Become A Rules Official

Level 1 is an easy and interesting way to learn the basics of golf. This level focuses on the game’s etiquette, key definitions, and the most common situations in the field. As part of the Level 1 program, students can put their knowledge to the test by answering summary questions at the end of each section, before tackling the Level 1 online certification exam.

CLICK HERE to begin Level 1

Please note when you register to participate in the R&A Rules Academy through the Academy’s R&D Rules website, your contact information and other relevant information, including exam results, will be shared with Golf Canada. Golf Canada reserves the right to use this information to communicate with you about rules training, golf education, volunteer opportunities and golf events. We will use this information to promote and develop golf in Canada. For more information on how we can use and protect your personal information, please see our privacy policy by clicking here.

Provincial level seminars are conducted by the provincial golf associations (PA), and the curriculum will begin to look at the more important playing Rules in detail. Some of the complexities that are found in the Rules of Golf book or the Official Guide on the Rules of Golf are introduced along while also implementing on-course demonstrations. The Provincial level is designed for individuals with an involvement in tournament administration, or a desire to have such an involvement.

Eligibility:

• Level 1 certified (online)

Requirements to be Provincially Certified:

• Attend and achieve a minimum of 80% on the Provincial exam, administered by the PA
• Complete 50 hours of on-course experience as a Referee.
• Complete an additional 10 hours accompanying a Nationally certified Referee at a championship.

For National accompanying opportunities in your area, please see the Golf Canada Competitions schedule or contact your Provincial Association for more information.

National level seminars consist of a three-day seminar run by Golf Canada. It serves to give guidance and advice on refereeing at the highest level. This program is intended for experienced Referees who wish to improve both their technical and practical knowledge as a referee.

Eligibility:

• Provincial level certification (written and practical components completed)

Requirements to be Nationally Certified:

• Attend and achieve a minimum of 80% on the National level exam, administered by Golf Canada.
• Complete 100 hours of on-course experience as a Referee, including 10 of those hours accompanying a current Nationally certified Referee.

Format

The exam preparation webinars will be delivered virtually over a period of six (6) weeks, with a total of six (6) sessions.  All the sessions will be approximately two (2) hours in length and there will be three (3) different session times offered for participants across the country.  The intent of these sessions is to prepare participants in successfully achieving the certifying mark (80%) on the Level 3 National Rules Exam.

The webinars will focus on randomly reviewing Rules 1-24, Definitions, Interpretations, and Committee Procedures.  Each session will have a combination of question-and-answer periods where participants identified before the session will be responsible for answering questions from the instructors, and open discussion on topics or questions raised by the participants.

The following types of questions will be asked during the question-and-answer period (in this order):

• True or False
• Single Answer
• Multiple Choice (closed book)
• Multiple Choice (open book)
• Which Rule Applies?

Each week, an exercise will be sent out to the participants for completion prior to the next session.  Answers will be provided via email prior to the next session and time will be allocated during each session for any follow-up requested.

Entry Requirements & Eligibility

Registration for the exam preparation webinars will be offered at a cost of $50.00 (plus applicable tax) and will include copies of the Full Rules of Golf and The Official Guide to the Rules of Golf.

Registration will open on Wednesday, January 19^th at 12:00 p.m. (EST) and individuals must meet at least one (1) of the following criteria:

• Level 2 Provincial Certification (written component must be completed in order for participants to audit the sessions)
• Level 3 National Certification
• PGA/USGA Rules Exam (100-question exam only)
  • Achieved a minimum of 70% or better on the PGA/USGA Rules of Golf Examination between 2019 – 2021.
• Previous certification (Level 3 or Level 4) under the old Golf Canada Rules Education Program

Schedule

The exam preparation webinars will be offered at the following times and dates:

The Level 3 National Rules Exam will be conducted during the week of April 11^th.  More information on registration and cost will be communicated to those participants who register for the exam at a later date.

Recommended Preparation for Participants

It is strongly recommended that a participant has read The Official Guide to the Rules of Golf and be able to do all of the following before registering for the exam preparation webinars:

• Immediate recall of Rule numbers (1-24) and subsections (.1, .2, .3, etc.)
• Paraphrase knowledge of definitions
• Familiar with Interpretations and their location in the Official Guide
• Familiar with Committee Procedures and Model Local Rules

Level 3 National Exam Format

In conjunction with the ‘Rules Modernization Initiative’ and the introduction of the modernized Rules of Golf in 2019, Golf Canada’s Rules and Amateur Status Committee made the decision to adopt the R&A’s Rules Education Program.  Level 1 and Level 2 exams have been previously adopted and NEW in 2022, Golf Canada has adopted the Level 3 R&A Rules Exam.  The Golf Canada Level 3 National Rules Exam will be offered directly through The R&A and their online exam provider.

The 2022 Level 3 National Rules Exam will be offered online only and is made up of five (5) individual sections.

As reference materials are permitted for the online exam, and all questions have multiple choice answers, there is a slightly stricter time pressure in the online exam compared with the written exam.

Golf Canada is introducing a new in-person seminar which will be held leading up to the NextGen Championships.  The Regional TARS is a workshop for referees at the National Level who are either just beginning their journey, or already on their journey, and who would benefit from attending. Referees will receive hands-on experience to learn the duties of a tournament rules chair by setting up a championship course. Priority would be given to those who do not have vast experience to attend these sessions.

Entry Requirements & Eligibility

Fully certified Level 2 Provincial or Level 3 National referees can attend the in-person seminars.

Registration for the Regional TARS will be offered at a cost of $300.00 (plus applicable tax).

Format & Tentative Schedule

Schedule

The National Seminars will be present in the 3 days prior to selected NextGen Championships. The following NextGen Championships will offer in-person seminars during the 2022 season.  Please note that some of the championships below may be substituted with other championships in the NextGen Championship series in 2023.