USGA and the R&A have updated the controversial Model Local Rule involving carts. As per the updated ruling, a player will be allowed to use a cart if they unknowingly believed it was permitted.

The current Model Local Rule G-6 under the USGA and R&A’s Rules of Golf states that players cannot use motorized transportation (for eg golf carts) during a round. The rule also applies to caddies unless specified otherwise by the tournament authority.

This Model Local Rule has caused controversy in the past when players or caddies mistakenly used a cart and were penalized. For the uninitiated, during the, Paul Mitzel was in a tight match against Ryan O’Rear at the 2025 U.S. Mid-Amateur which went to extra holes. On the 20th hole, Mitzel’s caddie accepted a cart ride and resulted in Mitzel being forced to concede the match to O’Rear.

At Troon Country Club in Arizona, Paul Mitzel was playing his Round of 64 match when he breached the rule in extra holes against Ryan O’Rear.

Following the match, Mitzel told Golf Channel that players had been using carts during the event and it was not unusual. A similar incident also took place at the 2018 U.S. Amateur when Akshay Bhatia’s caddie used a cart to go to the bathroom and the golfer had to face the rule.

Ian Baker Finch says USGA and R&A’s golf ball rollback action ‘too late’

Former Open champion Ian Baker-Finch has said that players hitting longer distances has caused slow play. He argued that the USGA and R&A’s proposal of a golf ball rollback was too little and too late to undo the impact.

In a recent interview with Golf Monthly, Baker-Finch explained that courses were forced to add back tees to keep up with longer hitters. This led to longer course layouts, and the increased walking distance resulted in slower rounds.

“I think the rollback is too little, too late. I think they’ve (the manufacturers) already developed a ball that will go just as far as it does now for when the rollback starts,” he said. “The governing bodies should have gone 10% at the time, mainly because the ball just goes too far.”

“I’m still a scratch player or better at my club but I’m 65 years old and if I play a scratch player who’s 25, he will hit it 75 yards past me,” he added.

The golf ball rollback rule was introduced in 2023 but will take effect in January 2028.