Rules
New Rules for 2012
View a Summary here of the key changes to the Rules of Golf and Amateur Status commencing on 1 January 2012.
The R&A St Andrews is the governing body for the rules of golf. Authority for administration of the Rules was accepted by The R&A in 1897 and, since 1952, it has jointly issued the Rules with the United States Golf Association. The underlying principle of rules in golf is fairness.
There are three basic principles to remember:
1. Play the ball as it lies
2. Play the course as you find it
3. And if you cannot do either, do what is fair
To do what is fair you need to know the Rules.
To obtain a copy of 2012 – 2015 edition of the Rules of Golf Booklet please contact your Club.
View the Rules of Golf section on the Golf Australia website here
View the R & A St Andrews website here
View the R&A's online Decisions on The Rules of Golf here
The R&A Interactive Quiz provides all levels of golfer with a great tool to improve their knowledge of The Rules. It has 3 levels of difficulty and provides immediate feedback on your progress.
Begin the R&A Interactive Quiz
Rules & Other Resources
Golf NT has the following resources available to Clubs and individual golfers:
• R&A Rules of Golf and the Rules of Amateur Status 2012 – 2015 (Free)
• R&A A Quick Guide to the Rules of Golf 2012 – 2015 (Free)
• R&A Decisions on the Rules of Golf 2012 – 2013 ($40)
• R&A Golf Rules Illustrated 2012 Edition ($30)
• R&A Golf Rules in Action DVD ($35) (sold out)
Tee It Up ($2)
Rules Officials
Club Level
Rules officials are persons who have attained a Club Level Rules Accreditation by passing the Club Level Rules examination with a mark of 80%, or better.
State Level
Those qualified as State Level Accredited have successfully completed the State Level Rules Course and Examinations.
Club Level Rules Accreditation Program
Club Level rules seminars are regularly conducted by members of the Golf NT Rules Committee. The seminar takes about three hours with the use of a PowerPoint presentation. For those wishing to gain a Club Level Accreditation, an exam will follow at a later date.
Things covered by the seminar include the following:
1. Rules Resources
2. How to use the Rules Book
3. Illustrations of the Rules
At all stages, participants are encouraged to ask whatever Rules questions they have. Whilst the seminars are an important learning forum for those persons who wish to undertake the Club Level Examination, there is no obligation to sit for the examination after attending the seminar.
The Club Level Examination involves a 50 multiple-choice question exam on the Rules of Golf. To pass, a minimum of 40 correct answers must be given. There is a time limit of three hours and Rules of Golf booklets may be used during the examination.
Successful candidates will receive a Club Level Rules Accreditation Certificate of Achievement. Club Level Rules Accreditation remains valid by attending future rules seminars.
Clubs are encouraged to utilise Club Level Accredited persons as rules officials for major club events.
Golf NT Accredited Rules Officials
National Accreditation
Jason De Araujo
State Level Accreditation
Tricia Clarke Darwin Golf Club
Trevor DurdIn Darwin Golf Club
Peter Hargreaves Darwin Golf Club
Mark Hearnden Humpty Doo Golf Club
Cheryl Stevens Darwin Golf Club
Peter Wright Palmerston Golf Club
Robyn Winter
Club Level Accreditation
Margaret Fairless Darwin Golf Club
Imogen Hoppmann RAAF Darwin Golf Club
John Humphreys’ RAAF Darwin Golf Club
Robyn Vincent Darwin Golf Club
Glen Schipp Darwin Golf Club
Andrew Hullick Darwin Golf Club
Merv McMaster Pamlerston Golf Club
Brad Green
Don Jordon
Shane O’Brien
Stuart Waters
Competition and Course Management
The Golf Australia website is the best place to find information on Course Management, Marking the Course & Course Set-up Procedures, including information on stroke play and match play indexes, distance markers, course records, defining out of bounds, water hazards, GUR, obstructions, and advice regarding teeing grounds and hole positions. View the Competition and Course Management section on the Golf Australia website here
Distance Measuring Devices
The R&A changed its stance on Distance Measuring devices from January 2006, permitting a club committee to allow the use of Distance Measuring Devices through the introduction of a Local Rule. The following is the recommended Local Rule for allowing the use of a DMD for either all play on your course or for a specific competition: Also see Page 136 of the R&A Rule Book.
"For all play at this course, a player may obtain distance information by using a device that measures distance only. If, during a stipulated round, a player uses a distance-measuring device that is designed to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect his play (e.g. gradient, wind speed, temperature, etc.), the player is in breach of Rule 14-3, for which the penalty is disqualification, regardless of whether any such additional function is actually used."
Distance Measuring Devices are not permitted in GA National Championships.
Equipment
For news and information on Equipment including Drivers, Clubs and Balls click here
Etiquette
Etiquette is the manner in which the game should be played. If the correct etiquette is followed, all players will gain maximum enjoyment from the game. The overriding principle is that consideration should be shown to others on the course at all times. It refers to a set of rules and practices designed to make the game of golf safer and more enjoyable for golfers and to minimize possible damage to golf equipment and courses. Although many of these practices are not part of the formal rules of golf, golfers are customarily expected to observe them.
There are four main areas of etiquette, which are:
Course Care, Safety, Consideration for Others, and Pace of Play.
More details on etiquette
More details on Pace of Play
View Pace of Play Poster poster
Slow Play
Slow play is a critical problem with the game of golf, and cannot be attributed to any one factor. It should not be correlated with skill level, age, gender, or experience. However, it does represent a significant issue for many golfers, often stemming from a single or twosome playing into a group with higher numbers. Regardless, slow players should yield the field of play if there is substantive room in front of them. To do otherwise is remiss, and represents a deviation from golf etiquette. From the first drive to the last hole, each player should be ready to play when it is their turn. Normally, the player furthest from the hole (being "away") plays first, and continues until another player becomes "away." While this is a good tradition to follow, golfers may play out of turn if their playing partners agree that it will speed up the pace of play. A golfer should avoid taking unreasonable time over their swing, which might well produce a bad shot. Golfers should try to follow closely the group ahead of them, and not to be "pushed" by the group behind them. One rule of thumb is that golfers should have to wait on the group in front of them to hole out as they are teeing up. Otherwise, their pace of play may be too slow.
Amateur Status
The Amateur Status Committee of The R&A defines an amateur as someone who plays the game as a non-remunerative and non-profit-making sport and who does not receive remuneration for teaching golf or for other activities because of golf skill or reputation.
Prizes in amateur events is limited to $1200. The Rules of Amateur Status can be found in the Rules of Golf Book, on pages 163-179.
See here for more information on Amateur Status.
Policies & Regulatory Codes
More information on all Golf Australia Policies & Regulatory Codes here.
For further information on any of the above please contact Golf NT's rules representative Tricia Clarke at clarkefamilynt@bigpond.com
