What goes on behind the scenes at the R&A’s Rules of Golf department?
You can’t watch a golf tournament now without social media dissecting every inch of the Rules of Golf. Was that drop from the right place, did that player take the right procedures?
Whether it’s because of the changes that came in at the start of 2019, or that ability to discuss in real time incidents that happen on the professional tours, there’s no doubt interest in the Rules of Golf have surged in recent years.
That’s permeated through every part of the game – each week I get field plenty of questions from you as part of National Club Golfer’s Rules of Golf explained column.
Helping to drive that interest forward is my guest on the From the Clubhouse podcast this week, the R&A’s director of Rules Grant Moir.
Grant’s Rules from the Garden and the 12 Rules of Christmas have been some of the highlights of golf during lockdown over the past year and a recent Rules Week held by the governing body has only reinforced that.
We talked about the recent refereeing qualification that’s been launched by the governing body, what an average – non Covid day looks in the rules part – and Grant reveals his favourite refereeing memory.
The From the Clubhouse podcast with R&A Rules of Golf director Grant Moir
Listen to the full episode in the player below, or search ‘The NCG Podcast’ in your preferred podcast platform.
- NOW READ: Ever wanted to become a tournament referee? Now’s your chance
- NOW READ: Lost balls and broken dreams: My eventful debut as a tournament rules official
- NOW READ: Bring string, buy a watch, and never identify a ball: What I learned shadowing a rules official
What do you think of the R&A’s new rules qualification? Is it something you’d be interested in pursuing? Let me know in the comments, or tweet me.
Subscribe to NCG
Steve Carroll
A journalist for 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long. A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A's prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar.
Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men's Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls.
A part of NCG's Top 100s panel, Steve has a particular love of links golf and is frantically trying to restore his single-figure handicap. He currently floats at around 11.
Steve plays at Close House, in Newcastle, and York GC, where he is a member of the club's matches and competitions committee and referees the annual 36-hole scratch York Rose Bowl.
Having studied history at Newcastle University, he became a journalist having passed his NTCJ exams at Darlington College of Technology.
What's in Steve's bag: TaylorMade Stealth 2 driver, 3-wood, and hybrids; TaylorMade Stealth 2 irons; TaylorMade Hi-Toe, Ping ChipR, Sik Putter.
