R&A RULES ACADEMY IS A GREAT IDEA, says PADRAIG HARRINGTON

By GILLIAN KIRKWOOD
During the Open Championship last year the RandA launched a new free online course to help golfers and administrators improve their knowledge of the Rules of Golf.
The Rules Academy is available at www.RandA.org/RulesAcademy and is based on the Etiquette Section and the Quick Guide to the Rules of Golf (a short summary of the most commonly occurring Rules).  Users are guided by either Padraig Harrington or Suzann Pettersen, who are both RandA Working for Golf Ambassadors.
The course features video, images and diagrams of Rules situations and includes revision questions after each section. It covers the essentials that all golfers should know such as sportsmanship, integrity and respect. 
It adopts a tee to green approach and tells you what you need to know at each point; from where to tee your ball, to taking relief from various conditions, to holing out and returning the score card.
At the end of the course, people can take a Level 1 Rules Exam and receive a certificate signed by their guiding player.
Two-time Open Champion Padraig Harrington said, “The Rules Academy is a great idea for helping golfers to improve their knowledge of the Rules of Golf in a quick and easy way. A short online course will make the Rules and how they are applied much less daunting and the game more enjoyable as a result.”
Suzann Pettersen, a former LPGA champion, said, “It’s easy to take the Rules for granted but in golf it is so important to understand the values of the game and show respect to your playing partners. Learning more about the Rules can help you get more out of the game so I would urge people to get online and take the course.”
The RandA operates a three-tier Rules Education Programme and the Rules Academy is based on the Level 1 Introductory Rules Schools that it conducts around the world in conjunction with its affiliated bodies.
David Rickman, The RandA’s Executive Director, Rules of Golf and Equipment Standards, said, “I’m delighted that we can now offer the online Rules Academy to those that want to master the basic Rules and Etiquette of this great game. The course will guide people as to how the game is meant to be played and the Rules that apply in particular situations which can happen to anyone out on the course. It may even save golfers the occasional precious stroke or two.”
The Academy is free to view and should take no more than two to three hours to go through. The Exam costs £10 to take with the proceeds going to The RandA’s Working for Golf programme. Each year The RandA invests £5 million in the programme which supports the development of the game around the world.
[I've added a link to the RandA Rules Academy in the left hand sidebar. It is important that everyone knows the Rules. GGK]