USGA, R&A change rules about viewers calling in for video review

A working group led by the USGA and R&A has unanimously agreed to adopt a new set of protocols for video review when applying the Rules of Golf.

The group, consisting of the PGA TOUR, LPGA, PGA European Tour, Ladies European Tour and The PGA of America, as well as the governing bodies, will implement the following measures on January 1, 2018:

Assign one or more officials to monitor the video broadcast of a competition to help identify and resolve Rules issues as they arise.

Discontinue any steps to facilitate or consider viewer call-ins as part of the Rules decision process

In addition, the USGA and R&A have approved the adoption of a Local Rule, available beginning January 1, to eliminate the additional two-stroke penalty for failing to include a penalty on the scorecard when the player was unaware of the penalty. All of the organizations represented on the working group will introduce the Local Rule for 2018, and this scorecard penalty will be permanently removed when the modernized Rules of Golf take effect on January 1, 2019.

The USGA and R&A established the video review working group in April to initiate a collaborative discussion on the role video footage can play when applying the Rules, including the challenges and benefits of its use and also the issues that arise from viewer call-ins.

The new protocols also recognize the importance of limiting video review to material obtained from the committee’s broadcast partner. Other video, such as from an individual’s smartphone or camera, will not be used under these protocols.