Tokyo 2025 - Summer Deaflympics 2025

Technical Regulations - Golf

1. EVENTS
This competition will be conducted during the Summer Deaflympics 2025 from 15 Nov 2025 to 26 Nov 2025 and will consist of the following 3 events (1 for men, 1 for women and 1 for mixed):

2. PARTICIPANTS

2.1 Invitation to Participate
ICSD and the Organising Committee will invite all National Deaf Sports Federation (NDSF) members in good standing to participate in the competition.

2.2 Eligibility

2.2.1 Hearing Loss
Participation in the competition is restricted to athletes who are deaf and/or hard of hearing. Refer to the ICSD Audiogram Regulations for additional details on measurement of hearing loss.

2.2.2 Age
Athletes must meet the minimum age requirement for each event listed below:

2.2.3 Compliance
Only athletes who comply with the Deaflympics Regulations are allowed to participate in the competition.

2.3 Number of Teams
Not Applicable

2.4 Qualified Teams
Not Applicable

2.5 Number of Athletes per Discipline
A maximum number of athlete(s) per NDSF is allocated to each Golf discipline listed below:

2.6 Number of Athletes per Event
A maximum number of athlete(s) per NDSF is allocated to each event listed below:

2.7 Number of Reserves or Substitutes per Event
A maximum number of reserve/substitute athlete(s) per NDSF is allocated to each event listed below:

2.8 Competition Entry Standards
Not Applicable

2.9 Competition Entry Rules
Only an authorised representative of each NDSF is allowed to submit competition entries.

2.10 Non-Starting Athletes
A fine of USD$100.00 will be levied on each non-starting athlete unless he/she submits a doctor's declaration in writing English that he/she should not be allowed to start.

3. REGISTRATION
Please refer to the 7. Individual Sports in the General Technical Rules - Summer Deaflympics, for further details on registration.

4. COMPETITION RULES AND REGULATIONS

4.1 Technical Organisation
ICSD is be responsible for the technical organisation of the competition in conjunction with the R&A (R&A).

4.2 Committees

4.2.1 Technical Committee
The Technical Committee is comprised of the ICSD Golf Director and other members nominated by the Organising Committee and approved by ICSD:

Gavin Balharrie - ICSD Golf Director (Chair)
Shinsuke Annaka - Chief Tournament Director (Japan Golf Association)
Shigeru Fujimoto - Head Referee
Yasuyuki Narushima - Sport Liaison Officer
Yasuhiro Sone - Deaf Representative

4.2.2 Protest Committee
The Protest Committee is comprised of the ICSD Golf Director and other members nominated by the Organising Committee and approved by ICSD:

Gavin Balharrie - ICSD Golf Director (Chair)
Shinsuke Annaka - Chief Tournament Director (Japan Golf Association)
Shigeru Fujimoto - Head Referee

4.3 Competition Rules
The competitions will be conducted in accordance with the R&A Rules and Regulations (version: 1 January 2023). In case of disagreement in the interpretation of the Rules and Regulations, the English text shall prevail. Unforeseen incidents not covered by the Rules and Regulations shall be dealt with as follow:

4.3.1 Cases of a general nature will be resolved in accordance with the Deaflympics Regulations and this Golf Technical Regulations.

4.3.2 Cases of a technical nature related to competition rules will be resolved in accordance with the R&A Rules and Regulations.

4.4 Competition Equipment

All equipment used during competition must comply with the R&A Rules and Regulations.

4.5 Competition Clothing

4.5.1 Participants must wear competitive uniforms representing their nationality, duly registered and published in accordance with the R&A Rules and Regulations.

4.5.2 Participants must observe the Deaflympics Regulations regarding advertisements on their uniforms and clothing worn in the competition area.

4.6 Draw
The draw for all events will be conducted under control of the Technical Committee and in accordance with the R&A Rules and Regulations.

4.7 Competition Plan
The competition plan will be conducted in accordance with the R&A Rules and Regulations.

4.8 Officials

4.8.1 Judge/Referee/Umpire
Allocation of the officials to conduct the events will be made by the Technical Committee. Wherever possible, officials will possess the R&A international license valid for 2025. However, officials with the highest level of national accreditation may be assigned.

4.8.2 Appointment
The Organising Committee, the Golf Director and an ICSD-designated Representative shall appoint a R&A representative and an appropriate number of officials to conduct each event.

4.9 Unforeseen Incidents
In the event of unforeseen incidents not covered by the rules and regulations, the Technical Committee will make a determination. In the absence of the Technical Committee, the ICSD Golf Director will make a determination.

5. VENUES

5.1 Competition Venue

5.2 Training Venue

6. SCHEDULES

6.1 Competition Schedule

6.2 Training Schedule

6.3 Technical Meeting

6.3.1 Date and Location

6.3.2 Attendance
Each participating NDSF may be represented by a maximum of two officials, of whom at least one must be deaf. The NDSF may also bring an interpreter if necessary.

7. CONTROL AND SANCTIONS

7.1 Hearing Devices
The use of any hearing aid(s)/amplification or cochlear implant is prohibited in the restricted zone area.

7.1.1 Restricted Zone
As per Audiogram Regulations, athletes participating in Summer Deaflympics 2025 are strictly prohibited from using any hearing aids or cochlear implant aids during competitions. This rule applies specifically to the restricted zone, which is defined as follows:

7.1.1.1 Restricted Area

In accordance with the Rules of Golf (by R&A / USGA) Rule 5.3 (Starting and Ending Round), an official round (a stipulated round) by each athlete starts when a stroke is made on the first (1st) tee, and ends when final stroke is made into the hole on the eighteenth (18th) hole.

A stipulated round is paused in case of bad weather / other delay where determined (by way of red flags) by the Technical Committee.

Athletes must not wear their hearing devices for the period of time in which a stipulated round is underway (ie from 1st hole to 18th hole), however prior to, during a pause due to bad weather, and after a stipulated round, may put their hearing devices on.

Note 1: Due to the extent of a golf course (being over a significant amount of land) including practice area, putting greens, it is not prudent (or economic) to define the restricted area to include the entire golf course up to the fence/boundary line of the overall golf course, and to monitor the entire golf course when a stipulated round has not commenced or has been paused.

Note 2: Caddies (as officials) for athletes are allowed to wear hearing devices, as Golf is an individual sport and caddies being hearing or deaf with hearing advices, has no significant advantage over other athletes who do not have a caddy.

7.1.1.2 Authority

The head referees, course referees, and official starters are authorised to inspect all athletes to ensure they are not using hearing devices.

7.1.1.3 Inspection Location

At the first (1st) tee or tenth (10th) tee at the start of each round, the official starters must check all athletes to confirm they are not wearing hearing devices before they are given the official scorecard to commence their stipulated round.

7.1.1.4 Violation

If an athlete wears a hearing device during a stipulated round, they will be automatically disqualified from the competition. If one of the athletes in the mixed teams competition wears a hearing device during a stipulated round, the team will be disqualified. The violation must be documented by the head referee or course referees on the scorecard and by the ICSD Golf Director using the ICSD Violation Form.

7.1.2 Violation and Penalty
When this rule is violated, refer to ICSD Audiogram Regulations 10: Violations and Penalties.

7.1.3 Award Ceremony
Athletes may use any hearing device during the award ceremony. No penalty will be imposed for using such a device.

8. PROTESTS

8.1 Procedures for lodging a protest
All sport related protests will be resolved in accordance with the R&A Rules and Regulations and will be adjudicated by the Protest Committee.

8.1.1 Any protest must be written in English on the Official Protest Form. The form and a deposit USD$100.00 must be given to the ICSD Golf Director within 15 minutes after the official public posting of results.

8.1.2 The ICSD Golf Director will decide whether the protest is sport-related or eligibility-related. The Protest Committee will review all sport-related protests, and the ICSD Representative will review all eligibility-related protests.

8.1.3 The deposit of USD$100.00 will be returned to the applicant only if the protest is considered valid.

8.2 Procedure for reviewing a protest
The Protest Committee will meet in the competition venue or a designated office at a time decided upon by the ICSD Golf Director.

8.2.1 The ICSD Golf Director will chair of the Protest Committee.

8.2.2 The Sport Liaison Officer (SLO) will be responsible for booking a meeting room and interpreters.

8.2.3 The SLO will contact and inform all members of the Protest Committee of the meeting time and location.

8.2.4 The ICSD Golf Director will be responsible for liaising with the State Sports Association's Competition Manager.

8.2.5 After adjudication, the ICSD Golf Director will forward the original Official Protest Form (along with the protest fee if the protest was denied) to the ICSD Secretariat. The SLO will forward a copy of the form to the Deaflympics Headquarters.

Notice: this regulations are subject to change. Last updated on Friday, 16-May-25 00:49:01 GMT.