‘Don’t breach amateur status’
Ruling back in the spotlight as national governing body sets out to enforce the law
THERE is every likelihood that local tournaments will experience a major shift in how prizes are awarded as the Malaysian Golf Association (MGA) step up their efforts to police amateur status within the game.
MGA vice-president and the national association’s Rules Committee chairman C.C. Boo told TeeUp this week that they would revoke the amateur status of players who received prizes that exceeded £500 (approx RM2,750) as dictated by the R&A’s Rules of Golf.
The R&A, whose ‘Home of Golf ” is at St Andrews in Scotland, is the world governing body for national associations, except for North America.
“If a player receives a prize (or prizes) at an event that equates to more than the stipulation of the R&A’s Rules of Golf, then it will be deemed a breach of the rules.
“And as such, this will be met with a suspension from amateur golf for a period of between one and three years,” said Boo. He added that the determination of the period of suspension is outlined in the R&A’s Rules of Golf.
The widely travelled administrator and referee, who has officiated at several big international tournaments including the British Open and US Open, said the MGA’s Rules Committee had received “a number of complaints” of players receiving prizes worth more than the R&A’s rules and that several cases were now under investigation.
“You have to understand that we cannot just rush in to suspend players if a complaint is lodged. What we need to do is first verify the case and only when it has been proven that there is a breach of the rules, can we then step in and take action accordingly.”
Boo said that while it has been brought to his attention that one or more tournaments has flouted the rules with regards to the maximum value of a prize, the MGA remained committed to ensuring that the tournament organisers and sponsors are aware of the rules themselves.
“It has been made known to me that one or more tournament organiser have been found wanting when it comes to the interpretation of some of the rules,” said Boo.
“This tells me that not all the organisers and/or sponsors are well versed with the rules and thus, could do with some assistance in understanding their interpretation.”
Declining to comment on a recent incident whereby a flight of players was disqualified because of a breach of tournament rules regarding the venue, Boo took a similar stance when probed about a possible investigation into a player receiving a prize (or prizes) at an event held overseas that exceed the R&A’s limit.
Boo did, though, mention that the MGA Rules Committee also
If a player receives a prize that equates to more than the £500 stipulation, then it will be deemed a breach of the rules.
C.C. Boo
helped advise professional players on how they could return to the amateur ranks, when such advice was sought.
“This is a two-way thing so far as amateur status goes,” said Boo.
“We don’t only enforce the rules of amateurs breaching the R&S’s rules, but also assist and guide professionals who might want to play amateur again.
“There are set down rules for this and that is what we follow,” added Boo.
The move by the national association to now openly go after and bring to book those who violate the rules of amateurs status could well see more tournaments and events hand out more prizes in lucky draws.
The MGA Rules Committee boss confirmed that prizes for a hole-in-one and lucky draw did not fall under the £500 ruling.
“This is different,” he said. “Prizes for a hole-in-one and lucky draw can exceed the £500 limit, and this is acceptable.”
A shift to handing out more prizes in lucky draws will no doubt be welcomed by many in the local game, if only because there has long been criticism of how some scores are submitted in tournament golf.
On several counts players have been disqualified after their scores were publicly questioned.
Such an incident took place not more than a few months ago in an event that had its grand final played overseas.
Further still, on numerous occasions players have been publicly rebuked when going up to receive their prizes by those who know well enough that they either under declared their handicaps or deliberately entered scores that were not necessarily correct – dishonest in other words.
Such is the game these days. And if tournament organisers do dish out more lucky draw prizes in future, one gets the feeling that this will be welcomed among the majority of amateurs players and maybe not so popular with the “buayas”.