Be the Referee: Golf Rules Changes
October 10, 2019
This week, MHSAA officials coordinator Sam Davis explains new rules in golf for 2019-2020, including those pertaining to the use of cell phones during play.
Be The Referee is a series of short messages designed to help educate people on the rules of different sports, to help them better understand the art of officiating, and to recruit officials.
Below is this week's segment - Golf Rules Changes - Listen
Even though golf rules are mostly on the integrity of the players, there are several MHSAA-enacted changes that take effect this year.
One allows for the use of cell phones to call a coach or meet administrator for health and safety issues, the inputting of live scores, to contact a rules official with questions and to use as a distance-measuring device.
Dedicated distance finder devices will also be allowed for use in MHSAA Tournament play.
Another new local rule caps the maximum score per hole at 12 strokes in tournament activity.
Past editions
Oct. 3: No Tackle Box - Listen
Sept. 26: You Make the Overtime Call - Listen
Sept. 19: Swimming Finishing Touch - Listen
Sept. 12: Curbing Gamesmanship By Substitution - Listen
Sept. 5: Football Safety Rules Changes - Listen
Aug. 29: 40-Second Play Clock - Listen
Negaunee Finishes Championship Climb, Clinches 1st Girls Golf Title
By
Adam Hinch
Special for MHSAA.com
May 28, 2026
HARRIS — The Negaunee girls golf team enjoyed a historic Wednesday at Sage Run.
The Miners carded a 383 to win the Upper Peninsula Division 1 Final by 24 strokes – with the championship the program’s first after previous runner-up finishes in 2000 and 2022, and a distant fourth place only a year ago.
Returning four golfers from last year’s Finals lineup, Negaunee placed three golfers among the top nine in the individual standings this time. Junior Adyson Crookham finished third with an 89, with senior Kennidy Glasheen tied for fourth at 90 and senior Sonya Erva tied for eighth at 98.
Escanaba finished second as a team with 407 strokes, followed by Kingsford with 426, Calumet at 430 and Marquette at 440.
Escanaba senior Kamrie Scott finished on top of the individual leaderboard for the third-straight season with a score of 83. She became the 16th golfer to win at least three Finals girls individual championships, and second from her school joining four-time winner Paxton Johnson (2016-19).
Scott got in some trouble on the front nine, but turned it around on the back as she parred five straight holes and had a birdie at 16 before ending the day with a pair of bogeys.
“I started off rough,” Scott said. “My putting came together on the back nine and really improved the day.”
Sault Ste Marie freshman Renee Guam finished in second place with a score of 87, with a birdie on the 16th hole. Menominee senior Lexi Marineau tied for fourth with Glasheen. Marineau had a birdie on the 16th hole and parred the last two. Glasheen scored a birdie on the 18th hole.
Kingsford sophomore Charlotte Todd and Calumet freshman Cali Hodges tied for sixth with 95 strokes. Todd struggled on the back nine but was able to birdie the 16th and parred the last two holes of the day. Hodges did not have any birdies but parred on the last two holes on the front nine and also the first hole of the back.
Erva and Ishpeming Westwood junior Alison Erdman tied for eighth, and Escanaba’s Lily VanDamme came in 10th place with a score of 99 that included a birdie on the 16th hole.
“We played well today as a team,” Escanaba coach Brian Robinette said. “Kamrie makes being a coach look pretty easy, but she puts in all the hard work to keep her game strong.”
Manistique senior Kyra Carlson carded a 104 and parred two of the last three holes of the day.
“I was working on being efficient with my hits,” Carlson said. “Just tried to keep them in sight and on the fairways.”
(Photo by Adam Hinch.)