Finding the basket

[Pete Lauber]

In tournament play, if an individual never played the course and cant find the basket, are you allowed to walk ahead and find the basket before throwing? I ran into the problem because I am slightly color blind and can never see an orange cone on top of a basket in the woods. Of course I mean before anyone has thrown!

[Chuck Kennedy]

Player is responsible for learning/knowing the course. That being said, the group could allow it in general or allow it only from the standpoint of you doing it such that it doesn't slow play. For example, if there's no group ahead of you and you're first on the tee, you might not be given time to look since your 30 seconds will start once scores from the previous hole have been recorded and it's your turn to throw. If it's a blind hole, you might be able to go look to make sure there's no one still playing.

[Pete Lauber]

Thanks!

[Josh Connell]

In all my years of playing, I've yet to encounter a situation where a player unfamiliar with the course wasn't allowed to at least jog up and spot the basket (or the ideal landing zone on a longer hole). As long as the player doesn't abuse the group's generosity (such as walking all the way to the basket every time or checking every angle along the way) and make the group the cause of a back-up, the 30-second clock usually isn't considered either.

[Keith Hughes]

In all my years of playing, I've yet to encounter a situation where a player unfamiliar with the course wasn't allowed to at least jog up and spot the basket (or the ideal landing zone on a longer hole). As long as the player doesn't abuse the group's generosity (such as walking all the way to the basket every time or checking every angle along the way) and make the group the cause of a back-up, the 30-second clock usually isn't considered either.

Agree 100%

[Trent Solomon]

me too. 2 years ago i had never played pyramids gold and was afforded this to do when I couldnt see the basket on a few holes

[Titan Bariloni]

while watching the women's lead card last year at pro worlds..I seen this happening often...the guy calling the round said it is allotted for players to do and underused..something to that effect...

thought we had 30 seconds upon arriving at the lie this kinda makes that confusing as when we actually arrive at our lie...I have already posted this somewhere else not sure where though...

[Chuck Kennedy]

For many holes, players aren't going to need to move forward much if at all to see the pin (or landing area), even if they've never played it. If the hole is blind, even if you have played it, at least one person probably needs to go ahead anyway to make sure it's clear to throw. The only time I would think a player who hasn't played the course might need to move forward and take a look, when others in the group don't need to, is when there's a visible hole but there's some danger lurking like a cliff or OB you can't see from the tee.