Press Release

Statement on New groove regulations issued from R&A – will apply to competitors for the 2010 Egyptian Open

19th June 2010

Adoption of New Groove Regulations

We would like to remind all golfing bodies that the European Tour has adopted the new R&A Regulations on grooves and is currently applying the relevant Competition Condition at all European Tour, Challenge Tour and Senior Tour events.

The regulation was introduced in January on the European Tour and has been in operation on the Challenge Tour and Senior Tour since the beginning of May.

The regulation will also be in effect at the Qualifying School Final but will not apply at any other Stage of the Qualifying School.

New Regulations

The changes specifically regulate the radius of the groove edge (for sharpness) and the volume of the groove – two factors which it is believed have a significant effect on the ability to control the ball from the rough. The rule limiting groove volume is applicable to all clubs (excluding drivers and putters). The limit on groove sharpness is applicable to clubs with at loft greater than or equal to 25 degrees (generally a 5 iron and above).

All clubs that are used in competition MUST conform to the new specifications and it is the responsibility of each competitor to ensure that the clubs they have selected for play are conforming.

We would request the support of all Golf Associations, Federations, Unions, PGAs and other golfing organisations in making any affiliated players fully aware of the requirement to use clubs conforming to the 2?

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Conformity

If a player has any concerns about the conformity of the equipment he is currently using or intending to use, he can:

• Check with the manufacturer as to the conformity of the club (either directly or via the relevant website).

• Consult the R&A’s Informational Database to see if the club is listed http://www.randa.org/en/Equipment/Equipment%20Search/Informational%20Clubs.aspx

• Have the club or clubs tested at the tournament site by the European Tour officials.  (Testing equipment should be available at nearly all events.)  Please note that a club listed on the R&A database as “conforming” does not need to be tested and may be used unless there is evidence that the club has in some way been changed, modified or altered. (Any club listed as non-conforming will not be tested and is unable to be used.)

It is strongly recommended that any doubts about the conformity of equipment be raised prior to the commencement of a tournament.

Penalties

If a player submits a club for testing or an investigation is carried out on a club during competition and the club is found to be non-conforming, the player will be penalised for carrying but not using the club and disqualified if the club has been used. 

Please be aware that the European Tour has the right to test any club at any time.