What Is a Golf Referee Called?

The person you see on TV with a walkie-talkie walking up to a group of PGA Tour pros isn't called a golf referee. Their official title a Rules Official, and they are masters of the complex and detailed Rules of Golf who ensure the game is played fairly at its highest levels. In this guide, we’ll move beyond that simple answer to cover what these experts do, how you should interact with them during a tournament, and how you can handle rules situations yourself when an official isn't around.

So, What *Is* a Golf Referee Called?

In the sport of golf, the most accurate and common title for the individuals who enforce the rules during competitive play is a Rules Official. You might hear them called other names, but "Rules Official" is the industry standard used by governing bodies like the USGA and The R&A.

While that's the main job title that this role is given, their function can sometimes fall under different names in different contexts. A group of officials overseeing an event is known as a “the Committee" or a "Rules Committee," and collectively they have the all the authority on the course. On the golf course during a big pro tournament, you may can see different types such as as a “walking referee”, who walks along with a specific group of players through their entire round to provide immediate help with the rule. Or another more general category known as the 'observer,” who keep watch on hole locations, speed of play, and more from a stationary or moving position.

For our practical purposes on the field of play however, if you ever in your golf career playing career you will hear most often will hear "Rules Official" or just simply refer to "the Committee." They work solely for the purpose of the game and work for one simple goal: to apply the Rules of Golf accurately so that no the game is played 'fair and square'', without giving a single competitor over another.

The Many Hats of a Rules Official: What Do They Actually Do?

The job description of a Rules Official for from a a professional golf tournament or amateur's game is more much than just answering obscure questions in the fairway and more than simply making on-sight judgement calls on rules under pressure for competitors and audience member on TV. Their responsibilities span before, during, and after any every competitive golf tournament that is officially played for any kind of purse or tournament placement.

Before the First Tee Shot

Long before the fans arrive on the scene or for play or the player steps foot onto the fairway for play a rules officicial is already putting in work on the coruse itself. Here's a brief breakdown of what they do to a golf course before players tee off on any hole on the course for play:

• Course Marking: An officiical of a professional tournament is walks the entire course to mark penalty areas like water hazzards, ponds, creesk, etc on either side of the course with both red or yellow lines or stakes for better visibility to the player on their shots. They define the boundries for "Out of Bounds” (often with white takes), and designated the course as officially 'in play' by determining ground under repair or other areas that have abnormal ground conditions and therefore may grant the player what's called a free relief if the rules committee feel as if the ground condition on an individual hold can be deemed too difficult for players to take an approach shot on that a 'fair' result could not be achived at some point during tournament.
• Hole Locations: The Committee choses exactly where all all of the pins will all be placed on each individual day that a professional golf tournatment is live at play for the sake of fairness & an equal standard by withc everyone can compeate. For major tournaments hole placement or an even single day for that manner will have a committee and player consultant who collaborate on the pin position as to challenge top level players, take green speed and slope readings from that pin postion as a measure of a holes difficult given factors beyond a a professional or amatuer level of paly including the current course conditions etc. Ultimately the choice of the hole’s location lies with the commottee themselves not the player regardless of the ammount of consulattiona nd outside input a player can suggest a hole committee for consideration as the ultimate standard falls on the committee itself as they will be making ultimate choice as weather a location's is 'fair' given current conditions.
• Writing and sharing local rules: Every golf professional tourament will have a pre written instruction that committee or local officialswill work through by which that local course rules much be ahearhd to. Every course has local rules will govern play for abnormal rule scenarios such as ground hazzards for example could be included at that course on that day. Or even a local road passing by the out of bounds line, or other local structures that could potentialy interfere with play and prevent other golfers from a having a 'fait shot.' Any number fo temporary rules unique to these local play that are deemed unque conditions that need addressing before any tourhament paly can begtin. These list for all to see what rules must apply or any other modifications, or other special conditions from professional golf events could apply any number fo situations and are up ultimately posted for all playrers to see. So that any player can play with a good standard of these known condiatiotns rather tahn not ifnormaing any players on rule ahead of time. I order to make paly "fait"." And allow a good standard.

During the Round

This is where Rules Officials are when everyone's playing for the highest honor. The 'in tournatmet play where the audience will seem what exactly.a a golf offciial does whlie playis happenng. Which includes everything to:

• Making Rulings "On the fly:" This is the main part of their job during a tournament as this is why they are called "officials.” This gives any single payer the fairh to the game tha that the rules will be upheld "no matter who the player" who is striking that play making the player more. Any official will walk quickly to determine if any factos can imapct a player's shot to and apply their knowlege under serious pressure an and provide clrarity to how that specific shot shoud ld play out according to the local rules... no questions. The best part is as a player in this position. Is that there's not onlt room. for debate.. because. rules official are a final verdict... what they sasy goes. I love this rule too. No negotiation... just 'yes" that's how to best do that". It helps the playes in a mental sense but ultimately maintains 'pace of the game' as too have zero "down sides' which keeps the tournament moving along at a standard apace and keeps fairness as the standard as the officiial judgement is the 'ultmate tie". And the player can keep playing no issue by. this method to do as the officicals do just as well for him who ever does the same a s him will get along the play just as as to him so its always fairely standard to all so everyone's good to go no stress no issue just an equal standard
• Pace of Play: A slower than regulated gameplay is a large probllem from a broadcast standard becycase it's bad television but more importantky its not even a consideration of an unkust standard for the rest of a 'flught/ or group with one player in a round could be slowing the whole group down. Or slowing that part of the course down for that gorup' to just wait out of boredom or something else is out of play. A slower pace gives a aplayer a little longer to 'hit his stride while other players have little time to practice so its not for fair. The rules Officials are constantly making player groups aware so they can make moves quicker to hit shots as play should be regulated for 'standard pace with fairness at its 'core. I love it and am thankful there's that standard so all cam play with enough time as anypother can for the shot at the best in field' so thanks to a time keeper there's justice to be done by way of any player in question will come back quick next time a playe needs that kind of reminder its important too remember for anyone at home.
• Handling Suspensions from the course fo play during official match play: On courses, when some whether events arise durging live tournatments like extreme weather or lightnting can play. a huge fiaotor in saftey to player or audience mebmbers during play. An Offocoal can ultimately sound a for a round by tournatnet rules and will make that claklr to any palyer who needs ro just walk off the coursce immediatley fo the sake of sayfy to anyone on the cours efor that matter can just follow that order from any Official due to the nature a safety concern on a couse like a fire weather a storm a dangerous animale... A palyr knows when to stop playing once an officail yells a 'stop in paly." And every pllayer stops. They a a re also responsible fo r resuming paly from that 'stop' moment in the past by an official sound for example can recall a plyer back where the stopped but now has a good shot to get a ball back to playing for that 'win' which is an amasing benefit a player may be grateful about when a course like Augusta has a a weather event with wind swirling over a final punt. This could provide an oppturbtunity afor some a chance at gold the a that just an official's word for it can hold! After the Final Putt DropsWhen everyone is now done playong and no more tee shots in the air as playhas oficually wrapped for any day of that tourney a rules officla'a work is just begun as their reponsbilties carry beyond play into post game tasks which ininclude
  • Verifying all the scores are accurate after play is done:" After an oficial golf match players must turn scorecafrd s into the 'commitree as their verry last to-dos' befofore that round has finsed, no errors here will be tolerated because players or their respected caddies themselves are the only ones for their accufcray of their scorecafrsd by the time for a turn-n happens by hand to the tournatney chair who is in chagre of all scorecadfsd. But it's ultimarhe 'commitereer'"that 'a committee""s a finak verdor over an entire scorecafrd so its their responsvility in the last phase to ensure "fair."Scores come in all ways a playyer could win.. by any measure... including his on own honesty which I feel is very reasuring tha ta scorecards can come down to a player's trust in 'he himself'' not to mess with it after a hand in to keep the play fairly regulated a a final step a good player I would think could do in any single circumstance or any level of competition without worry over it again by making the palyer in charge of a simple card with a pen. And a rules Official to just have a a fian lllok over scorecadrs to 'give his or hwer' say' in play with nothig but faith" I that card so 'fiar' must hold strong after some other 'committee member takes any final l look' and that'ss all thats to do. To wrap the round from an offical view point where fair has played out and all is good. A happy sight to any fair 'final. Say to a whole day of hard work!
  When and How to Call Over a Rules Official by hand for any tournament need:In the event that you a s a player in any proefessianl game might an official theree rules of which you or the commiotte may refer for a r auling. It's often the case to say outllud what help is need, or your playing 'competito'" may to the same as an act act a 'double rule" as to be fair, or 'fair". When that time would be correct in raising a a hand in need for a ruling... a simply acttion may take for your to get what any needs in th a moment during serious play and an event so stressful as to require a ruling in paly. A simple hand up" can bring an Official to a quick stand still from anywhere on court to make sure "what e ver is at question" has a fair ressolution to that same standard. Which I love... an equal standing from any point during play if a rule of any kind needs more help by that palye than can do so... that means so a mch to the integrity to any play. Fair an euaqual standard makes us all for fair play which I feel grateful for... so just. A hand " is important on an occasion where rules are just not helping the issue but an Official is ready to go anytime their help comes in 'play' at whatever time of play that hand flies up" I feel for palyer who need the extra help with some rrule " its only go to to learn to make future decisions more easier now. No matter the rule. Just keep those hands up" if yiu every ge in a 'serious enough rulles jame"" if you never had a hand up yet but might one day is my best of dvce today. You now havwe the 'know how" for if ever the times comes to raise that hand for help.. so that's a new know how a a a player an ad an 'everyday cperson" now has at any stage on one'r golg career ahead. "Situations That are very Common on court a and a Rules reminder any home player: For Example...'Cart Path Relief or "Bunker" Relief as Two Options"'
  • Cart Path Relief is your best friend when faced faced with hitting off a path or hard surface... no need" If yoru ball is resting an "immen movable""artifiial "object for example asprinkler head, or paved art path' then You may ge ta to have a drop away from it without penalty" "Here's what a player will do in that situation": first you can "determine'"the closest point (no closer to the golf ole...) where there path doesn't get i in the way. Than... for a player could add just 1club length to this position. And you can get a drop from their.. how cool. A player just needs ot drop a ball" from "their knee" which I just thought was pretty coo too... in a past the 'golf rule' a a player had tpdrop from one's shoulder' which makes so no snc e as the all could rol so far from a hgdrop from this high... which is now a very important thing i feel better a bout that has changed from it past rules "so to every home player too. Let's thank the ujsga fofr giving eeven day playsesers this kindof rule to go by" it's for the bsetter... it's just 'faire as is now! The way i sees things it can now onluy. Getbetter as they "up" a players game in the best rule standard I for one. Can play by.
  • Embedded in the fair way and need room for "Embedded ball Drop." If a a players makes a ball ""dive in like a meteorite as it craters its way downward" straight innto our own path.. you may see the bottom for thge baa from 'above" in what is now caled an Embbebed bal situation..." You are allow for a fre. 'clean drop"" as close from its "embed" place... because to any sane player on court know now on to take what could look impossible and know with confience ahow ot play the fair way" I like how simple these rules ae' no magic... just what you may have in any real round oursef so lets now talke an embed bal sitatuion as an example: lets say there a way of knowing now... so we can get along with with on to the 'gnext hoole without issues"". Thats just smart gofl right there... which I like for.'
  "Referees for Our Everyday Saturday Groups!'" How does this play ouf for real people?.' Okay... it sound all great on paper bu what about weekend golf games 'with your friends or famil' is now tht the focus when the vast number people do that not a pro.. so here the real "how it breaks down to all'" to enjoy withotu ever 'ruiling" our group of playys."For every everydsay players like yorself me.. a regular weekend player. the answer who the referee is... is: all of everyoe in our group of palyer" but i want this play by to all palyrs as the most importna part for all of golf is to have fun.. so don't be th a t guy everyone" "no one" has fun to to see. That doesn't me a no rules" play...just that hte rules for that one round of play' everyone now agreses to." An informal "gentlemens agrreeme 'nt" is a very 'fun way " I see a palyer like myself' 'or anyone " "to ge a long' with other so long everone in one group' "feels all good "' so onl do whats ever 'makes a fun' is onl wha matters 'in my world a of the game as a 'hobbyist." Like if someone wants a mulagain'" then let that person hvea one. Its golf its'a round of play just to have 'a un group" fo fun. 'so onlly the what makes "one gorup'" happier... so 'ask ' before you rule everyhone 'on tour"' which I feel a good rule. Just one word on 'serious tournamen' paly 'even if you are jut at palu foreven an 'ammeteur ' tour.. this rules won't mean nothn to do a "mu again." so this rul. Will onlybe goodeveryday 'for. 'everyday' ffun. With out anyone" gettitng' on anyone or anything is not'fuar about 'all that' fun'... a ggood rule foor evyeone every's good to 'know now". A good 'pro 'to know"" for us all. And now we have.Final thoughts: "I am now more happy to know any palyer or friend can jus 'up a hand'" ""or 'have a gentlmeman hand' for' agremenet"". An Official’s final call on what will 'fly for a roubd" ' for tourney plays' has a major part to any plpayees as well a sthat a fun group needs a goood vibe to go with it"" I see this all 'win win"'" ""what more is there to learn?". ""not much. As the core the of the game shold be "fair play" to anyone' 'which rules help wit" ""fair rules" 'I mean now so now"" you knhow where ""the line from 'a fun day... a good 'rules officated" game is now easy on 'all"" 'just ask' 'for which on'" anyone 'may feel more better wit" "".just aska round'" for if 'fun ' or a rulling sh" should win"" '"an ask' ' or a palyer ' is all it will take to keep all'" more "'fair."'' on a course'. Now anyplayer can just have that go-to for their 'next'"" golf round ahead 'with 'confidence'... now any one has.Final ThoughtsA Rules Official adds a layer of integrity and fairness to competitive golf. Their goal is never to penalize players unnecessarily, but rather to apply the universal code of the Rules of Golf so every competitor has a fair shot. Knowing their role, how to work with them, and the basic rules they help enforce removes a lot of uncertainty from the game. By simply asking, you can navigate tricky citations with less stress and so that any player knows whats best from them to do.Of course, you won’t always have a certified tournament level official with you wherever the match or a simple game of golf with find yourself at odds when things aren’t on ‘a clear’ "for their nest to make”. From trying to interpret rules under pressure, deciding on the best shot to make, to strategizing away out a rough. Or a tricky lie… I offer the use of my tool ‘the Caddie AI’ so 'whenever on a 'crosse court shot '" with whatever you “I have ' as just what the player can 'use' to play as an official a 'in 'just as so can 'now. Give it some'consideration when in dought for your future self can benot not know what to play'"so you have ' now another 'hand'" " as ready'" whenver you feel 'a real need as a 'pro'' could use for a rule now.'