Golf Canada hosted its inaugural Tournament Administration and Rules Seminar this past weekend in Toronto.  Sixty participants attended the four-day seminar which covered everything from course setup to rules scenarios and amateur status.  We were extremely fortunate to have had a number of notable guest speakers on-hand to enhance the seminar.

Grant Moir, Director, Rules of Golf from the R&A, lent us his expertise throughout the weekend.  Grant’s vast knowledge of the rules and his experiences at professional and elite amateur championships certainly brought an invaluable perspective to the participants.

In addition to instructing, Mark Dusbabek, PGA TOUR official and advance official for the RBC Canadian Open, offered many stories and scenarios from the PGA TOUR and gave a great lesson on relief from Temporary Immovable Obstructions (TIOs).

Dale Jackson, Rules Chairman of the Golf Canada Rules Committee, and Jack MacDonald – a past Rules Chairman and a past President – supported the instruction.  With their many years of experience, the participants were offered unique insights into officiating from two of the best officials in the country.

Barbara Allan, Chair of Golf Canada’s Amateur Competition’s Committee, shared best practices for starters and scorers.  Golf Canada’s Director of Rules, Competitions, & Amateur Status, Adam Helmer, coordinated and led a number sessions throughout the seminar.

Golf Canada’s Chief Championship Officer, Bill Paul, shared his background and vision for the RBC Canadian Open while Golf Canada’s Chief Championship Officer, Jeff Thompson, presented on Team Canada and the second generation of Golf Canada’s Long-Term Player Development guide.

While it takes a knowledgeable staff to instruct, it takes an equally attentive and focused group of participants to make any seminar a success. This past weekend’s group showed a great deal of both and demonstrated that the nation’s tournaments are in good hands. Golf Canada would like to thank all the participants and instructors for the passion they showed for guiding the game we love.

Some will say that there are fewer more noble pursuits in life than teaching. After having learned something, some will argue that it is your responsibility to pass along that knowledge to not only help others, but to also ensure that the knowledge you’ve been given spreads and grows.

Not so long ago, I was the one in the crowd with the Rules of Golf in-hand; I was the one being asked what to do; I was the one on the receiving end of a rules demonstration. This past weekend at Point Grey Golf and Country Club in Vancouver, I had the honour of once again stepping to the front with Rules Chair Dale Jackson and Rules and Amateur Status Committee members Susan White and Dan Sabourin to teach in Golf Canada’s Rules of Golf Seminar – and it is not a responsibility that we take lightly.

As much as there is to learn in order to properly facilitate this game we all love so much, teaching those rules is an entirely different matter. It’s the same problem any teacher will face a hundred times over – what’s the best way to help your students learn? What more can I do to make sure this sticks? And that’s the challenge in teaching – that you can lecture and role-play and diagram for hours on end until you’ve said all you can say; but ultimately, it’s the performance of your students that reflects how well you’ve done as an instructor. From that perspective, I know I can do better.

I want every one of my students to ace their exams. I want them to excel and one day stand at the front with me, passing on what they have learned. My hope is that with every session I lead – with every lesson I give – I get a little better at teaching. That I get just that much better at demonstrating the Rules of Golf and that one more student remembers the correct ruling in one more situation.

There are four seminars left this season and I will be at the helm of three (Tournament Administration and Rules Seminar in Toronto, April 16-19; the Level 4 Rules of Golf Seminar in Regina alongside Mary Beth McKenna, Jack McDonald and Brian Lee from April 23-26; before concluding in Halifax, April 30-May 3; seasoned veteran instructors Jacques Nols and Diane Barabé will take the lead in Montreal, April 23-26). There is still time to sign up for these seminars. Additional information can be found here.

I hope you all look forward to learning as much as I look forward to teaching.

Each year, thousands of Canadian and international competitors participate in Golf Canada’s championship schedule, which includes CN Future Links events; national amateur championships; Canadian Women’s Tour; World Junior Girls Championship; TOUR Championship of Canada presented by Freedom 55 Financial and Canada’s National Open Championships – the RBC Canadian Open and Canadian Pacific Women’s Open.

As we strive to conduct best-in-class tournaments, our staff and volunteer committees are continually identifying areas where we can improve our championships and provide opportunities to our players to enhance their tournament experience.  The championship schedule for 2015 will present some new initiatives to our women’s championships and exciting changes to our other competitions.

National Women’s Championships

One of the most notable changes that our staff and the Amateur Competitions Committee are excited to announce is a change to our women’s championships.  Traditionally conducted at the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, the Mid-Amateur and Mid-Master divisions will now be held in conjunction with the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship at Sawmill Creek Golf & Country Club in Camlachie, Ont. from August 25-28.  While we still encourage Mid-Amateur and Mid-Master competitors to participate in the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, we feel this will hopefully encourage more participation within this demographic of players.  For more information on the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur and Women’s Senior Championship, please view the entry form here.

World Junior Girls Championship

With the growth of female golf around the world, Golf Canada was fortunate to have been able to host the inaugural World Junior Girls Championship last September.  The 2015 edition will be held September 20–25 in the nation’s capital at The Marshes Golf Club.  It is an excellent course with first class facilities and accommodations nearby that will provide an atmosphere deserving of a World Championship.  Details of the World Junior Girls Championship tournament can be found here.

Canadian Women’s Tour

The Canadian Women’s Tour is back for its fourteenth season.  This Tour provides a competitive platform for Canadian and international professionals and elite amateurs to hone their skills, while also offering exemptions into the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open.  The first stop on the tour will be held at the Glencoe Golf & Country Club (Meadows Course) in Calgary from May 25–27. The second leg of the tour will make its way to the Ottawa area in early July.  The Tour will conclude at the PGA Women’s Championship of Canada from July20–22 at the Burlington Golf & Country Club in Burlington, Ont.  Interested professional and amateur competitors can register for the Canadian Women’s Tour on our championship schedule.

TOUR Championship of Canada presented by Freedom 55 Financial

Golf Canada and PGA TOUR Canada have partnered for the past three years to conduct the final stop on the schedule.  This year, the TOUR Championship of Canada presented by Freedom 55 Financial – PGA TOUR Canada’s flagship event – will be played at Highland Country Club in London, Ont.  A classic 6,600-yard, par-70 Stanley Thompson design located in the heart of London, Highland Country Club has been one of the city’s finest member-owned private clubs since 1922. Conducted by Golf Canada, the TOUR Championship of Canada presented by Freedom 55 Financial will once again see the culmination of the race to finish in The Five and earn status on the Web.com Tour. For more information on the TOUR Championship presented by Freedom 55 Financial, please visit here.

Registration is open for all tournaments and players may register for the season through Golf Canada’s championship schedule.  Volunteers can register for our national championships via the schedule or for all other tournaments, through the host golf club.

There’s been no shortage of excitement in the world of golf so far in 2015. This year, there has been a refreshing number of first-time winners at the highest level and we are definitely seeing a youth movement on both the PGA and LPGA.  However, in my opinion, this wave of young champions has been somewhat overshadowed by the abundance of holes-in-one reported this year. Just this past weekend at the Valspar Championship, Jonathan Byrd added his name to this growing list. From PGA veterans (the full list is available here) to LPGA pros; par 3 aces to par 4 aces; and even NCAA coaches making two holes-in-one within a span of three holes!

Last week, Virginia Tech coach, Carol Robertson, made back-to-back aces on par 3’s, with a par 4 separating the two shots. The odds of making two perfect shots in this fashion are apparently 67-million-to-one. For the full story, click here.

What are the odds of a single hole-in-one, you ask?  Many cite the chances of an average golfer making a hole-in-one at approximately 12,500-to-1 and the odds of a tour professional at around 2,500-to-1. To see a full list of the odds of making an ace, check out Golf Digest’s article here.

From a rules perspective, the Rules of Golf do not address the issue of the validity of a hole-in-one. It is up to the Committee to determine whether it is valid. Golf Canada recommends that a hole-in-one be considered valid in the following conditions:

1. If made during a round of at least nine holes, except that a hole-in-one made during a match should be acceptable even if the match ends before the stipulated round is completed.
2. If the player is playing one ball; a hole-in-one made in a practice round in which the player is playing two or more balls should not be acceptable.
3. If attested by someone acceptable to the Committee.
4. If made at a hole with a temporary tee and/or putting green in use, even if the Committee did not specifically define the teeing ground with tee-markers; the length of the hole at the time should be stated on any certificate.
5. If made in a “scramble” competition, which is played as follows: A side comprises four players. Each member of a side plays from the teeing ground, the best drive is selected, and each member plays a second shot from where the best drive is located, and so on.

Now you know the odds of actually making a hole-in-one and the recommended guidelines validating this feat. Good luck this season trying to add this to your list of golfing accomplishments.

This past week, I had the opportunity and privilege of attending one of the many PGA of America and United States Golf Association’s Rules of Golf workshops with my colleague Justine Decock at the St. Louis Marriott West in St. Louis, Missouri.

The PGA/USGA workshop is held over a four day period, containing three full days of seminar instruction accompanied by presentations and a very specific breakdown of each rule of golf, followed by a three-and-a-half-hour 100-question multiple choice exam (50 questions closed book, 50 questions open book).

Each seminar has two instructors representing the USGA and PGA, I consider myself extremely fortunate to have had two of the games’ best. Bernie Loehr, Director of Amateur Status and Rules at the USGA, has worked and served on the Joint Rules Committee (JRC), and has officiated numerous U.S. Opens, the PGA Championship, and our own National Open. Accompanying him was Jesse Barge, who is a PGA Master Professional, and the Head Golf Professional at the Links of Kokopelli in Illinois. Jesse has officiated 14 PGA Championships as well as two Masters Tournaments. From their resumes, you can tell that I was in good hands as a ‘first timer’.

Bernie and Jesse made the rules accessible for all levels of experience. Using their own experiences to accompany an explanation of a rule or decision was extremely helpful for someone who has only studied the rules for about a year. Coming away from the seminar, I finally have a grasp on understanding substituted ball, wrong ball and wrong place. For the rest of my rules career, I will never forget the meaning of ‘small object’ under the definition of ‘Equipment’ and when it’s not okay to re-drop – all thanks to Bernie and Jesse.

Justine and I made a great friend by the name of Woody Johnson who was one of the 50 or so participants that attended the workshop. After sparking up a conversation with our new friend and telling him that Justine and I were Canadian, our chat quickly turned from the rules of golf to hockey, and more specifically, the St. Louis Blues vs. Boston Bruins game that was being held at the Scottrade Centre that same Friday night. Woody made a call to his good friend Jerry Scull, who generously opened up their hospitality and treated Justine and I, along with ten or so others, to the game in box-club seats! Thanks again guys!

During the game, Justine and I learned that Jerry’s daughter is actively involved with the ‘Aid Through Trade’ program, which aims to increase equality, fair income, and opportunity for artisans in Nepal. It also promotes awareness on how the actions and support of those who have given to ‘Aid Through Trade’ have impacted and improved the lives of many artisans in Nepal. If you would like to find out more information on ‘Aid Through Trade’ please visit aidthroughtrade.com.

The rest of the trip was great! Justine and I drove twenty minutes to St. Charles so she could show me a few of her old hangout spots while she attended Lindenwood University. The people were extremely friendly in St. Louis and made you feel at home, no matter what you were doing.

The last component of the workshop was writing the exam. Let me be the first to tell you that the three-and-a-half hour time limit to write and complete the questions flies by so quickly. I was pleased with my result on the exam (79 per cent) and with it being my first time at the workshop, I learned a lot from the experience. For those of you just starting your Rules Education careers, the PGA/USGA Rules of Golf Workshop is open to anyone interested in pursuing the Rules and understanding them in more detail – there are no pre-requisites to attend a workshop. Details on workshop locations are usually confirmed in the fall before registration opens in October.

Overall, it was a great experience that I will never forget. I hope to attend another seminar and to see our friends Woody and Jerry in the near future.

It’s true what they say about St. Andrews, Scotland – it really is the Home of Golf.  The feeling of walking through town, past the clubhouse and over Swilcan Bridge is like none other.  The Home of Golf truly lives up to the hype. I was fortunate enough to experience these things first hand by attending the R&A Tournament Administrators and Referees School (TARS) with our Vice-President, Roland Deveau. We had the chance to represent Golf Canada and to see the mecca of golf in-person.

As the world’s governing bodies of golf, the R&A and the USGA work together to grow the game around the world, maintain its storied traditions and educate people on its rules. Our four-day seminar began on a Tuesday afternoon with the 95 delegates meeting one another.  Despite coming from across the globe, we quickly bonded over our shared passion for this great game and its rules.

The morning of the Level 3 exam brought about an early breakfast and a flurry of last minute reading before the two-and-a-half hour task before us.  The five-part test breezed by in an instant – it really is amazing how fast countless hours of studying and preparation can be applied with pen to paper.

Following the ordeal – which was equal parts horrifying and exhilarating – we were able to turn our attention to the rest of the seminar. The afternoon of the second day focused on how to successfully run a championship.  One thing that every championship needs is a dedicated team of volunteers and it was great to see so many passionate people at this seminar.  It never ceases to amaze me that Golf Canada has such a committed team of rules officials, starters and scorers at its amateur championship events.  Roland Deveau from Nova Scotia is one such dedicated volunteer.

That Wednesday afternoon brought about discussions on amateur status and the world of golf’s current hot topic: pace of play.  Every association is trying to figure out ways to solve this dilemma and it was interesting to hear everyone’s perspectives.  The R&A’s findings on the issue were well received, but the question remains: what more can we do?  Golf Canada’s checkpoint policy has seen some success and I was excited to learn that the Swiss Golf Association uses it in some of their events.  The group then contemplated the game’s exposure and recognition as the sport prepares for its return to the Olympic Games; I contemplated how Canada would defend its Olympic title.

Thursday was all about the rules of golf with European Tour Chief Referee Andy McPhee discussing “The art of refereeing.”  Andrew Coltart, a former player on the European Tour, was on-hand to provide us a view from the other side – the golfer’s perspective. Sharing and discussing are great; role-playing is even better.  Each delegate was given three different rulings as we assumed the role of rules officials while the R&A staff acted as players.  The rulings spanned putting greens to hazards; through the green to temporary immovable obstructions (TIOs).  Despite being indoors, the staff did an excellent job of making it very realistic with an actual bunker with stacked turf and even a TV tower.  It was a nerve-wracking experience having to get up and do a ruling in front of some of the world’s most knowledgeable golfing minds, but each correct ruling was a great confidence builder.

The final day of the seminar focused on the difficult task of delivering rulings on equipment questions.  We were given a number of different clubs and scenarios and worked together in groups to decide on the ruling.  We saw a presentation on course marking and how to develop local rules of the competition.  The day was highlighted by group video discussions of incidents that have occurred on the PGA, European Tour, and the LPGA Tour. The seminar came to a close that evening in the perfect way: everyone coming together for dinner at the historic R&A clubhouse.

The club’s history was not only educational, but also exciting as the R&A continues to write a new chapter in its legacy. For the first time in the Royal and Ancient Golf Club’s 260-year history, women will be able to become members of the club.  Further cementing our ties to the R&A, Diane Dunlop-Hébert, a past president of Golf Canada and Golf Québec, became one of the club’s first female members.

This opportunity was truly an unforgettable once-in-a-lifetime experience. I will always remember gathering with delegates from other countries to have dinner in the clubhouse library with Grant Moir, the Director of Rules for the R&A.  I am still in awe of my tour of Peter Dawson’s office. Having attended this seminar will enhance my ability to act as Tournament Director and I could not be more grateful for having had this wonderful opportunity.

You can begin your Rules of Golf Education anytime, beginning with our online curriculum; to start your Rules Education, click here.

Justine Decock is the Coordinator, Rules and Competitions for Golf Canada.

The game of golf extends well beyond your performance on the course. There’s no doubting length off the tee and the ability to read a green’s break are integral aspects of the game. However, what many golfers don’t realize is that knowledge of the sport’s rules can be just as crucial. Understanding golf’s rules and their proper applications can not only help to speed up play, but also assist in lowering your score and overall enjoyment of the game.

Level 1 of the program introduces the basic concepts and language of the Rules of Golf. Examples, videos, animations and exercises are used to familiarize the student with the principles of the rules and how to use the Rules of Golf book. This online program is ideal for juniors, beginners and golfers who have had no previous experience with the rules. Start your Level 1 experience here.

Level 2 builds on the experience of Level 1 and introduces the key reference manual for officials: the Decisions on the Rules of Golf. This publication is the key to understanding how the Rules of Golf are applied on the course. In addition to introducing some of the fundamental rules through examples, videos and exercises, Level 2 teaches the student how to use the Decisions book effectively when the Rules book alone does not provide the answer. More information on Level 2 is available online here.

Level 3 is comprised of a three-day seminar conducted by the provincial golf associations. The seminar covers the most common Rules of Golf and includes practical sessions that demonstrate how the rules are applied on the golf course. To be certified at Level 3, an official must successfully pass the exam and meet the minimum practical requirements. The Level 3 program leads to provincial certification as a tournament official. Once Level 3 certified, an official is qualified to attend the Level 4 national certification seminar. To find out more about Level 3 seminars in your area, please contact your provincial golf association or visit their websites:

• British Columbia Golf
• Alberta Golf
• Golf Saskatchewan
• Golf Manitoba
• Golf Association of Ontario
• Golf Quebec
• New Brunswick Golf Association
• Nova Scotia Golf Association
• Prince Edward Island Golf Association
• Golf Newfoundland

Level 4 of the program leads to national rules certification. This is a necessary, but not sufficient qualification to work as a rules official at a Golf Canada national championship. The Level 4 program is intended for experienced rules officials who wish to improve both their technical and practical knowledge as a rules official. Considerable time is spent on the golf course discussing complex issues of the Rules of Golf.

Golf Canada Rules of Golf Seminars

An integral aspect of Level 4 is the learning seminars. Golf Canada’s Level 4 Rules of Golf seminars are intended for experienced officials. Registration for a 2015 Rules of Golf Seminars is restricted to persons who: are Level 3 certified officials; have achieved 70% or better on the Level 4 Rules Exam or 80% or better on the USGA Rules Exam within the last four years; or have achieved 92% or better on the USGA Rules Exam after January 1, 2004; or are currently or have been previously certified at Level 4 or equivalent by Golf Canada.

Inaugural Golf Canada Tournament Administration and Rules Seminar

In addition to the Level 4 rules seminars, Golf Canada is excited to conduct the inaugural Tournament Administration and Rules Seminar (TARS), April 16-19 at Crowne Plaza Toronto Airport.

The objective of TARS is to gather championship volunteers and staff members from key golf associations in Canada to discuss important and impactful topics in the golf industry in relation to tournament administration and golf competitions.

Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from some of Canada’s most experienced tournament administrators and rules officials, in addition to special guests Grant Moir (R&A) and Mark Dusbabek (PGA TOUR).

Full details regarding TARS can be found here.

2015 Golf Canada Rules of Golf Seminars Schedule

Registration for Level 4 Rules of Golf Seminars is available online here.

After a very successful 2014 season earning his first PGA Tour win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and placing in the top 10 six times, Matt Every’s second tournament of the year ended abruptly in the second round at the Sony Open in Hawaii.

During the first round, he bent his 4-iron playing a shot from behind a tree and forgot to take it back out of his bag before the second round.

When he began his second round with the non-conforming club, he was subject to penalty for carrying the club.  Under Rule 4-1 the player’s club must conform with this Rule and the provisions, specifications and interpretations set forth in Appendix II (Design of Clubs).

*PENALTY FOR CARRYING, BUT NOT MAKING STROKE
WITH, CLUB OR CLUBS IN BREACH OF RULE 4-1 or 4-2:

Stroke play – Two strokes for each hole at which any breach occurred;
maximum penalty per round – Four strokes (two strokes at each of the first
two holes at which any breach occurred).

Every subsequently used the club on the 18^th (his ninth hole of the day) and called over a PGA Tour rules official as he realized he might have breached the rules.

“He asked for a second opinion on the bend,” PGA TOUR rules official John Mutch said. “The bend in this club was about 10 inches up from the neck. It was substantial.”

The penalty for using a non-conforming club during the stipulated round is disqualification which is outlined in the penalty statement in Rule 4-1 and 4-2 below:

PENALTY FOR MAKING STROKE WITH CLUB IN BREACH
OF RULE 4-1 or 4-2: Disqualification

Due to an equipment infraction, Matt Every was disqualified from the @SonyOpen during Friday’s second round. @PGATOUR

— PGA TOUR Media (@PGATOURmedia) January 17, 2015

Frustrated with what transpired, this is where Every’s club ended up.

(Getty Images; D.J. Piehowski/PGA TOUR)

For more information on the rules of golf, please click here.

For more information on how to proceed in various rules of golf situations, guidance on the Golf Canada Handicap System and more, please consult our rules of golf publications – for purchase in Golf Canada’s eStore, or at your local book retailer.

Teeing it forward and creating combo tees (sometimes referred to as blended or hybrid tees – using a mix of two sets of tees) are great ways to add more fun to the game. But can these methods be used fairly in competition? Thanks to the Golf Canada Handicap System, a competition or friendly match can be equitable played when you have golfers playing against one another from two different sets of tees (with different course/slope ratings) or having a mixed competition where men compete against women.

Here’s how it works:

Section 3-5 of the Golf Canada Handicap Manual explains how to set up an event involving two different tees or course/slope ratings. Because a course rating reflects the probable score of a scratch golfer, the higher-rated course is more difficult, and the player playing from the set of tees with the higher course rating receives additional stroke(s) equal to the difference between each course rating, with .5 or greater rounded upward. The additional stroke(s) are added to the course handicap of the player playing from the higher-rated set of tees. For example, if men playing from the middle tees where the men’s course rating is 70.3 compete against men playing from the back tees where the men’s course rating is 72.6, the men playing from the back tees will add two strokes (72.6 -70.3 = 2.3 rounded to 2) to their course handicap.

For example, Gary and Bob have identical handicap factors (10.4) but wish to have a friendly match while competing from different tees. First we have to define what their target score is. Target score is what a golfer needs to shoot in order to play to his or her handicap; it is the result of taking the course handicap and adding it to the course rating of the tee to be played. Many golfers often use an informal and incorrect version of this by adding their course handicap to the par of the course/tee they play.

It’s all about fun

Some golfers may think they aren’t “good enough” to carry a handicap or play in competitive events, but look how fun the Handicap System makes playing the game! Whether it’s friendly play, partnered events from the same or different tees, the handicap system appropriately adjusts for these parameters, allowing every player to enjoy the game. Many clubs already incorporate competing from different tees into their events, a popular move with members who are not forced to play a tee they don’t necessarily feel comfortable with in order to participate. Participation in events increases and the experience is more enjoyable for all.

For more details on how to score at events where players use different tees, please reference the Golf Canada Handicap Manual at golfcanada.ca/handicapmanual or inquire with your golf club.

People often ask me how I got involved with the rules of golf. I was first hired by Golf Canada to help conduct amateur championships across Canada. My role has expanded a fair bit since then and I am heavily immersed in the rules of golf these days.

When I first started running golf championships, I quickly learned that a very important aspect of any competition is course set-up: establishing course yardage; defining margins of hazards and out of bounds; and selecting hole locations. In order to properly set up a course for a national championship, a thorough understanding of the rules is a necessity.

I have to admit, it was really tough in the beginning to learn the rules as they are written in a very precise and deliberate way. If I misinterpret one word or forget if whether the rule states “should,” “may,” or “must,” there is no chance of getting the right ruling. It takes countless hours studying the rules and years to fully understand all the nuances of the rules of golf. At every seminar and tournament I attend, I still learn something new. That’s what keeps the game interesting and ultimately why a lot of people become rather obsessive over the rules.

I’m fortunate that my position allows me to work many tournaments around the world and meet some amazing people. I was fortunate to catch up with two of our rules officials and talk to them about their interest in the rules of golf and how they got started. Hope you enjoy getting to know them a little better in my scrawl below.

Alison Murdoch – Victoria, BC

Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member Alison Murdoch has recently taken an interest in the rules of golf. She initially completed Golf Canada’s Level 2 online program to feel more confident about the rules on the course. The rest is history.

After completing the necessary practical hours for her Level 2 certification, Murdoch attended the Level 3 seminar with British Columbia Golf’s Susan White at Duncan Meadows Golf Club in 2008. She was feeling confident enough to write the exam, passed and decided to do the practical hours to get certified at Level 3. A few years later, she attended a Level 4 seminar. I had the pleasure of working with Alison at the 2011 Canadian Women’s Amateur and immediately noticed that her competitive playing experience helps her deal with players on the course.

“When I’m on the course, I now feel more confident about the regular day-to-day rulings in terms of myself and helping out fellow competitors,” said Murdochwhen describing how the rules have helped her as a player. “I also know that if it is at all complicated we should get a rules official in and get guidance. Then everyone will be sure that we did the right thing.”

Murdoch is retired now but says her career has helped in many situations on the course. “When I was working, I used to do investigations into complaints in the Human Resources field. I am familiar with getting the information required to make a decision and with the problem that you may not be able to get all the evidence you might want or you might not have total confidence in some of the evidence.”

Timmy Yorke – Kensington, PEI

A few years ago, an 11-year-old wrote the Level 2 rules exam and achieved a perfect score. The son of accomplished Canadian player Tim Yorke, Timmy grew up playing and watching his dad on the course. The Yorke family resides in Kensington, PEI, and are members at both Green Gables Golf Club and Andersons Creek Golf Club.

While volunteering at a Prince Edward Island Golf Association (PEIGA) championship, Timmy became interested in the rules of the game. He was stationed on a hole as a forecaddie, spotting balls near a water hazard in the landing zone of a hole. There were a few balls that managed to find the hazard and Timmy, not knowing the rules at that time, was curious about how the players should proceed. “My interest in the rules was also heightened every time my dad would come home from a tournament and ex- plain to me all the rules incidents,” said Yorke about his early introduction to the rules. of golf “A few times my dad was on the wrong end of a ruling and it made me curious about why he was penalized in those circumstances.”

Soon after completing the online
 Level 2 program, Timmy started working towards his Level 3 certification. Last winter, he contacted the Golf Association of Ontario in hopes of participating in its online prep course for the Level 3 seminar. While most kids his age were spending their time doing school work or playing sports, Timmy was on a webinar with rules officials learning the rules of golf.

Timmy admits that he doesn’t play as much golf as he’d like, but he claims that he’s definitely more interested in the game now that he’s got a better understanding of the rules. Now 13, he is the youngest person in Canada to achieve the highest rating on the Level 3 exam and has a bright future ahead of him if he wants to pursue officiating roles in the future.

To learn more about the rules of golf, click here.

This blog was originally published in Golf Canada magazine.