Handicap & Rules
The Handicap and Rules Committee of Qualicum Beach Memorial Golf Club helps to assist all Members and Guest in adhering to the rules of golf put forth by the R&A.
If you have any questions, please contact Peter Drummond, Chair at [email protected]
Please find the links provided below should you need to locate any rulings.
http://www.golfcanada.ca/rules-of-golf
https://www.usga.org/rules-hub.html
SUMMARY OF NEW RULES RELATIVE TO DISABILITY
Rule 25 applies to all competitions, including all forms of play. It is a player’s category of disability and eligibility that determines whether they can use the specific modified Rules.
Rule 25 modifies certain Rules for players in the following categories of disability:
• Players who are blind (which includes certain levels of vision impairment),
• Players who are amputees (which means both those with limb deficiencies and those who have lost a limb),
• Players who use assistive mobility devices, and
• Players with intellectual disabilities.
It is recognized that there are many players with other types of disabilities (such as players with neurological conditions, players with orthopaedic conditions, players of short stature and players who are deaf). These additional categories of disability are not covered in Rule 25.
Modifications for Players Who Are Blind
Purpose of Rule: Rule 25 allows a player who is blind I(which includes certain levels of visual impairment) to be assisted by both an aide or caddie at the same time; allows help with aiming, gives the player a limited exception to the prohibition on touching sand in a bunker with a club
and allows help with lifting, dropping, placing and replacing a ball.
Modifications for Players Who Are Amputees
Rule 25.3 allows a player who is an amputee to use a prosthetic device and make a stroke while anchoring the club and allows help with dropping, placing and replacing a ball.
When a player with a wheeled mobility device takes relief for an unplayable ball in a bunker, Rule 19.3b is modified so that the player may take back-on-the-line relief outside that bunker for one penalty stroke.
Modifications for Players with Intellectual Disabilities
Purpose of Rule: this rule allows a player with an intellectual disability to be assisted by both an aide and a caddie at the same time, and clarifies the role of a supervisor who is not assigned to a specific player and is not allowed to give advice.
The extent of help that players with intellectual disabilities may need will be specific to each individual. The Committee may provide or allow for an aide or supervisor to help players with intellectual disabilities:
Players with Both Intellectual and Physical Disabilities For players with both intellectual and physical disabilities, it is recommended that the Committee use a combination of the Rules in Rule 25 so that both types of disabilities are addressed.
General Provisions for All Categories of Disabilities Unreasonable Delay:
In applying Rule 5.6a’s prohibition on unreasonable delay to players with disabilities:
• Each Committee should use its discretion and set its own reasonable standards taking into account the difficulty of the course, the weather conditions (in view of the impact they could have on the use of assistive mobility devices), the nature of the competition and the extent of the
disabilities of the players competing.
• Taking these factors into account, it may be appropriate for Committees to use a more relaxed interpretation of what constitutes unreasonable delay.
Note:
The foregoing information is simply a summary of the new rule. For specific
details by category of disability the reader should refer to the rule itself.