6 November 2007
TO: ALL AFFILIATED UNIONS AND ASSOCIATIONSDRIVING CLUBS
Following the recent announcement of the new Rules of Golf for 2008, I am writing tohighlight, once again, the new Rule which will be introduced on driving clubs.
For the avoidance of doubt, I would clarify that, from 1 January 2008, all drivers must
conform to the following provisions, as set forth in Appendix II, 4c of the Rules of Golf:"Spring Effect and Dynamic Properties
The design and/or construction of, or any treatment to, the clubhead(which includes the face) must not:(i) have the effect of a spring which exceeds the limit set forth in thePendulum Test Protocol on file with the R&A."
This new Rule will apply to all golfers of all abilities and in all forms of play. Most importantly,
it is recognised that this Rule will affect the conformance status of many drivers currently
in use and, whilst many golfers have already replaced or made plans to replace suchclubs with conforming models, some golfers, it would seem, are still unaware of the newRule and its implications.
The purpose of this communication is to encourage you to contact all of the Golf Clubs inyour country to:(a) ensure that they are fully aware of the new Rule and understand how it should beapplied; and(b) suggest that, unless they have already done so, the Golf Clubs should take immediate
steps to ensure that their Membership are fully aware and prepared for the new Rule.
In the run-up to 2008, Golf Clubs could be taking steps to raise awareness of the new Ruleamongst their Members and assisting them to determine the conformance status of theirdrivers. This should help minimise any uncertainty, confusion, and/or unfortunate
disqualifications after 1 January 2008 and help to ensure a smoother transition to the newRule.
For your information, I am attaching a list of Frequently Asked Questions which may be ofassistance to you. However, if you do have any other questions, please do not hesitate tocontact The R&A.
Yours faithfully
DAVID RICKMAN
Director of Rules and Equipment Standards

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q1
A1Will the new Rule on drivers be applicable to amateur, Club level golfers?
Yes. The new Rule will apply to all golfers, of all abilities, in all forms of play. Thisincludes Club level golfers playing in their Club competitions and medals.

Q2

Question: Can individual Golf Clubs decide to allow the use of nonconforming drivers via a Local Rule or Condition of Competition?
No. A Committee has no power to waive a Rule of Golf (see Rule 33-1). Local
Rules and Conditions of Competitions can only be introduced under theterms of Appendix I.

A2

Q3
A3

Q4
A4

Is it up to the Committee to ensure that I am using a driver which conforms tothe new Rules?
No. It is your responsibility to ensure that your equipment conforms to the Rulesof Golf.
Where can I find out if my driver will conform after 1 January 2008?
The R&A has compiled and published the following lists based on the 2008
Rules:
List of Conforming Driver Heads
List of Non-conforming Drivers
These can be accessed from The R&A's website (www.randa.org) byfollowing the links to ‘Rules’, ‘Equipment’ and ‘Driving Clubs’.

Q5I am a Club level golfer and my driver is not included on either of thepublished driver lists. Does this mean that I cannot use it after 1 January 2008?

A5

No. As long as there is no strong evidence to suggest that your driver does
not conform to the new Rule, you may continue to use it (but see Q6).
Examples of strong evidence would include the following examples:(i) your driver includes a marking on the head which is similar to markings only
found on drivers from the same manufacturer which are on the nonconforming list.
(ii) the same model of driver is included on the non-conforming list, but inother lofts.
(iii) advertising material claims that the driver is manufactured to be contrary
to the Rules for 2008.
In the avoidance of any doubt, you should contact the manufacturer of theclub or The R&A.

Q6
A6

I am a low handicap golfer competing at Club level, but I am also planningto enter County and National level competitions. My driver is not on either ofthe published lists. Can I use it after 1 January 2008?
Using this driver in Club competitions would be permissible as long as it satisfies
the criteria detailed in the answer to Q5.
Using the driver at County and National level would not be permitted if theCommittee in charge of those events had decided to introduce the Driving
Club Condition as a Condition of Competition. This Condition requires that thedriver the player uses is included on the List of Conforming Driver Heads.

Q7A7Q8A8Q9A9Q10A10Q11A11

What is the difference between the Rule on drivers and the Driving ClubCondition?
The new Rule on drivers requires that the driver does not exceed acharacteristic time of 239 microseconds (plus tolerance of 18 microseconds).
This is the limit on a club’s spring effect.
The Condition requires that the driver the player uses not only conforms to thisRule, but is also included on the List of Conforming Driver Heads. TheCondition is an additional requirement which can be introduced byCommittees in charge of elite level competitions. It is not recommended foruse at Club level golf.
Why is the use of the Condition not recommended for use at Club level golf?
If all drivers had to be included on the Conforming List, wouldn’t this make itless confusing for Club level golfers and easier for Club Committees?
Applying the Condition at Club level could take drivers out of golfers' bags
unnecessarily. There are many small manufacturers and club component
manufacturers around the world who do not submit their products for a rulingand it would be unreasonable to prohibit the use of these clubs even though
they may and probably do conform to the Rules.
If I am a Club golfer and I would like to know the conformance status of adriver not on the List, what can I do?
In the first instance, you can contact The R&A through the 'contact us' sectionof The R&A’s website (www.randa.org) and ask whether the driver has been
submitted to them for a ruling. It may have been submitted and ruled nonconforming for another reason.
If it has never been submitted, you could contact the manufacturer and ask
them to confirm that the club was manufactured to conform to the 2008
Rules. You could also request that they submit a sample of the club to one of
the Governing Bodies (The R&A or the United States Golf Association) for aruling.
Finally, as a last resort, you could send your club to The R&A for testing. Whilst
The R&A would not be able to list the model as a result of this 'unofficial'submission, you would be notified as to the conformance status of the club.
I purchased my club in 1996 and I cannot find it on either of the published lists.
Will it conform after 1 January 2008?
All models of driver manufactured prior to 1999 are assumed to conform to
the Rules for ‘spring effect’ and are deemed to be on the Conforming List provided they have not been modified post manufacture or previously ruled
not to conform for another reason. Any pre-1999 drivers which have been
submitted and do not conform to the Rules for ‘spring effect’ are included on
the Non-conforming List (for 2008).
My driver is a 'copy' or 'clone' of a popular model which is on the Conforming
List. The markings on my driver are slightly different, but can I assume my clubalso conforms? It is unlikely ever to be submitted.
In the absence of any strong evidence to suggest that your driver does notconform, you should continue to use it in the belief that it does conform.
However, due to the difference in the markings, you cannot regard it as a“listed club” (i.e. a club on the Conforming List).