[Golf Rules... Knowledge is Power] When Using a Distance Measuring Device

Jeon Woori Disqualified for Local Rule Violation at Korea Women's Open
Korean Golf Association Prohibits Distance Measuring Devices in Tournament
First Use Results in Two-Stroke Penalty, Second Leads to Immediate Disqualification

Golf has no referees. It is a "gentleman's sport" where golfers play by following the rules themselves. The golf rules are "assistants" created to help with play. If well understood and used appropriately, they can greatly aid in score management. These are golf rules that weekend golfers must know.

Jeonuri

Jeon Woo-ri was disqualified from the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour. On the 13th, at the DB Group Korea Women's Open (total prize money 1.2 billion KRW) held at Rainbow Hills Country Club in Eumseong-gun, Chungbuk (par 72, 6,756 yards), she was notified of disqualification at the 3rd hole (par 3) teeing ground during the first round and packed up her belongings. The reason was a violation of the local rule prohibiting the use of distance measuring devices.

A local rule refers to specific rules applied only during certain tournaments among the golf rules. These are announced to players in advance during the tournament. Players must carefully check the local rules. The Korea Golf Association (KGA), which organizes the Korea Women's Open, considers judging distances by reading the yardage book as part of the player's skill and therefore does not allow the use of distance measuring devices. The first violation results in a two-stroke penalty, and the second use leads to immediate disqualification.

Jeon Woo-ri confused this with tournaments organized by the KLPGA Tour. The KLPGA Tour allows the use of distance measuring devices as a local rule. Among nearly thirty tournaments she participates in annually, only the Korea Women's Open prohibits the use of distance measuring devices.

Jeon Woo-ri unknowingly started the round with a distance measuring device, and just before the tee shot on the 3rd hole, she recalled the local rule banning its use. She called a rules official and confessed to using the device. When asked how many times she had used it, she answered that she had used it continuously on the 1st and 2nd holes. She could not avoid disqualification.