Minnesota Golfer - Summer 2011 - 15

(rules primer
)
High-Tech Rulings
Video technology and vigilant viewers spark a change
in the Rules.
By Joseph Oberle
W
hen golf's originators were
stuffi ng balls with feathers
back in the 17th century, it
may have been hard for them to imagine
the game as it is played today. Golf has
marched along with time and technology
since then and recently took another
step forward-not in equipment, but in a
change to the rules.
The USGA and R&A revised Decision
33-7/4.5 regarding disqualifi cation
for signing an incorrect score card under
limited circumstances. Those circumstances
are if players, unaware of a rules breach,
sign their score cards and then someone
watching a broadcast of the tournament
on television, for instance,
alerts rules
offi cials about a possible penalty after
the fact.
In the past, players were disqualifi ed for
signing an incorrect score card. Now with
the change, the player is assessed the penalty
but is not disqualifi ed. The score card
is adjusted for the penalty and the player
can continue competing.
" This is a logical and important step in
our re-evaluation of the impact of highdefi
nition video on the game, " says Mike
Davis, executive director of the USGA.
" We collectively believe that this revised
decision addresses many video-related issues
never contemplated by the Rules of
Golf. "
These limited circumstances grew out
of the increasing occurrence of television
viewers watching video of rules infractions
on television and then contacting the tournament
offi cials after a player, unaware of
their rules breach, had signed their score
card. The penalty of disqualifi cation was
deemed too stiff.
" It's a good change, " says Tom Ryan,
executive director of the MGA. " In my
view, the punishment never fi t the crime.
Disqualifi cation is the ultimate penalty in
golf, and situations where the player was
not aware of breaching a rule until after
the score card was signed and the
player had left the scoring area
never seemed equitable. Until
this change, offi cials had no
options. Now they do. "
Ryan said that the issue
of video technology affecting
the game had been under
discussion for several years; recent
rulings-such as the DQ of
Padraig Harrington in the Abu Dhabi
Championship (plus earlier incidents
involving Camilo Villegas and Michelle
Wie)-brought it to the front burner. He
said the change isn't meant to eliminate
the video " eye in the sky, " nor to let players
off the hook.
" Players are still expected to know the
rules, " Ryan confi rms. " This change only
applies to those situations where the player
is not aware that they breached a rule,
and after the process of signing their score
card, it's discovered through technology
that they did. "
( RULES SCHOOL
Q:
With new adjustable drivers
such as the TaylorMade R-11
and the Titleist 9210 D2, is it legal
to adjust the loft or draw/fade settings
of the club during a round of
golf? -Gary Maurstad, Glenwood
Thanks for the question, Gary.
Tempting as it may be to turn
a slice into a power fade with the
twist of a wrench on the second
hole, no changes or alterations of
any kind can be made to equipment
once the round has begun.
That includes everything from adding
or removing lead tape to adjusting
your new high-tech driver.
A:
Rule 4.2 says: " During
a stipulated round, the
playing characteristics
of a club may not be
purposely changed by
adjustment or by any
other means. "
So will this change affect the way
tournament offi cials do their jobs, and
will they bristle like Major League Baseball
umpires about video replay that second
guesses their every call?
" No. On-course offi cials must still make
decisions based on the facts of each situation, "
Ryan explains. " I also think it entirely
appropriate for offi cials to be assigned
to watch TV coverage specifi cally to spot
infractions not otherwise addressed on the
course. The technology is there-let's use
it. This change now provides a safety net
for both the player and offi cials. This is
defi nitely a good player-oriented change. "
www.mngolf.org
Summer 2011 MINNESOTAGOLFER
13
ILLUSTRATION BY KATHRYN ADAMS
http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Summer 2011

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