Since my situation with a Rules Official at Firestone Country Club for a Senior Amateur Qualifier I began to study the Rules of Golf. Probably the most "famous" Rules involved Roberto de Vicenzo in the 1968 Masters. His official scorecard had a 4 on a hole where Roberto knew he had a 3! His scorer, one of the other player in his group who kept his score, inadvertently marked Roberto's score a 4 on that hole.
Roberto apparently didn't check his score befor signing it and turning it in to the Masters' official scorekeeper. Roberto then realized his mistake but it was too late. Once your scorecard is turned in it is too late to change an hole's score. Roberto lost the 1968 Master's championship due to his error.
I entered the SCGA's Senior Amateur the next year. The tournament was held at Myrtle Beach over two days on the same course. The first day I had a great round going, i.e. I was 2 over par when I reached the 18th hole. Unfortunely, I bogeyed the hole to end up 3 over par. I was so discussed with myself for bogeying the last hole that I quickly signed my card and turn it in without verifyng the hole-by-hole scores.
That evening, the SCGA held a reception for the competitors at the club house. all kinds of snacks and drinks were available. And, naturally, a leaders board was on display. The SCGA offical at the receiption was the SCGA's member in charge of course raing. I had rated some course with him so we knew each other.
He was standing next to the leader board and I noticed that I was near the top with a score of 74, 2 over par. I immediately knew that was not my true score, The player who kept my score didn't check with me as to my score on the 18th hole. He assumed I par the hole when I didn't.
I told the official that my score was one stroke higher. I told him I had to disqualify myself anc could not play the 2nd round. He tried several times to, perhaps, I had made a mistake in my memory of playing the hole. But I told him, no, the score was wrong and I was disqualified from the Tournament.
So, the SCGA offical knew I was fairly familiar with the Rules of Golf. This lead to my becoming a SCGA and USGA Rules Offical in most unusual fashion.
