Amateur Golf Story 2012

Go-ahead for DMDs in all English women's competitions

Distance measuring devices (DMDS) are to be allowed in all English national women's championships and competitions, with immediate effect.

Until now, competitors have been allowed to use DMDs in English Women's Golf Association (EWGA) events at club level. However, they were not permitted in national championships, nor in the regional and national finals of handicap competitions.

Many players found the situation confusing and EWGA received many questions asking why DMDs were not allowed in all its competitions and, specifically, why men could use them when women could not.

After giving full consideration to the matter, the EWGA Operational Board decided that DMDs could be used in all its events. The decision was made at the board's final meeting before the association merged with the English Golf Union (EGU) to form England Golf. The EGU already allows the use of DMDs in all its events.

Individual county women's associations will continue to make their own decision about whether or not to allow the use of DMDs in their events.

Readers should note that:-

On January 1st 2012, the English Women's Golf Association merged with the English Golf Union to form England Golf, the governing body for all amateur golf in England.

England Golf is one of the largest sports governing bodies in England looking after the interests of over 1,900 golf clubs and 770,000 men and women club members.

Responsible for the training of the country's top amateur golfers, England Golf also organises all the major English amateur championships. England Golf works to actively encourage new golfers and increase the continued interest and participation in golf through its golf development initiative 'Get into Golf'.

England Golf is a member of The England Golf Partnership (EGP) together with the PGA and supported by the Golf Foundation and Sport England. Their Whole Sport Plan for golf identifies how England will achieve its vision of becoming 'The Leading Golf Nation in the World by 2020' from grass roots right through to elite level."