Become A Rules Official

2022 NATIONAL RULES EDUCATION PROGRAM UPDATE

Golf Canada is excited to announce changes to the National Rules of Golf Education program that will see it focus on virtual exam preparation webinars in March and April, with a planned return of in-person seminars conducted at the NextGen Pacific, Ontario, and Québec Championships during the 2022 season.

Click here to learn about program updates.

RULES EDUCATION

Golf Canada is committed to training and educating all golfers in hopes they may ultimately lead to national certification as a Referee.

Since 2019, Golf Canada has adopted the R&A’s Rules Education system. One of the main objectives of the Rules Modernization Initiative was to create consistency around the world in many facets of the Rules of Golf, including educating and training referees. The exams that Golf Canada will use and the designation by marks achieved will be consistent throughout the countries allied to the R&A, such as Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

While Golf Canada traditionally has employed a four-level system, the R&A’s Rules Education program consists of a three-tiered approach which similarly Golf Canada has adopted. Level 1 is the introductory level to Golf Canada’s Rules Education program which then proceeds into separate programming for individuals to continue through our Rules Education Pathway at the provincial and national level.

  • LEVEL 1

    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

    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

    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.

2022 PROGRAM UPDATES

  • EXAM PREPARATION WEBINARS

    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 19th 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:

    OPTION #1 

    All sessions will take place from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. (PT).

    Session 

    Date 

    Instructors 

    1

    March 1st

    Susan White

    Jack McDonald

    Dale Jackson

    2

    March 8th 

    3

    March 15th 

    4

    March 22nd 

    5

    March 29th 

    6

    April 5th 

     

     

    OPTION #2

    All sessions will take place from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. (ET).

    Session 

    Date 

    Instructors 

    1

    March 2nd 

    Tom Forestell

    Anne Edgar Dodds Hebron

    Jean Stone-Séguin

    2

    March 9th 

    3

    March 16th 

    4

    March 23rd 

    5

    March 30th 

    6

    April 6th 

     

    OPTION #3 (French only)

    All sessions will take place from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. (ET).

    Session 

    Date 

    Instructors 

    1

    March 2nd 

    Diane Barabé

    Jacques Sévigny

    2

    March 9th 

    3

    March 16th 

    4

    March 23rd 

    5

    March 30th 

    6

    April 6th 

     

    OPTION #4

    All sessions will take place from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. (AT).

    Session 

    Date 

    Instructors 

    1

    March 3rd 

    Roland Deveau

    Bruce Watson

    Nancy Layton

    2

    March 10th 

    3

    March 17th 

    4

    March 24th 

    5

    March 31st 

    6

    April 7th 

  • LEVEL 3 NATIONAL EXAM

    The Level 3 National Rules Exam will be conducted during the week of April 11th.  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.

  • REGIONAL TOURNAMENT ADMINISTRATION & REFEREE SCHOOL (TARS)

    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

    NextGen Championship

     

    Day 1: Course Preparation/Theory

     

    Registration

    12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

    Opening Remarks & Administrative Notes

    1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

    Rule 20, Role/Responsibilities of Referees (6C) & Role of the Committee  

    1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    Break

    2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

    TRC / Review Hard Card / Course set up, 5B: Marking the Course

    3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

    Hole Location Selection

    4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

    Dinner

    5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

     

     

    Day 2: Course Set Up

     

    Continental Breakfast 

    7:00 a.m. – 7:30 a.m.

    Course Marking – Front 9 (Group 1)

    7:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

    Course Marking – Back 9 (Group 2)

    7:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

    Break

    9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

    Course Setup – Front 9 (Group 1)

    10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

    Course Setup – Back 9 (Group 2)           

    10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

    Morning Debrief

    11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

    Lunch

    12:00pm – 1:00pm

    NTP Section 8 MLR, 6B: The Course & Role Playing

    1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

    Duties of a Referee

    2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    Break

    2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

    Duties of a Rules Chair

    3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

    Tournament Documents

    4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

     

     

    Day 3: Practice Round

     

    Continental Breakfast 

    9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

    Full Course Tour & Inspection

    10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

    Lunch

    12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

    Tournament Officials Meeting

    2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

    Closing Remarks

    3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

     

     

    Day 4: Round One / Ride Along

     

    A limited number of spots will be available for those referees that would like to ride-along with a member of the Rules Committee at the respective NextGen Championship.

    *This day is optional and limited in availability.

    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.

    Seminar

    Championship

    Dates

    Location

    Instructors

    1

    NextGen Pacific

    Tuesday, May 10 – Thursday, 12

    Nanaimo Golf Club

    Nanaimo, BC

    Susan White

    Jack McDonald

    Mary Beth McKenna

    2

    NextGen Ontario

    Monday, May 23 – Wednesday, May 25

    Oak Bay Golf Club

    Port Severn, ON

    Tom Forestell

    Anne Edgar Dodds Hebron

    Adam Cinel

    3

    NextGen Québec

    Saturday, June 25 – Monday, June 27

    Club de golf Hemmingford

    Hemmingford, QC

    Jacques Nols

    Adam Lloyd