Public perception must not sway law makers

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON'S disqualification in Abu Dhabi yesterday certainly conjures up the question once again as to whether or not the current rules of golf are too penal and are in need of revision.

Ironically, Harrington signed up a three-year deal to be the R&A Golf Club’s world ambassador just this week. Given their status as the official lawmakers for the game globally, this is an embarrassing moment for them. But it may nudge them towards examining some of the game’s rules to deem whether they’re fair or whether they are, in fact, damaging.

Golf has always been perceived as a “game of honour”, where the rules are largely self regulated. None more so that the professional game where many of its leading lights have called penalties on themselves.

For example, who can forget Darren Clarke chipping his ball out sideways from the rough (so as to gain no advantage) while in contention to win the Irish Open in Carton House in 2006, after he alleged that someone had improved his lie in the rough over night? Or the 2001 British Open, where Ian Woosnam was in contention to win only to find out on the second tee of the final round that an extra driver was in his bag. Had he said nothing, nobody may ever have known; yet he chucked the driver out and added two strokes to his score, denying himself a major title in the process.

However, a different issue arises when a player unknowingly breaks the rules or outside forces (a gust of wind etc) intervenes, bringing about a penalty or even disqualification from the tournament.

Undoubtedly, there are very unfair rules in the game of golf, but they are there to define the game and to protect all players. As was the case yesterday with Harrington. The fact that some indiscretions are identified by armchair viewers on tv is irrelevant, these are the same viewers that drive revenue in the sport and help fund the huge purses played for each week.

Most importantly, the professionals themselves have bought into this code of conduct as they see it as a way for the professional game to retain its commerciality and integrity. Harrington's disqualification is unfortunate, but he also recognises that without that definition in the game, it could easily descend into a farce where those not regularly on television could have an advantage over those who constantly play in front of cameras.

In golf, cheating is a black and white issue; there are no grey areas. The rulebook is sacrosanct - even if some of the rules seem peculiar and violating them offers no advantage. Golfers know when they compete there is a “badge of honour” to play by and call any necessary penalty on themselves. It’s a game of integrity.

Today, we are all experiencing changing times in the golf industry, with so many clubs under financial pressure, yet the game’s integrity remains as solid as ever. Oh, for the day that other professional sports like football cleans up its act and plays by the rules. Golf administrators should never be worried about the public perception that they are being too unfair or overly harsh. They should really rejoice. However foolish they may look at times, they recognise the difference between right and wrong.