you couldn't stop them, the exception to Rule 3.3b(2) waives the penalty. Tell the Committee immediately and they'll help reconstruct or re-certify the card.

The marker refuses to sign because they think a score is wrong.

The marker can refuse to certify a score they believe is incorrect. The Committee then reviews the evidence and decides the score. If the marker still won't sign, the Committee can certify it themselves or accept someone else's certification (Rule 3.3b(1)).

Can I use a different scorecard if the original is gone?

Yes. Interpretation 3.3b/3 allows any scorecard with your name, all hole scores, and proper certification. A club scorecard or even a handwritten list works if the Committee accepts it.

What if I played holes without my marker?

Interpretation 3.3b/1 says the scorecard can't be properly certified if the marker wasn't with you for the whole round. You should have insisted they stay. The Committee may still accept the card if there's enough evidence, but you're taking a risk.

Does the marker have to sign in a specific spot?

Interpretation 3.3b/2 says if you and the marker sign in each other's spots by mistake, it's still valid. The signatures just need to be on the card and identifiable as yours and theirs.