PGA/USGA Rules of Golf Workshops

[Rulzguy]

Again, this may be late into the discussion but something about these seminars that many people don't realize and Dornie1360 hit on it: it's the test for people to officiate.  Yes it is hard and yes 75% is  a great score. Very seldom does the average amateur golfer come across some of the situations listed on the exams. But being an official is more than knowing the rules. Granted, you can read and memorize the rules but that is only part of it. Understanding how each rule impacts the others is where it becomes difficult. Believe me, there have been situations where I have been involved that have matched the hardest questions on the exam. The test teaches you to think through the entire situation at hand, not just 'drop it two club lengths over there.' On the exam in each section, open book and closed book, there is a minimum of one difficult question on each rule and definitions. Learning how to research the answers by using the index is a big part of officiating. That is one thing they expect officials to know and learn to be efficient. I have also been involved when an official has made a mistake and needed it to be corrected by other officials. We (officials) do make mistakes. That is the reason for the Committee during a tournament: to review any decision in question. Committee makes the final decision if there is a dispute.

The classes can be a bit dry and long, but many of those in the room officiate and it's a great experience to talk with them about odd decisions made. One year, the official who made the ruling on the huge rock being a 'movable obstruction' for Tiger was sitting next to me. He stood and explained the reasoning behind the decision. I've learned to find key people in the room who can help guide me to improve the decision making process. That's what the test is about. During tournaments the official is under pressure when called upon...believe me... even the best ones. I have a close friend who does the U.S. Open every year and has been the official in the booth for clarification. He stressed to me to accept that every situation will have its own pressures but go in with confidence and it'll work out fine (like anything else).

That test gives you an idea of what the officials deal with during a tournament. Few people come across those situations but officials see them quite often. Officiating can be very enjoyable but mind boggling also. Some of these guys can quote almost every decision in the book. Not the rule...the decision,as example saying, 'In decision 14-3/4.5a it says..." Not me. I do have a decent understanding of the thought process for officiating and enjoy the difficult situations.

That's what test is really about. Is it hard? Yep!

[iacas]

http://www.usga.org/rules-hub/education/pga-usga-rules-of-golf-workshops.html
http://www.usga.org/content/dam/usga/pdf/2016/2016rogsched1014.pdf

There's the (for now) 2016 schedule.

I plan to attend the March 18-21 one in Pittsburgh. We only get them every five years or so in the Pittsburgh area. I will not have a chance to study or prepare. I know the Rules of Golf reasonably well, which already puts me above 99% of golfers, but I have to look things up* and couldn't tell you off the top of my head what rule 21 covers.

* I do think that having a reasonable logical capability makes this easy. I know, for example, that understanding the definitions and clearly defining the situation helps tremendously, and I understand where to look in the Rules of Golf as I find that the organization of the Rules is fairly straightforward.

Registration opens tomorrow.

[wadesworld]

Since there's one in my town this year, I'll be attending the one in Nashville, TN.

[Dormie1360]

Since there's one in my town this year, I'll be attending the one in Nashville, TN.

I might go to that one, it's close.  Don't know if you've had them before but I think you will like Thomas Pagel and Chip Essig.  I believe Pagel is on the Rules Committee so he should have some good info on the reasoning behind the rules changes for next year.

[Rulesman]

Thomas Pagel is Senior Director of Rules of Golf at the USGA

[wadesworld]

On October 26, 2015 at 9:44:57 PM, Dormie1360 said:

I might go to that one, it's close.  Don't know if you've had them before but I think you will like Thomas Pagel and Chip Essig.  I believe Pagel is on the Rules Committee so he should have some good info on the reasoning behind the rules changes for next year.

Yep, I had Thomas at my last workshop.  He's excellent.  

If you end up going, let me know so we can meet each other.

Edited November 1, 2015 by wadesworld

[iacas]

On October 19, 2015 at 8:24 AM, iacas said:

http://www.usga.org/rules-hub/education/pga-usga-rules-of-golf-workshops.html
http://www.usga.org/content/dam/usga/pdf/2016/2016rogsched1014.pdf

There's the (for now) 2016 schedule.

I plan to attend the March 18-21 one in Pittsburgh. We only get them every five years or so in the Pittsburgh area. I will not have a chance to study or prepare. I know the Rules of Golf reasonably well, which already puts me above 99% of golfers, but I have to look things up* and couldn't tell you off the top of my head what rule 21 covers.

Well, I went, and I think I did pretty well for not studying much. More tk later. I want to catch up on the rest of the forum here first.

[Asheville]

But, did you sit in the back row with the club pros who only go because they feel they have to? 

[iacas]

2 hours ago, Asheville said:

But, did you sit in the back row with the club pros who only go because they feel they have to? 

Far back right, actually.  I like the back row because I can lean back with impunity and me checking my phone or whatever doesn't distract anyone.

Very few club pros. The guy who lead our class was the referee in the Rory McIlroy group at the PGA at Valhalla in the final round.  He's a club pro…

[Hardspoon]

14 hours ago, iacas said:

Well, I went, and I think I did pretty well for not studying much. More tk later. I want to catch up on the rest of the forum here first.

Just curious - where in Pittsburgh was it?  I looked around a bit on the site but couldn't find the location.

[iacas]

1 minute ago, Hardspoon said:

Just curious - where in Pittsburgh was it?  I looked around a bit on the site but couldn't find the location.

The Hilton Doubletree in Green Tree.

[Martyn W]

On 3/22/2016 at 8:27 PM, iacas said:

Well, I went, and I think I did pretty well for not studying much. More tk later. I want to catch up on the rest of the forum here first.

So how did you do? Will I see you in the 85+ class next year? ;)

 

[iacas]

1 hour ago, Martyn W said:

So how did you do? Will I see you in the 85+ class next year? ;)

Yes, if I wanted to go to anything next year.

I most likely do not.

[Fourputt]

2 hours ago, iacas said:

Yes, if I wanted to go to anything next year.

I most likely do not.

I was the same way.  I made exactly 85 on the test the last time I went, but wasn't interested to going all the way to the east coast for a seminar that really wouldn't be of any finite benefit to me anyway.

[iacas]

I attended the 2017 edition in Parsippany, NJ. About 20 minutes from USGA HQ. I was really looking forward to seeing Thomas Pagel again, but he was pulled away and we ended up with David Staebler in the end. Chip Essig was the PGA representative.

[iacas]

I didn't attend one in 2018, because of the rules changes I knew were coming, but I am attending one (apparently with @GolfLug! 😄) in March in Pittsburgh.