The Platzreife exam: format, questions and tips
Your exam is coming up and you are wondering what to expect. The short answer: less than you fear. The long answer is below.
In this article
How the exam works
The Platzreife exam has two parts, theory and practice. Both are usually taken on the same day, and on an intensive course at the end of the session.
The theory part is a questionnaire on rules and etiquette. You sit in the clubhouse, you have plenty of time, and you need no preparation beyond the course itself.
The practical part takes place on the course. You play a round observed by your professional. What is assessed is not your score but whether you play safely, apply the rules and keep up with the pace of play.
Which topics come up
The theory covers four areas:
- Safety. When you may play, when you may not, when you must call out.
- Basic rules. Teeing off, playing the ball as it lies, out of bounds, lost balls.
- Etiquette. Letting faster groups through, repairing pitchmarks, raking bunkers, conduct on the green.
- Scoring. Par, bogey and the basics of Stableford.
Sample questions with answers
When do you shout "Fore"? As soon as a ball is heading towards other people. Not once you are certain it will hit them: immediately, and loudly.
Your ball goes out of bounds. What do you do? Stroke and distance: you play again from the previous spot with a penalty stroke. If you suspect at the moment of striking that the ball may be out, play a provisional ball and save yourself the walk back.
Who plays first on the green? Whoever is furthest from the hole. In practice this is often handled loosely, but you should know it for the exam.
You cannot find your ball. How long may you search? Three minutes from the moment you begin searching.
What do you do after playing from a bunker? You rake it, both your footprints and the mark left by your club. The rake is then placed where it will not obstruct other players.
May you improve your ball's lie in the rough? No. The ball is played as it lies. Exceptions apply only under local rules that the club has explicitly announced.
What is a pitchmark and what do you do about it? The indentation your ball makes on the green. You repair it with a pitchfork, yours and ideally one more besides.
What do you do when a faster group catches up with you? You let them through. At a suitable point you wave them past and wait until they are out of range.
The practical part: what actually counts
The most common misconception is that you need to play golf well. You do not.
What is assessed is whether you are safe. Concretely: do you look around before you play? Do you keep your distance from playing partners? Do you move briskly between shots? Do you know what to do when a ball goes into water?
Someone taking twelve shots a hole but playing safely and briskly will pass. Someone striking the ball cleanly but not paying attention may not.
How many people pass?
The vast majority, first time. The exam is designed as proof of basic competence, not as a hurdle. Anyone who has done the course has covered the material.
What if you do not pass?
Usually only the failed part needs repeating, theory or practice, not both. A retake fee of roughly 30 to 50 euros is common, though policies vary by provider.
At Zalm Golf you can retake the exam at a later date with the same professional at no cost. You do not need to repeat the course.
Three tips for exam day
Eat breakfast. A course day runs eight hours, four of them on your feet. The most common reason for losing concentration in the afternoon is mundane.
Ask questions. Not during the theory paper, but during the course itself. Professionals would much rather answer a rules question beforehand than correct it afterwards.
Forget your score. It is not assessed. Anyone trying to impress the professional makes more mistakes than someone playing calmly.