As soon as RDGA officials knew that the USGA and R&A were planning to enact major changes to the Rules of Golf beginning on January 1, 2019, we knew that there would be a large demand for knowledge, training and instruction on what those changes would mean to golfers everywhere in the District.

 

Due to these changes, RDGA Rules Officials, Staff and Board Members organized, conducted and planned a series of Rules Seminars, beginning in late January and continuing through early May. With most of these Seminars already complete, it is estimated that nearly 1000 people will have attended the sessions by the time the last seminar is held in early May.

 

Planning for these seminars actually began last Fall, when the RDGA began sending our Rules Officials to special USGA Rules Workshops that were being held at select locations across the country. There, they learned about the major changes being made to the Rules, including everything from ball movement, ball placement, penalty drops and putting procedures - among many others. On January 19, those Officials who had attended the USGA Workshops conducted an in-house seminar for those Officials who had not been, comparing notes and making sure all were well-versed in the new Rules.

 

Next, planning began to organize Seminars for the general public - which included the recently-completed 'Regional' Seminars, held in five different geographical regions of the RDGA, inviting RDGA Members from clubs in that area to attend. Additionally, other Rules Seminars were planned for members of local college golf teams, local high school golfers, as well as smaller seminars for select clubs and groups that requested them.

 

For ALL seminars, USGA Rules of Golf books were provided at no additional cost for all attendees - and refreshments were served.

 

• Held each Saturday in March, more than 400 people attended the Regional Seminars, which included stops at Irondequoit Country Club (March 2), The Golf Club at Blue Heron Hills (March 9), Oak Hill Country Club (March 16), Mendon Golf Club (March 23) and Ridgemont Country Club (March 30).

• On March 18, a similar Seminar was held for local High Schools, where 13 area golf teams and coaches were bussed in to Pittsford's Calkins Road Middle School. More than 225 total attendees learned of the new Rules changes from RDGA Officials.

Coming up, the RDGA will also host an official USGA 80-Question Rules Exam at the RDGA offices, an opportunity for those with a special interest in the Rules to see how well they know them - with a chance to achieve "Advanced" Rules certification from the USGA.

And - After you've attended an RDGA Rules Seminar and/or taken the 80-Question Exam on the Rules - join RDGA staff and Rules officials at the RDGA office on April 30 for a casual Rules Open House, to discuss your interest in the Rules and, perhaps, the results of your Exam.

CLICK HERE for more information about the 80-Question Exam