Golf set for amateur dramatics under new R&A and USGA proposals

Having already modernised the Rules of Golf, the R&A and USGA have now teed up some amateur dramatics in a bid to make the mechanics of the game more user friendly.
Grant Moir of the R&A has been heavily inolved in the proposals to change the Rules of Amateur Status. Picture: Stanley Chou/Getty Images for R&A.Grant Moir of the R&A has been heavily inolved in the proposals to change the Rules of Amateur Status. Picture: Stanley Chou/Getty Images for R&A.
Grant Moir of the R&A has been heavily inolved in the proposals to change the Rules of Amateur Status. Picture: Stanley Chou/Getty Images for R&A.

The sport’s governing bodies have announced a series of proposals for “far-reaching” changes to the Rules of Amateur Status that govern the game worldwide.

As part of the latest modernisation bid, a golfer would only lose their amateur status by either accepting a prize in excess of a limit of $750, accepting payment for giving instruction or accepting employment as a golf club professional.

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The R&A and USGA aim to achieve this simplified approach by mainly eliminating the distinction between cash prizes and other prizes.

They also want to use the prize limit as the only way an amateur can lose amateur status through their play while, in addition, also aim removing restrictions surrounding long-drive events, putting and skills competitions.

Another of the key proposals is the elimination of current sponsorship restrictions, which is aimed at providing a more level playing field for amateurs outside national squads.

As part of a review, the R&A and USGA even considered eliminating the Rules of Amateur Status and creating “open golf”, but it was felt that could harm historic amateur events and also damage the current “pathway” from amateur to professional golf.

Golf isn’t standing still,” Grant Moir, the R&A’s director of rules, told The Scotsman. “It is evolving and modernising and we felt it was an appropriate time to take a hard look at the Rules of Amateur Status. We almost felt the starting point had to be: do we need the Rules of Amateur Status?

“That’s where the ‘open golf’ discussion came in almost as a necessary first step in the process. We concluded that retaining the Rules of Amateur Status remain important and beneficial to the game.”

The principal concerns that have been raised is that current Rules don’t reflect the fact that the elite amateur game is a “progression” for players who aspire to be successful tournament professionals.

It is also felt that too many players who are unsuccessful in the pursuit of their goal lose their amateur status through participation on cash prize tours without making any impact on the professional game.

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Another concern to come out of the review is that the line between cash and non-cash prizes has become “increasingly blurred” to the point where the logic of the distinction is questionable.

The R&A and USGA also believe there are currently “too many barriers” for players seeking funding at elite amateur level while the proposals aim to allow the use of social media to promote sponsorship in the non-pro ranks.

“One of the overarching goals is for the rules to be easier to understand and apply,” said Moir. “The prize rule had been quite complicated in the sense of the blurring between cash prizes and non-cash prizes. That distinction had become very grey over the years.

“We are a self-regulating game at all levels and, particularly in the club game, the proposed restrictions on prize levels will minimise the pressure on the Rules of Golf and the Rules of Handicapping.”

Feedback is being invited from golfers and stakeholders until 26 March, with the new Rules set to come into effect on 1 January, 2022.

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