In a recent meeting held on April 15th, the Tournament Committee of the DP World Tour convened to address various issues, one of which has garnered immediate attention.
A representative from the Tour’s Headquarters at Wentworth declared that, effective immediately, players who fail to shout “FORE!” when necessary will face heavier penalties than in the past.
Members of the DP World Tour received a clear memorandum outlining the new policy.
DP, rules
“It is reminded to Players that the use of the warning ‘Fore!’ is and remains the traditional expectation as per etiquette when there is a danger of hitting someone (see Rules of Golf 1.2 Expected Standards of Conduct for Players) and that the regulations of the DP World Tour (and the Challenge Tour) at F.I.2 (b) require all to ‘adhere to the generally accepted standards of etiquette’.”
“All players and caddies are therefore reminded that the use of such warning is always expected when there is a risk of injury or danger of the ball striking someone, and is mandatory when the shot could land beyond the gallery ropes.”
“Given the seriousness of the issue of ball strikes during tournaments, following the meeting of the Tournament Committee on April 15, 2024, it has been determined that if any player fails to shout ‘FORE’ in a situation where the Tournament Director clearly establishes that it would have been necessary, the player will be deemed to have breached the Regulation and appropriate sanctions will be imposed.”
The severity of these new sanctions, which are not predetermined, will be decided on a case-by-case basis depending on the seriousness of the incident.
The ongoing Soudal Open at the Rinkven International Golf Club in Antwerp will mark the debut of these tightened regulations.
The rules of golf constitute a set of standard norms and procedures by which the sport of golf is intended to be played. They are jointly written and managed by the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, the governing body for golf worldwide, except in the United States and Mexico, which fall under the jurisdiction of the United States Golf Association. A committee of experts comprising members from both the R&A and USGA oversees and refines the rules every four years. The latest revision has been in effect since January 1, 2016. Changes to the rules of golf generally fall into two main categories: those that enhance understanding and those that, in certain cases, reduce penalties to ensure fairness. The rulebook, titled “Rules of Golf,” is regularly published and includes regulations governing amateur status as well. In Italy, the Italian Golf Federation (Federgolf) is responsible for overseeing competitions, ensuring compliance with the rules issued by the R&A, and ensuring that these rules are observed by clubs, associations, and their members. Federgolf also manages the resulting sports justice and protects their interests abroad.
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