Quote:
Originally Posted by
Bad Golfer 
Thanks to all for their contributions. As a European, the R&A rules apply, although I quite take on board rule 20.5 from USPGA, which may be easier to understand than those of the R&A which appear to be full of ambiguity and over complex with continual references to other rules.
The USPGA (ie the United States Professional Golfers Association) has nothing to do with the Rules. The USGA (United States Golf Association) is a completely different organisation.
The USGA, in conjunction with The R&A in St. Andrews, Scotland, writes, interprets and maintains the Rules of Golf to guard the tradition and integrity of the game. The two organizations are joint authors and owners of The Rules of Golf and Decisions on the Rules of Golf. Through an agreement with The R&A, the Rules jurisdiction of the USGA includes only the United States, its possessions and Mexico. The latest version went into effect Jan. 1, 2012, with the next revision taking effect Jan. 1, 2016.