Amateurs

Long Drive – First Long Drive European regulations established by LDET

March 30, 2014 – What happens when a golf ball at rest is moved by an outside agency? This is one of the questions answered by the new Long Drive rules established for the first time by Long Drivers European Tour (LDET) in order to regulate this sport around the Continent.

These regulations are be mandatory from now onwards, for all the tournaments of the schedule, starting in Belgium on 11th and 12th of April. The golf clubs, golf balls, tees and the behaviour of players are covered by these new regulations. LDET Rules have been adapted following the standard of the R&A, the governing body of golf worldwide except for the United States (USGA) and Mexico.

First of all, the golf clubs included in each player’s equipment will be checked the day before the tournament, and all players will have to register their golf material before the competition. The measurement from the ground to the upper end of the club may not exceed 50 inches (1.27 meters). LDET will record the list of clubs selected by the player. In these circumstances, the player is restricted for the duration of the competition to the clubs thus selected.

In order to ensure equal conditions for competition, LDET has also established standards for golf balls and tees. The committee may impose a brand and a model of golf ball and tees in the conditions of a competition and provide the balls and the tees that the player will play. The rule set includes norms related to behaviour before, during and after the competition, in the interest of Long Drive.

Players are responsible for knowing the rules and the possible penalties for breach of the rules. Penalties are justified if they guarantee the protection of the interests of the majority of golfers who wish to play in accordance with these guidelines, and thus enjoy the game to the full.

KEY RULES

  • The clubs will be checked and registered by the organization the day before the tournament.
  • Balls, tees and behaviour in the competition are also regulated.
  • Players can be penalized with disqualification.
  • The rules will be applied from the first tournament of the Long Drivers European Tour onwards, starting in Belgium this April.
Por REDACCIÓN