Golfer using a distance measuring device
Golf Canada has joined the USGA and R&A in approving the use of Distance Measuring Devices for all of its amateur championships starting in 2014.
The association's Rules & Amateur Status Committee approved the move at the annual general meeting in London, Ontario this week.
DMD's will be allowed at CN Future Links junior championships as well as Canada's national amateur championships. They will continue to be banned at Golf Canada'a professoinal championships including Canadian Women's Tour events, the Tour Championship of Canada, the RBC Canadian Open and Canadian Pacific Women's Open, including their respective qualifiers.
That is in line with the USGA decision which also voted to adopt an optional local rule that has been available under the Rules of Golf since 2006. The devices will remain banned at the U.S. Open, U.S. Women's Open and U.S. Senior Open and their qualifying events.
"With recent technological advances designed to enhance the golfer experience, our Rules Committee felt that this decision to allow DMD's was a step in the right direction without jeopardizing the spirit and challenge of the game," said Dale Jackson, Chair of Golf Canada's Rules & Amateur Status Committee. "We have received a tremendous amount of feedback from golfers and this decision allows us to align with all of our provincial and international partners that have moved to allow DMD's at their respective amateur competitions."
While competitors will be allowed to use DMD's that measure distance, they won't be able to use devices that can also measure conditions such as wind speed or direction, temperature or elevation.
Files from the Associated Press were used in this report