A Conflict of Interest describes any circumstance that could call into question a person’s ability to act with impartiality and objectivity. If a Referee, walking Referee, Rover or other person (collectively “Referee”) has a relationship with a player that might influence or reasonably be perceived as influencing any actions on behalf of the players and/or the USGA, it is considered a Conflict of Interest. In addition, there are circumstances where a Referee with an assigned group or match might experience unnecessary pressure (collectively “Conflict of Interest”). 

Examples of a Conflict of Interest include, but are not limited to the following: 

• A player in the group or match that you have been assigned to is from your home state/country and you know this player well enough that a ruling could be questioned. 

• A player in the group or match that you have been assigned to, whether the player is from your home state/country, is someone you consider a personal friend. 

• You are assigned to time (pace of play) a player in a group, or a match and you know that player well or you consider the player to be a personal friend. 

• You understand/speak the language that a player, who has a language barrier, also speaks, but one of the above or other concerns exists where it might be beneficial to reassign you as an observer. 

A Referee should disclose an actual or perceived Conflict of Interest to the Championship Director or the USGA staff member responsible for the Rules assignments prior to beginning the assignment. It is in the best interest of everyone to reassign the Referee to a different group or match. If a Referee is uncertain about whether a Conflict of Interest exists, the Referee should discuss the matter with either the Championship Director or the USGA staff member responsible for the Rules assignments to determine whether the Referee should be reassigned.