DATE: August 8, 2011
TO:
PGA Members, USGA Committee Members, Regional Golf Associations, USGA Member
Clubs and Individuals interested in attending a Rules of Golf Workshop
FROM: David Staebler, USGA
Director, Rules Education
SUBJECT: 2012 PGA/USGA Workshops on the Rules of Golf
We are pleased to announce the PGA/USGA Workshops on the Rules of Golf schedule
for 2012. The dates, sites, and instructors are listed on page five of this memo.
CURRICULUM
3½ - Day Rules of Golf Workshops
These workshops include three days of classroom instruction and interactive
discussions led by one instructor representing the PGA of America and one
instructor representing the United States Golf Association. The curriculum
covers the 34 Rules of Golf, definitions and over 100 decisions on the Rules of
Golf. Presentations utilize photographs, illustrations, animations and
video in PowerPoint along with the unabridged text of every Rule. These 3½-day
workshops assume the participant has at least a basic working knowledge of the
Rules of Golf and some familiarity with the Decisions on the Rules of Golf but
there are no registration pre-requisites (except for the 85+ workshop, see below).
On the morning of the fourth day, from 8:00A.M. to 11:30A.M., participants
may take a 100-question exam or a 70-question test (see Optional Rules
Examinations section below for more information).
85+ Workshop:
Workshop #12101, held in Port St. Lucie, FL, will be restricted to those
who have scored 85 or higher on a 100-question Rules of Golf exam taken within
the last four years at a 3½-day PGA/USGA workshop. This workshop
follows a similar outline to the one used in the other 3½-day workshops,
however it differs from those workshops by assuming participants have a high
level of Rules understanding which allows, in some cases, for more abbreviated
initial presentations of individual Rules in order to allow for more nuanced and
in depth discussion of applicable issues and topics under those Rules.
(To complete registration for the 85+ workshop you must input an eight-digit
workshop registration number assigned to you from a previous workshop in the
last four years in which you achieved a score of 85 or higher on the 100-question
exam. This eight-digit number is on your workshop badge from 2010. If you
are not able to locate this number please call (908) 234-2300 x-5100.)
2 - Day Rules of Golf Workshops
Led by one instructor representing the PGA of America and one instructor
representing the United States Golf Association, these workshops include an
abridged overview of the 34 Rules of Golf, presentations on the importance of
the defined terms used in the Rules of Golf, how the Rules of Golf and the
Decisions on the Rules of Golf books are organized, the philosophical principles
upon which the Rules of Golf are based, and in-depth presentations on the
fundamental Rules governing match and stroke play, playing the ball as it lies,
playing the course as it is found and the Rules dealing with relief situations (water
hazards, ground under repair, obstructions, balls lost or out of bounds and
balls which are unplayable). In the final two hours of Day 2 an optional
25-question Rules of Golf test will be given to interested participants and then
reviewed by the instructors. The 25-question test gives participants an
opportunity measure their degree of accomplishment. Test answer sheets are
not collected and independently scored by the PGA/USGA.
Exam Only Registration
An exam only registration option is available at all 3 ½-day workshops.
Ten “exam only” seats will be made available for individuals wishing
to take just the 100-question Rules of Golf exam and attend the exam review
session following it. Those registering for “exam only” are
entitled to attend the workshop only on the morning of the 4th day to
take the exam. (Attendance at workshop presentations, the reception,
review sessions and question and answer sessions during the first three days is
only for participants who have registered for the full 3½-day workshop.)
OPTIONAL RULES EXAMINATIONS
100-Question Exam
An optional two part exam is administered on the final morning of every 3½-day
Rules workshop. The exam starts promptly at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 11:30 a.m.
It consists of 100 questions, each with four possible answers, testing the
breadth and depth of participants’ knowledge of the Rules of Golf,
including knowledge of definitions and the Decisions on the Rules of Golf. No
reference materials are allowed while taking Part I (questions 1-50). Part
II (questions 51-100) is open-book and open-notes, however the use of electronic
books and reference materials (including but not limited to personal computers,
smart phones, i-Pads and the like) is prohibited. This exam is revised and
updated annually.
Although a participant’s score on this exam is not an official
certification of knowledge of the Rules of Golf, various golf organizations
including the PGA of America and the USGA view achievement on this exam as a
factor in considering committee appointments and officiating eligibility.
Special ADA reader assistance is available.
Attendees interested in such assistance must notify the USGA of their request at
the time of registration for a workshop and complete the required paperwork
prior to the workshop deadline date. There is no additional charge for
ADA requests.
Exams are not graded on site, however a review following the conclusion of the
exam is conducted by the workshop instructors. This review begins at
approximately 11:45 a.m. and usually concludes between 1:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. During
the review, participants who kept track of their answers while taking the exam
can unofficially determine their exam score. Official test results are
compiled by the USGA and mailed to each participant approximately two-weeks
after each exam. Mailed results will include separate Part I and Part II
scores and the class distribution of scores.
Individuals may take the 100-question Rules of Golf exam only one time during
any workshop season.
70-Question Test
An optional 70-question test will also be offered on the final morning of every
3½-day Rules workshop from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. as an alternative for
those not wishing to take the 100-question exam. This test is designed for first-time
attendees and those who do not need to report a score to a golf association for
officiating or other purposes. While it covers all 34 Rules, the definitions and
information contained in the Decisions on the Rules of Golf, it primarily tests
participants on their fundamental understanding of the application of the Rules.
A review following the conclusion of the test will be conducted by the workshop
coordinator. This review begins at approximately 11:45 a.m. and usually
concludes before 1:00 p.m. Original answer sheets and copies of the exam
will be redistributed to participants during this review so they can determine
their test score and ask about specific questions. The 70-question test is
not independently graded by the USGA, therefore, those taking this test who do
not attend the review will not otherwise have an opportunity to determine their
level of achievement.
Rules Examinations for Participant Attending Multiple Workshops
Individuals may enroll in more than one workshop in the same year and may take
the 70-question test in one workshop and the 100-question exam at another
workshop. Workshop participants may NOT take both the 70-question test and
the 100-question exam at a single workshop. Neither examination may be
taken more than once during any single workshop season.
REGISTRATION
Registration for workshops is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Once a
workshop site is fully enrolled it will close and no further enrollments for
that site will be taken. There are no waiting lists for closed sites.
If the site you want to attend is closed, in order to attend a workshop, you
will have to register for a workshop at another site.
All workshop communications will be by e-mail, which is why everyone is required
to provide an e‑mail address at the time of registration.
Registration fees for workshops are:
-
$300
for 3 ½-Day Rules Workshops
-
$150
for 2-Day Rules Workshops
-
$100
for exam only registration
(10 exam-only seats are available at each 3 ½-day workshop on a first-come,
first-serve basis)
.
The workshop registration fee must be paid at the time of registration with a
credit card (Master Card, Visa, American Express or Discover).
After you have registered, the USGA will e-mail you:
-
a confirmation receipt and
-
a fact sheet with information detailing the location of the workshop site, local
transportation options, hotel(s) where rooms have been blocked, information on
room pricing and how to make a reservation, if desired.
The preferred and most efficient method for registration is on-line at www.usga.org.
On-line Registration begins: Wednesday, October 5, 2011 at 9:00
a.m. Eastern Time
For those unable or unwilling to register on-line, phone-in registration will
begin one week after the start of on-line registration.
Phone-in Registration begins: Wednesday, October 12, 2011 at 9:00 a.m.
Eastern Time
Phone-in registration number:
(908) 234-2300, ext. 5100
(Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time)
STUDY MATERIALS
After you have registered, the USGA will send you:
·
a 2012 Rules of Golf booklet,
·
a 2012 Decisions on the Rules of Golf book, and
·
access to Rules of Golf Study materials on USGA University to assist you in your
preparation for the workshop.
Note 1: 2012 Rules and Decisions books will not be available for
shipping until approximately the second week of November 2011.
Note 2: Access to USGA University will be available immediately
following the official announcement of the 2012 changes to the Rules of Golf and
Decisions on the Rules of Golf by the USGA and the R&A in late October 2011.
Note 3: If you register within 14 days of the start of a workshop, a
Rules and Decisions book will NOT be shipped to the address you provide when you
register. You will receive a Rules and Decisions book at the workshop site.
TRANSFERS AND WITHDRAWALS
Transfers:
If you are unable to attend the workshop for which you have registered you may
transfer to another open workshop in 2012 for the following additional fee:
–
No charge
:
Prior to the registration deadline date of the workshop you are transferring
from.
This can be done on-line.
–
$50
:
After the registration deadline date of the workshop you are transferring from
and
prior to the 1st day of that workshop. This can be done only by
calling (908) 234-2300 x-5100
–
$100
:
After the workshop you are transferring from has begun and before it has ended.
This can be done only by calling (908) 234-2300 x-5100
Withdrawals:
If you need to withdraw from a workshop and your schedule makes it
impracticable for you to attend another workshop in 2012, you can request a
partial refund as follows:
–
$250/$100
*
refund
:
Prior to the registration deadline date of the workshop you are
withdrawing from. This can be done on-line.
–
$200/$75
*
refund
:
After the deadline date of the workshop you are withdrawing from and
prior to the 1st day of that workshop. This can be done
only by calling (908) 234-2300 x-5100
–
$150/$50
*
refund
:
After the workshop that you are withdrawing from has begun.
This can be done only by calling (908) 234-2300 x-5100
–
exam only registrants
:
$75 refund prior to registration deadline date (this can be done on-line);
$50 after that date (this can be done only by calling (908) 234-2300
x-5100)
ADDITIONAL NOTIFICATIONS
No enrollments or pre-registrations will be taken prior to the dates and times
listed.
Walk-ins will not be allowed to register on site at workshops.
Registration for each workshop closes approximately one week
†
prior to the start of each workshop so materials can be prepared and delivered
to that site and so the hosting site has adequate time to prepare for the number
of participants registered.
DO NOT travel to the workshop site if you are not a confirmed registrant.
You will not be admitted to the workshop if you do.
Only registered individuals listed on the official workshop class roster will be
permitted to attend the workshop. Registered participants CANNOT arrange
to have another person attend in their place.
Golf associations may call the USGA to arrange for a block of seats at a
workshop. Names of individuals attending in such blocks must be submitted
to the USGA prior to the listed registration deadline or their spots will be
forfeited.
For questions about the workshop programs, please contact the USGA Rules
Department and ask for Workshop Registration at (908) 234-2300 x-5100.
*
- refund amount for 2-Day workshops
†
- registration at some sites may close more than one week in advance if
necessitated by contractual obligations with host site
