Rules guys background?

[Deleted Member 1156]

To rulefan, Colin, backwoodsman etc......

You guys seem to have a vast knowledge of the rules, I'm just curious how you acquired this. Are you guys qualified refs, tour officials or just very keen amateurs? What courses (if any) have you done?

Really appreciate the time you guys take in answering the queries on here, I've learned an awful lot from reading your responses :thup:

 

[atticusfinch]

To rulefan, Colin, backwoodsman etc......

You guys seem to have a vast knowledge of the rules, I'm just curious how you acquired this. Are you guys qualified refs, tour officials or just very keen amateurs? What courses (if any) have you done?

Really appreciate the time you guys take in answering the queries on here, I've learned an awful lot from reading your responses :thup:

I don't know if I'm a "rules guy" but I recommend reading and keeping handy two books: The Principles Behind the Rules of Golf, by Dick Tufts, and Rules of the Green by ken chapman. They will give a grasp of the underlying principles which shows seemingly different problems are actually part of a simple structure of basic principles.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

You are indeed one of our rules guys atticus, many thanks for your contributions :thup:

 

[rulefan]

I am a qualified referee. Taken courses with England Golf, the PGA (UK) and the R&A.

I endorse Atticus's comments above but I find forums such as this helpful as it involves many references to the books and refreshes my knowledge.
Actually refereeing doesn't teach a lot because most odd situations never occur in competitions.

 

[backwoodsman]

The real experts are Rulefan, Duncan, Colin and a few others (sorry if I don't immediately recall your names)

Me, I'm just an interested amateur and see a forum like this as useful school. Read a problem, follow the answers, look up the various references folk give and whilst doing so, usually browse around in that vicinity of the rule book or the decisions book - which broadens the general knowledge. Also like to look out the correct answers to issues that crop up while we're out on the course - so that I know the definitive answer should it arise again.

Did the on-line level 1 course that the R&A do - but that's not a very taxing level really. Am at the stage where I think I have a reasonable basic knowledge. Can't quote you rule numbers and subsections straight from memory, but know my way round the rule book quick enough to look stuff up.

I find a hard copy of the "Decisions on the Rules Of Golf" book handy. Obviously the online versions have all the info, but a hard copy makes for easy meandering around other topics - ie you start out looking up something about ground under repair, and end up pondering the status of a snake on the course. (Depends whether it's alive or dead should anyone be interested...)

(Do I hear a quiet muttering of "nerd" somewhere in the background...)

 

[rulefan]

It's the anorak that gives it away

 

[Val]

I find the explanations you guys give on most very good and far simpler to understand than the rules book gives sometimes. It's always better to know it in laymans terms than jargon IMO.

 

[mikejohnchapman]

I am a qualified County referee having passed the R&A school approx 18 months ago.

R&A Rules and Decisions books for me.

Having played the game for over 45 year I used to think I knew the rules - now I know differently!

 

[louise_a]

I do find the rules queries to be interesting topics and I try to learn from them.

 

[Colin L]

I'm qualified at Level 2 and on the Scottish Golf Rules Panel. I find forums like this very valuable for keeping engaged with a range of rules - including catching myself out with mistakes. It's also good to help other players.

 

[Val]

I'm qualified at Level 2 and on the Scottish Golf Rules Panel. I find forums like this very valuable for keeping engaged with a range of rules - including catching myself out with mistakes. It's also good to help other players.

Colin, how did you go about this?

 

[Garush34]

Colin, how did you go about this?

Val you can find info here : https://www.scottishgolf.org/players/club-members/rules-school/ considered doing it myself but haven't got round to it yet.

 

[Val]

Val you can find info here : https://www.scottishgolf.org/players/club-members/rules-school/ considered doing it myself but haven't got round to it yet.

Thanks for that

 

[rulefan]

For those on the southern side of the border

http://www.englandgolf.org/page.aspx?sitesectionid=517&search=

 

[Colin L]

Val

You seem to be too late for the 2017 school, but you are invited to contact Scottish Golf if you wish to note interest for 2018.
events@scottishgolf.org

Being on the Rules Panel is by invitation.