R&A

Announced today are decisions about the rules of golf for 2014 and beyond. According to the USGA and R&A, “decisions” are updated every two years and the actual Rules of Golf are updated every four years. The ability to change the rules of golf to adapt to its evolving nature is extremely important. Most weekend golfers are less concerned about the real rules, but if you have a wish to play in any competition, knowing or not knowing the rules will affect your score.

This year, some of the decisions address important aspects of the game and some of the more trivial areas. I will let you decide. All decisions below taken from the tsn.ca website. The first decision deals with those who analyse video and call into the tournaments to report a rules infraction. Decision 18/4 outlines that a player will not be penalized when “enhanced technological evidence” shows that a ball moved, it will not be deemed to have moved if not “reasonably discernible to the naked eye at the time.” The ever-increasing involvement of arm-chair golfers forced this decision. This is a good rule, because it puts the onus on the player to be his own referee – exactly where it should be!

Decision 14-3/18 allows players to use smart phones to access weather reports. The new decision also clarifies that players are permitted access to information on the threat of an approaching storm for their own safety. This rule is more for the amateur than the professional. Being caught many times in questionable weather that turned into a storm makes this decision a smart idea. Actually, I did not know it was against the rules…go figure.

Decision 25-2/0.5 was revised to clarify when a golf ball is embedded. Officials have noticed an increased in tour players asking for relief, and a debate on whether the ball has broken through the soil. The revised decision will be accompanied by illustrations. Ok, I am sure there will be many who suggest that is really not an issue, however, if you hit the ball hit like the pros and play on soft courses, embedded golf balls does pose a problem. Not 100% sure this decision will fix the issue, but time will tell.

Decision 27-2a/1.5 was revised to allow players to go forward 50 yards without losing their right to return to play a provisional ball. Okay, I know Phil Mickelson walked 120 yards to the green, fixed the pin and almost jugged it, but really. You know someone is going to count the steps and determine the yardage by the players gait and…..well I think you get the point!

The rules of golf are ever evolving. It is good for the game to keep up with new technology and course design. I am not convinced that some rule changes are driven by the golfing industry, but that is a discussion for another day. A great website on the rules of golf is found at http://www.rulesofgolf.ca/.

What do you think of the new decisions?

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!

Canadian Armed Forces National Golf Tournament

Have you won more than $750 playing golf at your local club in a skins game? Do you use golf as a primary method to make a living? Are you receiving financial gain from golfing? Are you the local golfing sensation whose likeness is used to promote a local charity golf event? Do you compete at the elite level regularly? If you answer yes to any of these questions, you may be considered a professional golfer!

Determining whether a player should be a card carrying professional is important. It is safe to say that it is easy to distinguish between a professional and an amateur. Or is it?

Lyndia Ko is a perfect example of a 16-year old phenom amateur who has won four (2 LPGA and 2 International) professional tournaments. How does she maintain her amateur status and still compete in at the elite level? The last amateur to win a PGA event was Phil Mickelson in 1991. He turned pro 1992 and has won 42 professional tournaments, including five majors. Did winning this PGA event push “Lefty” towards an amateur career sooner than expected?

By definition, an “amateur golfer”, regardless of whether he plays competitively or recreationally, is one who plays golf for the challenge it presents, not as a profession and not for financial gain. (R&A, USGA) Is it really that simple?

One major distinction about being a professional golfer is “golf skill or reputation“. Generally, an amateur golfer is only considered to have golf skill if he:

has had competitive success at regional or national level or has been selected to represent his national, regional, state or county golf union or association; or
competes at an elite level.

Golf reputation can only be gained through golf skill and such reputation is deemed to continue for five years after that player’s golf skill has fallen below the standard set by the Governing Body. This statement is very important to most amateurs. Basically, local heroes with fantastic reputations would not be considered professional golfers. It takes much more than having a scratch handicap.

Other aspects of maintaining your amateur status are important. A recent change to the hole-in-one prizes is significant. Traditionally, if you won more that $750 for a hole-in-one during a fun tournament, you lost your amateur status. Fortunately that has changed because Kurt Kramarenko of Dimondale would be a professional golfer today after winning ten thousand dollars in a charity golf tournament on 13 September 2013. It may have been a life time dream, but one awesome shot does not make a professional golfer.

Another major change important distinction on a player’s status deals with subsistence expenses. An amateur golfer can receive subsistence expenses to assist with general living costs provided the expenses are approved by and paid through the player’s national golf union or association. (R&A, USGA) This new rule allows amateurs to keep their status while in school, compete at the elite level and prepare for a professional career.

What about the local player who travels within a three-hour radius of his house and consistently wins prizes in tournaments? What if this local player participates directly or indirectly in a “sweepstake” or “calcutta” auction and receives money from the person who purchased their team? Or, he likes to enter tournaments that offer cash prizes because he has enough golf stuff; does this effect their amateur status? The short answer is yes. Every time a player wins money during a tournament, even non-optional skins games, the prize money goes towards the $750 limit regarding their amateur status. A prize such as golf equipment does not appear to count towards the $750 limit.

In 2012, the USGA and R&A joined forces to make one set of governing rules to clarify the difference between professional and amateur status. This was a good move for the overall health of golf. Bloomburg.com suggests that golf is a 69 billion dollar industry. Amateur versus professional status is important. The following R&A video outlines the new changes and the importance of understanding if a player is considered a professional golfer.

New Amateur Status 2012-2015

So, are you a professional golfer? Most likely, the answer is no. However, for some, it is a great dream. As the golf industry continues to grow, more pressure will grow on the governing bodies to ensure an even and fair playing field. There is so much at stake that making poor decisions early in an amateur career could have detrimental, long-term results. Being a professional golfer may not be the life-long dream of most players, but for some it typifies expertise in a sport they love.

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!