The R&A and the USGA announced very recently that Distance Measuring Devices (DMDs) will be permitted during competition play at both the 2014 British Amateur Championship and 2014 U.S Amateur Championship. Further to this Golf Australia has now made the decision to permit the use of Distance Measuring Devices (DMDs) at Golf Australia National Amateur Championships. Golf Australia has introduced the following Local Rule for all Golf Australia National Amateur Championships including the upcoming Australian Junior Championships, Australian Junior Interstate Teams Matches and the Australian Interstate Teams Matches (for the avoidance of doubt, DMDs will not be permitted at either the Emirates Australian Open or the ISPS HANDA Women’s Australian Open). Distance-Measuring Devices In this competition a player may obtain distance information by using a device that measures distance only. If, during a stipulated round, a player uses a distance-measuring device that is designed to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect their play (eg gradient, windspeed, temperature, etc), the player is in breach of Rule 14-3, for which the penalty is disqualification, regardless of whether any such additional function is actually used. This page on the R&A Website provides guidance around the conformance of various DMDs – (if a player uses a non-conforming DMD during competition play, they will be disqualified).
Author: Golf Australia