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Rules InformationRules Notebook: Open Championships

 
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GUIDELINES FOR REFEREES

1.  Referee’s Assignment and Equipment                  

It is the responsibility of the Referees to ensure the championship is fairly played in accordance with the Rules of Golf, Local Rules and Terms of the Competition (Entry Application, Hard Card and Notice to Players). Each morning, check in at the USGA Office before reporting to your assignment.

A.  Referees should be sure to have the following items with them on the course:

  • Championship Scorecard
  • Evacuation Plan
  • Hole-by-Hole Notes
  • Notice to Players and USGA “Hard Card”
  • Pace of Play Time Chart ("Raguzzi" sheet)
  • Pencil
  • Radio and Earpiece
  • Rules Assignment Sheet
  • The full Rules of Golf and/or Official Guide
  • Scoring Device (if applicable)
  • String
  • Tee Times
  • Umbrella and Rain Gear (if needed)
  • USGA Credential
  • Watch 

B. Radios

  • Radios and earpieces are located in the Rules Office. Referees MUST USE earpieces when working their assignments (please keep them for the week but return them after competing your final assignment).
  • Please pick up your radio approximately 30 minutes in advance of your assignment.
  • Return your radio to the Rules Office immediately upon completion of your assignment.

C.  Chairs

  • Officials can find their chairs in the designated area(s) of their assigned hole.
  • Locate and take your chair from the designated area on the hole.
  • At the end of each day, return the chair to the designated location after the last group has completed the hole.
  • If chairs are missing when the first official(s) arrive on location, look around he area or the hole before contacting the Rules Office staff for assistance in getting the chair replaced.

2.  Information Regarding Stationary Referees 

All USGA Open Championships will utilize Stationary Referees to conduct the championship. You will be assigned 1 or more holes to cover for the day. For any breaks, including lunch, please work with rovers or if possible, other stationary referees to ensure your area is covered at all times. 

In all instances, it is recommended that you report to your assigned hole to allow plenty of time to prepare for play. Please be present at least 15-20 minutes prior to the arrival of the first group.

Unless otherwise noted by the championship staff, no formal shuttles will be available to take you to and from your assignment location. Therefore, please plan accordingly to give yourself plenty of time to retrieve paperwork and equipment from the office before reporting to your assigned hole.

3.  Prior to Round

Prior to the first round of the championship, become familiar with your assigned hole or hole(s) and Rules situations that may occur. Reference any specific items included on the Hole-by-Hole Notes and Notice to Players.

Once you’ve arrived at your assigned location, take a moment to review the following checklist, as appropriate:

  • Tee-markers are in position
  • Rakes are located outside of bunkers
  • Presence of temporary water or abnormal course conditions
  • Flagstick is positioned in the hole

If you discover a critical issue, contact the Championship Director or Chief Referee as soon as possible.

4.  During Round

Any Referee may make a decision when he or she is certain of a ruling, EXCEPT DEFINING AN AREA TO BE GROUND UNDER REPAIR.

Please consult your Rules book, Official Guide, USGA Hard Card, Notice to Players and Hole-By-Hole Notes before making a ruling. IF YOU HAVE THE SLIGHTEST DOUBT, CONSULT WITH A ROVER.

Remember that our goal is to prevent any Rules infractions that we can. However, it is not necessary to physically be in position to closely watch each player play every stroke.

In some cases, a member of the scoring central staff may call for a Referee over the radio, noting a Referee is needed on a specific hole. Please be attentive to such calls by acknowledging the request and responding to the location of the ruling.

On blind shots, if the landing zone is not clear and marshals are unavailable, applicable hole Referees should stand in the middle of the fairway to hold up play. If necessary, wave the group forward and move to the side when the landing zone is clear.

Coordinate ball-location efforts with forecaddies or marshals, if available. Know the location of the players’ balls at all times. If any balls would be difficult for the players to find, remain at the location of the ball(s) until the player(s) or a forecaddie arrives.

If the superintendent needs to syringe or blow debris off the putting green, remove the flagstick so that the players will not hit into the putting green. Replace the flagstick in the hole when the job is completed.

The following information pertains to specific matters that you may encounter while on the course. If you encounter any issues on the course, please refer to the On-Course Contact List Hole-by-Hole Notes to reach the appropriate person.

5.  Scoring

If you speak to a player regarding a procedure or a ruling, ensure the walking scorer is apprised of the outcome, when possible.

All walking scorers have radios and can communicate directly with scoring central. Please contact the appropriate USGA staff person to report a scoring error (refer to the On-Course Contact List). Every effort will be made to correct the error immediately.

6.  Suspension of Play

In the event of a suspension of play, be certain to assist all groups on your hole, including the walking scorer(s) and standard bearer(s), to the appropriate evacuation site (see separate Evacuation Plan Memo). Make sure these volunteers stay with their group until they return to the clubhouse, at which time they will then go to their respective headquarters.

Keep off the radio and wait for further instruction. It is very important that you stay with your group(s), as you will be the Committee’s direct line of communication with the group(s) should it be necessary to evacuate the course or resume play. The On-Course Contact List identifies the individual(s) responsible for executing the evacuation procedure.

7.  Fans

You should attempt to prevent any interference with play or disturbances by fans.

Assist marshals with fan control, including the lowering of ropes before the player(s) arrive, if a ball is outside the ropes.

Any problems with the fans should be directed to the marshal hole captain of the hole involved. If the marshal hole captain is not readily identifiable, use your radio and contact the appropriate USGA staff person (see On-Course Contact List).

8.  Media

Only members of the media with appropriate credentials (lanyards) can be inside the ropes. In any case, such individuals must be within one arm’s length of the ropes at all times. Any problem that you observe being created

by the media should be reported to our Communications staff. See the On-Course Contact List to identify the Communications staff at the championship.

9.  Medical

If a medical emergency presents itself, please contact the appropriate USGA staff person immediately (refer to the On-Course Contact List). Please be certain to provide an exact location as well as the nature of the problem. When advising whether the problem is to the “left” or “right” of a hole, be certain to communicate in terms of the golfer’s “left” or “right.”

10.  Pace of Play

Every member of the Committee should be alert to the pace of play. Given our officiating protocol, it is our strong preference to have only Rovers interact with players about pace of play related matters. We believe this is critical for the player experience by creating consistent messaging and application of our pace of play guidelines.

Each stationary referee should keep track of “flagstick in” times on the Pace of Play Time Chart (or Raguzzi sheet) for the hole they are assigned. If the last player to finish a hole leaves the flagstick in, the “flagstick in” time is triggered when the player removes the ball from the hole. Referees assigned to any par-4 or par-5 drive zone will be asked to keep track of any waiting in the fairway. The Pace of Play Time Chart (or Raguzzi sheet) will be provided daily in the USGA Rules Office.

If a group comes through your zone/hole having reached  that threshold time behind the group in front of them, please report to the Rover the group number and the actual time over their maximum allotted time as it is printed on the Pace of Play Time Chart (or Raguzzi sheet).

For example, Group 7 replaces the flagstick on the 5th hole on time at 8:42 a.m., and Group 9 (the following group) replaces the flagstick in the hole on the 5th hole at 9:00 a.m. As Group 9 is more than 15 minutes behind Group 7, the call to the Rover should be, “Group 9 is 7 minutes over their allotted time and out of position with group 7.”

This method of reporting will be very helpful for the Rovers.

11.  Radio Malfunction

Your radio or earpiece may malfunction during a round.

If your radio or earpiece fails to work, contact a Rover or the appropriate USGA staff person (see On-Course Contact List). A new radio or earpiece will be brought to you as soon as possible.

12.  Reminders After Round

After completing your assignment, please be sure to do the following:

  • Immediately return your radio, ensure all rulings have been digitally submitted via the Rules Incident Form.
  • Double-check your assignment for the next day and correspond with your pod leader on shift coverage.
  • Return any borrowed equipment to the USGA Rules Office.

 

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RULES INCIDENTS FORM

Rulings should be submitted digitally via the Rules Incident Form. The link to the form will be shared prior to the championship.