From
their press release:
The R&A, golf’s world
governing body and organiser of The Open Championship, today announced
revisions to the Rules of Amateur Status that provide amateur golfers
with the opportunity to receive payment for giving golf instruction and
reduce the waiting time of those who have breached the Rules, but who
wish to return to amateur status. The changes to the Rules and their
interpretations come into effect from 1 January 2006.
A new Instruction Rule provides that
an amateur golfer may be paid for coaching golf for the first time as
part of an "approved programme". Under the new Rules on reinstatement,
the time amateur golfers in breach of the Rules have to wait before
they regain their amateur status is reduced. The new guideline of 1-2
years brings these waiting periods in line with those for professional
golfers returning to the amateur game.
Seems they decided that after the
gender reassignment rule change
(requiring just two years between sex change surger to be Women's Open
eligible...no I'm not joking) the three year wait on amateur status
statement seemed a bit much. The release says the governing bodies of
golf are closer than ever on their amateur "code." Except...
The two codes diverge on only
one matter – hole-in-one prizes. In the new R&A Code acceptance of
an excessive prize remains a breach of the Rules but carries a much
reduced period awaiting reinstatement. The new USGA Code will allow
amateur golfers to accept hole-in-one prizes of any value.
We'll call this the Mike Freeman rule, which if you have read
The Future of Golf
(p. 106-107), you know is a product of the excessive penalty paid by an
Orlando amateur after spontaneously participating in the Tiger pops out
of the Woods ad.
Dave Seanor at Golfweek
details the USGA side of these changes.
The expenses issue for amateurs will become official, and he explains
how the rules will work for golfers who seemk expense reimbursement.
