So, you think you have an encyclopedic knowledge of the Rules of Golf and are confident you could act as a rules official in the pressure-cooker atmosphere of a Major tournament? Much as golfers like to kid themselves that they know the Rules inside out, and how to bend them in their favour, the reality is different.
'As much as I hate to say it, it's pretty apparent that a lot of professionals have not taken the time to learn the Rules,' confesses Valen Tan, tournament operations director for the Asian PGA Tour.
As Asia's amateur golfing population grows at 20 per cent per annum it's apparent, too, that lack of understanding and application of the Rules is one of the most serious issues facing national golfing associations.
And not only in the basic areas such as etiquette - replacing divots, repairing pitch marks on the green, raking bunkers, playing in the correct order, maintaining quiet when someone's about to hit and calling through the group behind when it's your slow play that's holding up the entire course.
It's alarming, also, how few players are aware of the correct procedures for taking penalty drops and playing a provisional ball - every-round occurrences for the majority.
And how many golfers are guilty of negligence with respect to the Rules of Amateur Status and Policy on Gambling? But what are golfing associations and golf clubs in Asia actually doing to encourage amateurs to improve their understanding of the Rules? The Hong Kong Golf Association (HKGA) is more fortunate than most of its counterparts in Asia in that it possesses a strong core of Rules experts, led by Brian Choa, who has officiated at the British Open Championship, and Eric White.
As well as keeping a firm grasp on the enforcement of prize levels and the application of Amateur Status, the HKGA is capable of settling any disputes that arise on the SAR's golf courses. Clearly, though, there's a need for more to be done. Which is why it's encouraging to see that the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (R&A) is showing signs of taking a more pro-active role in passing on its expertise.