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Upcoming Events

Live USGA Webcasts - Online All Year
Topics for Golfers and Superintendents
Handicap Seminar
Feb 17
La Jolla Country Club, La Jolla, Calif.
Handicap Seminar
Feb 23
Northwood Club, Dallas, Texas
Handicap Seminar
Mar 10
Moon Valley Country Club, Phoenix, Ariz.

Our Experts Explain:

The Rules of Golf

Our Experts Explain the Rules of Golf USGA rules experts provide insight and explanations on rules decisions and interpretations. The experts will also address commonly asked rules questions.

Handicapping

The USGA Handicap System™ enables golfers of all skill levels to compete on an equitable basis. USGA experts will help explain "The USGA Handicap System" manual – the USGA's handicapping equivalent of "The Rules of Golf" and address commonly asked questions. This section of the site will also features a Course Handicap™ calculator that allows players to convert their Handicap Index to the Course Handicap for any course that has been properly rated.

Equipment

The USGA tests balls, clubs, and other equipment for conformity to the Rules of Golf. Here, the Research and Test Center staff explains how golf equipment is tested, discusses its research about why and how golf equipment works the way it does and describes the USGA’s role in establishing equipment standards for the game of golf.

Rule of the Day

6-8a/3 Discontinuing Play Due to Physical Problem
Q:

During a round, a player is incapacitated by heat exhaustion, a bee sting or because he has been struck by a golf ball. The player reports his problem to the Committee and requests the Committee to allow him some time to recuperate. Should the Committee comply with the request?

The matter is up to the Committee. Rule 6-8a(iv) permits a player to discontinue play because of sudden illness and the player incurs no penalty if he reports to the Committee as soon as practicable and the Committee considers his reason satisfactory. It would seem reasonable for a Committee to allow a player 10 or 15 minutes to recuperate from such a physical problem but ordinarily allowing more time than that would be inadvisable.

See the Previous Rule of the Day

Today in Golf History

Feb 09, 2010

1909 Birthday of Virginia Van Wie, three-time U.S. Women's Amateur champion

Virginia Van Wie turned to golf mainly as a means of exercise during an illness in her youth, but eventually developed into one of the era's best amateur golfers. Van Wie reached the final of the 1928 U.S. Women's Amateur at age 19, but lost to Glenna Collett, 13 and 12, in the second-most-lopsided match in the event's history. Two years later, Van Wie returned to the Women's Amateur final, but again lost to Collett, 6 and 5. By the early 1930s, however, Van Wie won three consecutive championships. She exacted revenge on Collett, beating her, 10 and 8, in the 1932 final. Van Wie also appeared in the first two Curtis Cups (1932 and 1934) before retiring after her third Amateur victory.

Visit the USGA Museum to learn more about the history of golf.