Two weeks in the past, we launched you to Rohit Modwel in our Senior Golf publication. However after studying extra about his expertise as a Golf Guidelines Official, we needed to study extra.
On this unique interivew, Rohit shares what it takes to change into a Guidelines Official, the most typical golf guidelines errors golfers make, and some thrilling moments over the course of his profession.
Q: What number of years have you ever been concerned as a Golf Guidelines Official, and what first impressed you to pursue this path?
My first expertise officiating Open tournaments, together with these on the Asian circuit, was between 1982 and 1995 in Kolkata. On the time, the Golf Captain at Royal Calcutta Golf Membership (RCGC)—the oldest golf membership exterior the British Isles—recruited volunteers, together with myself. We had been educated by Indian Golf Union (IGU) officers for a few week. Essentially the most notable occasion I labored on then was the Indian Open, which alternated between RCGC and Delhi Golf Membership (DGC).
After a protracted hiatus as a result of work and household priorities, I returned to officiating through the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, coinciding with my retirement from working life in Delhi. DGC organized a Stage 1 Guidelines Qualification seminar for members, which I accomplished. By then, the IGU had streamlined its Guidelines Qualification course of in partnership with The R&A, making it extra structured for officers.
Q: What does it take to change into a Stage 2 Rule Official?
Whereas the Guidelines of Golf are the identical worldwide, they’re administered by completely different governing our bodies: The USGA for the U.S., its territories, and Mexico, and The R&A for the remainder of the world in collaboration with affiliated golf organizations.
In 2022, the IGU introduced its annual Stage 2 Guidelines Seminar. Passing Stage 1 was required, however this subsequent step deepened our understanding and served as a gateway to match officiating. Some associates inspired me to take it, and I noticed it as a option to give again to the sport I really like.
After passing, I turned lively on the membership and league match stage, which included rewriting the Native Guidelines for each programs at DGC. In 2024, after officiating a number of State and Nationwide tournaments as a part of IGU’s “Apprenticeship” program, I turned an empaneled IGU Guidelines Official.
There are presently 53 empaneled officers in India, with 28 at Stage 3 (TARS – Match Administration & Guidelines Faculty) and the remaining as Stage 2 “A” officers. Solely empaneled officers can officiate national-level tournaments.
Trying forward, The R&A is introducing Stage 3 TARS in India for the primary time in April 2025, and I’ve already signed up. If I move with an 80% rating or larger, I’ll qualify to officiate on the worldwide stage.
Q: What’s one of the distinctive or difficult guidelines conditions you’ve needed to deal with?
There have been fairly a couple of, however one which stands out occurred at a Junior Feeder Tour occasion.
The state of affairs: In stroke play, a participant couldn’t discover his ball after his tee shot. His caddie, assuming the ball was misplaced, dropped one other ball the place he thought the unique had been. The participant hit this ball, and that’s when his opponent known as me over.
The ruling:
- The caddie dropped the ball, which isn’t allowed—1 stroke penalty.
- The participant hit a wrongly substituted ball from the incorrect place, as a misplaced ball requires stroke-and-distance reduction—2 strokes.
- Nevertheless, since there was no intervening occasion between these two breaches (Rule 1.3c(4)), the full penalty remained solely 2 strokes.
- The participant was then required to return to the tee to hit his precise stroke-and-distance shot—making it his fifth stroke.
The younger participant was in tears strolling previous us afterward, which was powerful to see. However guidelines are guidelines.
Q: What are the most typical golf rule errors you see amongst newbie golfers?
The most important golf guidelines mistake is just not appropriately figuring out the closest level of full reduction when taking a drop from a cart path. Many gamers assume reduction means a higher lie, quite than understanding the principles require the ball to be in an analogous situation as the place it initially lay.
Q: Has there been a current rule change that you just assume has been particularly useful or controversial?
Rule 11.1 (a & b) now permits the ball to be performed because it lies, with out penalty, if it by accident hits a participant or an out of doors company. This variation nonetheless confuses a number of golfers, as many instinctively assume a penalty ought to apply.
Q: What recommendation do you’ve for golfers who need to higher perceive the principles of golf with out feeling overwhelmed?
I do know the Guidelines of Golf might be overwhelming, however I all the time inform gamers:
- Obtain The R&A Guidelines app—it’s free and straightforward to make use of.
- Begin with the Definitions part—understanding key phrases makes an enormous distinction.
- Learn up on particular guidelines after they apply to your sport—small steps can stop pointless arguments and frustration on the course.
Q: Have you ever ever officiated a well-known participant or occasion? Any memorable tales?
I used to be taking part in within the Indian Open Professional-Am with a South African companion when he talked about he had heard that Royal Calcutta Golf Membership (RCGC) had a number of snakes. I reassured him that whereas we often noticed some, there was nothing to fret about—particularly for somebody from South Africa!
A few holes later, as we walked down the golf green, a cobra slithered previous us—about 25-30 ft away. Let’s simply say my companion was not reassured. He had the heebie-jeebies for the following two holes!
Q: If you happen to may change one rule in golf, what wouldn’t it be?
I might modify Rule 18.3 (Provisional Ball). At present, if a participant finds their unique golf ball and deems it unplayable, they can’t use their provisional ball. I consider permitting the participant to maintain the provisional ball in play in such conditions would velocity up the sport.
Q: What do you take pleasure in most about being a Guidelines Official?
For me, being a Guidelines Official is about extra than simply imposing the principles:
- It retains my thoughts engaged and repeatedly studying.
- It permits me to fulfill gamers from completely different golf equipment and be a part of the golf group.
- Most significantly, it has given me an sudden stage of respect on the course. When you possibly can clearly clarify a ruling in a manner {that a} participant understands the trigger and impact of their actions, they stroll away not simply accepting the choice however studying from it.
Golf is a sport of talent, integrity, and custom. Being a part of the trouble to uphold these values is what retains me coming again.
Bio – Rohit Modwel, Stage 2 Golf Guidelines Official
With over 42 years of {golfing} expertise, Rohit Modwel is a longtime member of Delhi Golf Membership and Tollygunge Membership.
An authorized Stage 2 Golf Guidelines Official with distinction from the R&A and Indian Golf Union, he often conducts Golf Guidelines Clinics and officiates at nationwide and club-level occasions.
Past golf, Rohit additionally holds a First Class Administration Submit Graduate working for over 44 years with Industrial corporations dealing in vanguard applied sciences, and is a professional personal pilot.
