Park Hyun-kyung was disqualified on the opening day of the Mercedes-Benz Korea Women's Open, held Wednesday at Lakewood Country Club in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, after using a distance-measuring device. Park was found to have used the device on holes 1 through 3.
Park, who has won eight career titles on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf (KLPGA) Tour, appears to have been disqualified in this disappointing manner because she misunderstood the rules.
This tournament is organized by the Korea Golf Association (KGA), not the KLPGA Tour. While the KLPGA Tour permits the use of distance-measuring devices, the KGA applied Local Rule Model G-5 for this tournament, prohibiting players from using electronic distance-measuring devices. A first violation of this local rule carries the general penalty (two strokes), and a second violation results in disqualification.
Because violations of local rules concerning equipment use are punished with either the general penalty or disqualification, golfers who normally take an interest in the rules need to study them carefully. The reason such strict standards are applied to equipment use is that all players must compete under fair conditions.
First, regarding clubs and balls. The Rules state that clubs or balls that "conform" to the equipment rule requirements may be used, but local rules stipulate that players must use clubs or balls that have been evaluated and "approved" (Local Rules G-1, G-2, and G-3).
In other words, players must use clubs or balls listed on the approval lists on the websites of Britain's R&A or the United States Golf Association (USGA). These local rules are applied because it is impossible to immediately determine on-site at a tournament whether a particular club or ball conforms to the equipment rules. Violating this local rule results in immediate disqualification.
When it comes to balls, there is also the "one ball rule." This requires players to use only one type of ball during a round. Even with the same brand and model, a different color is considered a different ball. The reason for this local rule is to prevent players from using balls with different performance characteristics depending on a particular hole or shot. A player who plays a ball that violates this local rule receives a one-stroke penalty for each hole.
Another local rule players must be aware of concerns the yardage book. During a round, players may only use a yardage book approved by the Committee (Local Rule Model G-11).
For example, if another tournament organized by the KLPGA Tour were held at Lakewood Country Club, where this Korea Women's Open (organized by the KGA) took place, and the KLPGA Tour decided to apply this local rule, players would not be allowed to use the yardage book from this Korea Women's Open. A first violation carries the general penalty (two strokes), and a second violation results in disqualification.
According to Rule 4.3a, players may listen to music or watch video unrelated to the competition during a round, but this can be prohibited by local rule (Local Rule G-8). A first violation carries the general penalty, and a second violation results in disqualification.
Local rules do not always apply. Whether they apply varies by tournament or tour. Golfers must always understand which local rules apply at each tournament to avoid mishaps.
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