Village of
Pinehurst, N.C. (Feb. 6, 2014) – In a continuing effort to allow current
technologies that enhance the player experience in competition while
maintaining the spirit and challenge of the game, the United States Golf
Association (USGA) has approved the use of distance-measuring devices (DMDs) in
all USGA amateur championships and their respective qualifying events,
beginning in 2014. The announcement was made by the Championship Committee of
the USGA through its independent decision-making process scheduled during the
Association’s Annual Meeting in the Village of Pinehurst, N.C., and reflects a
joint decision with The R&A, which together with the USGA governs the game
worldwide.
The use of
distance-measuring devices has been covered by an optional Local Rule, which
has been available under the Rules of Golf since 2006 (see Note to Rule 14-3 of
the Rules of Golf), and the USGA Championship Committee’s vote adopts this
optional Condition for all USGA amateur championships in 2014.
This Local
Rule will be introduced for the USGA’s amateur events only. It will not apply
to the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Senior Open championships or their
respective qualifying events.
The devices
may be used in amateur championships to measure distance only, and may not be
used to measure other conditions such as wind speed or direction, temperature
or elevation.
“We have seen
progressive developments in technologies available to golfers who seek to
improve their playing performance and enjoyment that also maintain the
essential elements of the game,” said Thomas J. O’Toole Jr., USGA vice
president and chairman of the Championship Committee. “It is in this spirit
that we are allowing the use of distance-measuring devices in our amateur
competitions.”
The decision
to allow the use of distance-measuring devices follows a recent study of such
technologies during the 2013 USGA Women’s State Team and U.S. Women’s
Mid-Amateur Championships as part of the Association’s broad initiative to
identify the causes and solutions to slow play in the game. From the data
collected at these Championships, USGA researchers found no evidence that DMDs
had a negative effect on pace of play and will continue to monitor the use of
DMDs in the larger pool of amateur events to further study their effect on pace
of play.
About
the USGA
The USGA conducts the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Senior Open, as
well as 10 national amateur championships, two state team championships and
international matches, attracting players and fans from more than 160
countries. Together with The R&A, the USGA governs the game worldwide,
jointly administering the Rules of Golf, Rules of Amateur Status, equipment
standards and World Amateur Golf Rankings. The USGA’s reach is global with a
working jurisdiction in the United States, its territories and Mexico, serving
more than 25 million golfers and actively engaging 150 golf associations.
The USGA is
one of the world’s foremost authorities on research, development and support of
sustainable golf course management practices. It serves as a primary steward
for the game’s history and invests in the development of the game through the
delivery of its services and its ongoing “For the Good of the Game” grants
program. Additionally, the USGA’s Course Rating and Handicap systems are used
on six continents in more than 50 countries.
For more
information about the USGA, visit www.usga.org.
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Media Contacts:
Joe Goode, USGA Communications; 908-635-0412; jgoode@usga.org
Pete Kowalski, USGA Communications, 908-216-8435; pkowalski@usga.org