All matches should be played and continue throughout inclement weather, until the hosting captain, in consultation with the course professional, declares the course unplayable. Unplayable conditions due to rain are usually instituted when enough temporary water collects on the greens to make putting impossible. In a downpour, this can happen in a matter of minutes. If you are in such a situation, call the captain from the course and consult. A photo of the green under these conditions helps.
When stopping play:
MARK YOUR BALL, remember your hole number and approximate location, and return to the club house or shelter. Our guidelines direct matches to be delayed until playing conditions are returned OR the delay of play reaches ONE HOUR.
If play cannot resume after one hour, the rain date must be used. Preferably, the matches begin at "all square" and play is 18 holes. If that is not possible because of prior tee times being used for others at the host course, the captain may schedule the back 9 only to complete the matches, starting on hole #10, and with any points from the original play to be carried over.
If the rain date is not available at all, (or because of more inclement weather), the points earned from the first game of 9 holes will be the final points awarded for that match. All matches must have completed AT LEAST 9 HOLES for this to apply.
LIGHTNING is a special situation, requiring IMMEDIATE STOPPAGE of play. If at any time anyone in the match is fearful of lightning, the match MUST BE DELAYED and players must leave the course. Then the ONE HOUR time limit is instituted. Please call the host captain if your match is delayed due to fear of lightning. (Not all courses have lightning detection or a horn blow. Therefore, we respect every player's concern for her safety.)
If one pair wish to delay during a downpour, but the opponents do not, an agreement has not been made to stop. As per Rule 5.7a, "leaving the course is not, by itself, stopping play. A player's delay of play is covered by Rule 5.6a:
"If a player stops play for any reason not allowed under this Rule or fails to report to the committee (the host captain and the professional), the player is disqualified."
We don't want to see this situation happen, so get an agreement to stop play from the opponents and then consult with the host captain and let her make the call. If the opponents do not agree to stop, but you leave the course, the result is a disqualification of your team.