The R&A Login Register Rules Championships Equipment WAGR Working for Golf Golf Course Management All The R&A Supporting golf worldwide Home The R&A Playing Golf Rules and Amateur Status Equipment Championship Golf Working for Golf Our Heritage Shop The R&A Working for Golf Preserving Golf's Heritage R&A Properties News Event Calendar Annual Review Golf in St Andrews Shop Downloads and Free Publications The R&A The R&A The R&A The R&A Formed in 2004 and based in St Andrews, The R&A seeks to engage in and support activities that are undertaken for the benefit of the game of golf and, despite deriving its name from the members’ club, is separate and distinct from The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. The R&A organises The Open Championship, golf’s oldest Major, along with a number of other amateur and junior events, some of which are sanctioned by other golfing bodies. In addition, The R&A assumes responsibility for the administration of the Rules of Golf with the consent of 152 organisations from the amateur and professional game, and on behalf of over 30 million golfers in 138 countries throughout Europe, Africa, Asia-Pacific and the Americas. For the USA and Mexico, the USGA is the governing body, an organisation with whom The R&A has jointly issued the Rules of Golf since 1952. The R&A Rules Department also incorporates an Equipment Standards division, a team of scientists who, through rigorous state-of-the-art testing, assess new developments in golf technology, as well as ensuring that new club and ball submissions from manufacturers conform to the Rules of the game. By staging The Open Championship, one of the world’s great sporting events, each year, The R&A is able to distribute a substantial annual surplus for the development of the game. Particular emphasis is placed on encouraging junior golf, on the promotion and progression of the game in emerging golfing nations, on coaching and on the provision of more public courses and improved practice facilities. The R&A also provides best practice guidance on all aspects of golf course management, to help grow golf throughout the world in a commercially and environmentally sustainable way. Working for Golf Each year, The R&A distributes a substantial sum of roughly five million pounds to deserving causes from grassroots initiatives, through coaching and regional championships, to professional tours all over the world. Working for Golf Preserving Golf's Heritage Responsible for the collections of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club and British Golf Museum, the Museum & Heritage curators care for over 3000 artefacts dating from the late 17th century to the present day. Preserving Golf's Heritage R&A Properties In addition to the Clubhouse, The R&A owns a number of other nearby properties which line the 18th hole of the Old Course, many of which possess rich golfing histories. R&A Properties Share www.randa.org Sitemap The R&A The R&A News Event Calendar Annual Review Golf in St Andrews Shop Downloads and Free Publications Playing Golf The Golf Course Equipment Spirit of the Game Quick Guide to the Rules Handicapping Golfers with Disabilities Rules and Amateur Status Rules Academy Rules Explorer Rules News and Features Anchoring Rules Education Etiquette Pace of Play Guidance on Running a Competition Rules Quiz Amateur Status Equipment Equipment Rules Distance Measuring Devices Equipment Search Functions and Principles Equipment in Focus Equipment Permitted for Medical Reasons A Guide to the Rules on Clubs and Balls Protocols and Procedures Equipment Submissions Equipment Notices Working for Golf Global Activity Map Golf Development Course Management World Amateur Golf Ranking Affiliated Organisations 2013 Official Working for Golf Film Our Heritage The Royal and Ancient Golf Club Celebrating your Centenary Old Course British Golf Museum Contact Us Disclaimer Cookie Info Privacy Policy R&A Trademarks Credits Media © R&A Championships Limited, Company No. SC247047, R&A Rules Limited, Company No. SC247046 R&A Group Services Limited, Company No. SC247048, Beach House, Golf Place, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9JA Web design by Lightmaker Developed and managed by Endava