Santiago, Chile and the picturesque Club Golf La Dehesa was the setting for the latest edition of The R&A’s Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar (TARS) in South America.
Having initially been scheduled to take place in March 2020 on the very week that the Covid-19 pandemic led to strict restrictions to international travel being put in place, it was a much-anticipated and welcome return to the region in 2023 as part of The R&A’s Rules Education programme following an unfortunate three-year delay.
With 47 experienced delegates from Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Uruguay in attendance, the three-day event featured practical demonstrations, role play scenarios, instruction and discussions with R&A referees on the Rules of Golf, the methods of starting and recording, the practicalities of refereeing, course marking, course set-up, how to handle suspensions of play, as well as how to manage pace of play during championships.
With a combination of presentations across all aspects of championship operations and practical role play sessions, delegates enjoyed a variety of experiences and were put into real-world situations where members of The R&A Rules team acted out the part of a player as they posed delegates a series of rules scenarios so they could experience the pressure of giving rulings whilst their peers watched on. Constructive feedback, both on the rules decision given and the way rulings were presented and delivered, proved a helpful tool for delegates to improve communication with players and to help them referee for their national associations and at international championships in the future.
Video discussions about real life rulings from the professional Tours provided insights into how difficult Rules scenarios and situations are handled at the highest levels of the sport and how this knowledge can be applied to everyday events. Sessions on course marking and course set-up also allowed for valuable discussions and lessons on how to properly prepare the golf course for play and manage the set-up of teeing areas and hole locations appropriately for the level of event and the resources available.
During the seminar, other interactive discussions such as 'The Tour Point of View' also proved to be popular, with representatives of The R&A team hosting an interview and Q&A session with Chilean professional and TV broadcaster Nicolás Geyger, giving valuable insight into the player's perspective on Rules issues from a Tour players point of view.
The R&A’s Rules Education programme, run in conjunction with national golf federations, has the aim of developing delegates fundamental Rules knowledge, providing them with insight and guidance on all aspects of tournament administration as well as assisting with offering practical experience for refereeing at events. We extend our thanks to Golf Chile for their generous hospitality in hosting the latest successful TARS in the region.
