What happens if a player realizes he mistakenly recorded a 5 instead of a 4 on his scorecard when he returns it to the committee?

When a player submits their scorecard and realizes that they recorded a 5 instead of a 4, the rules of golf stipulate that the score stands as recorded, meaning the 5 will be considered the official score for that hole. This is in line with the principle of the integrity of the scorecard and emphasizes the player's responsibility for accurately recording their scores during the round. Once the scorecard is submitted, it cannot be changed, even if a mistake is recognized shortly thereafter.

This underscores the importance of attentiveness while keeping score, as any errors made cannot simply be amended after the fact. The notion is that the integrity of the game relies on players accurately documenting their performance as they play. Therefore, in this scenario, the score of 5 remains valid and reflects the player's recorded performance.