2024 Tournament Regulations Update

Following the Executive Committee meeting in February 2024, a number of Tournament Regulations were amended. The changes are explained below.

Regulations Part 6B 22.1 - Shorts

Following the successful trial in 2023, the Executive Committee has confirmed the permanent adoption of the exception to this Regulation on the Standard of Dress, with an amendment to the wording to read:-

“22.1 The wearing of shorts by Members at a PGA tournament is not permitted.

Exceptions:

Paragraph 22.1 does not apply to:-
i) WPGA Professionals;
 ii) Official practice rounds for PGA Tournaments; and
iii) Pro-Am Tournaments.”

In addition, Operational Guidelines have been created so that Members and PGA staff are clear on how the exception is applied in practice. Specifically:- .  

• Members may arrive at the tournament in shorts;
• Shorts may be worn in the clubhouse before play, should the format of the tournament allow it. e.g. for registration, team breakfast;
• Once play has finished, Members must change into clean and smart acceptable business or golf dress, excluding shorts, for everything after play;
• Wearing of shorts at prize presentations is not appropriate; and
• Lifestyle golf shoes may be worn with shorts

All of the above relaxations to 6b-22 are the minimum standards required by The PGA, but more stringent dress standards may be required dependent on compliance with host venue rules.

Regulations Part 6A 3.2 (a) (c) - Higher Ranking Events - Member Releases

Last year the Executive Committee agreed to recognise the Clutch Tour and the Tartan Pro Tour as higher ranking under the terms of this Regulation, deeming them to be “other tournaments considered to be of appropriate status”. Members were therefore eligible to be released for tournaments run under their auspices.

This decision was initially for 2023 only, to be subject to review at the end of the season, and the Executive Committee recently confirmed that the arrangement will be made permanent.

In addition, the Committee also decided to recognise the British Par 3 Championship as a higher ranking event of an appropriate status, and Members will be released to play in this tournament should they want to participate in it.

Regulations 6A 3.2 (a) Conflicting Tournament Releases and Regulation 6B 13.2 (b) – Entry Fees – Refund

The Executive Committee agreed that practice days and official pro-ams attached to higher ranking tournaments should more correctly be recognised as an integral part of these events, and should therefore, in appropriate circumstances, rank for Member release. It was also agreed that a travel day to these tournaments may also, where justified in line with set criteria, be approved for a release.

The conflicting release clause and the associated Regulation covering entitlement to entry fee refunds have therefore been supplemented with the following note:- “When withdrawing to enter a higher-ranking tournament, there must be a direct clash with the official practice round, pre/post tournament Pro-Am or actual tournament round(s). A travel day may also be permitted where there is 150 miles of travel to the host venue.”

These changes to the Regulations will take immediate effect, and any Member looking for advice or clarification on the changes should contact the National or Regional tournament teams who will be happy to advise.