One of the biggest complaints professional golfers have is that fans, sitting on their couch, can call into a hotline and report a minuscule rules infraction. The viewer may not even notice the violation until slowing their television down to a frame-by-frame level. Fortunately, the United States Golf Association and Royal and Ancient golf governing body have issued a decision that amends the Rules of Golf to limit the amount of video evidence that can be used during a round. Although the Rules of Golf are due to be completely overhauled come 2019, this is a good first step in amending a rule for the sake of common sense and fair play.
Technology has Exceeded Players
The rule prevents players from being penalized if the penalty couldn’t be seen from the naked eye. Essentially, the decision clarifies that video technology is more precise than what is expected of players, and it is unfair to hold players to that elevated standard. The decision impacts replacing balls on the green and determining nearest points of relief. The decision also implemented a standard that limited the use of video when a player used reasonable judgment to determine a specific location. The rule limits the ability for fans to report infractions against players from their living rooms, as they watch on high-definition televisions.
The USGA released a statement that said, “The use of video technology can make it possible to identify things that couldn’t be seen with the naked eye,” nothing the example of “a player who unknowingly touches a few grains of sand in taking a backswing with a club in a bunker when making a stroke.” The statement continued, later saying “So long as the player does what can be reasonably be expected under the circumstances to make an accurate determination, the player’s reasonable judgment will be accepted, even if later shown to be inaccurate by the use of video evidence.”
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At Westlake Golf Course, we aim to please you and all your golf needs. If you have a question about the game of golf, or how your game could be improved, don’t hesitate to contact our experienced team today. We look forward to hearing from you soon!