Date: 31 Oct 2007 

Revisions to the Rules of Amateur Status to allow leading amateur golfers to assist in the promotion of the game will come into effect on January 1, 2008.

Under Rule 6-2, restrictions will be eased allowing leading amateur players of skill or reputation to have their name or likeness used in the promotion of their national unions and associations. This will also extend, with the agreement of the national union, to competitions and other events that are considered to be in the best interests of the game.

This Rule change follows the recent comprehensive revision of the Rules of Amateur Status introduced in 2006, which brought the Rules of The R&A and USGA closer than ever before to a unified code.

R&A Director of Rules and Equipment Standards, David Rickman said: “The hard work put in by so many national bodies to develop the game makes this a sensible and pragmatic approach for the benefit and promotion of amateur golf.

“Looking to the future, The R&A believes that the time is right for a fundamental review of the Rules of Amateur Status and this will be conducted over the next four-year period.”

The new Rules of Amateur Status are reproduced in the 2008 Rules of Golf.

Source R&A