The new rules regarding grooves will be adopted as a condition of competition for the 2010 U.S. Open Championship and U.S. Senior Open Championship, as well as sectional (final stage) qualifiers for these championships. The condition will NOT be in effect at local (first stage) qualifiers for the 2010 U.S. Open or at any of the USGA's national championships and team competitions that are contested by amateurs only. It will be in effect for the U.S. Senior Open (there is no local qualifying stage). Therefore, the condition of competition WILL BE in effect for the U.S. Senior Open Qualifier.

The USGA will adopt the condition of competition for U.S. Open Local Qualifying beginning in 2011 and for the national championships and team competitions it conducts for amateur players no later than 2014, as originally announced.

Currently, the year 2024 is the earliest date the condition of competition will become a permanent equipment specification in the Rules of Golf.

The Pennsylvania Golf Association is currently following the USGA's recommendations and has yet to create a formal policy. The Pennsylvania Golf Association will not be adopting the condition of competition which prohibits square grooves for 2013. Questions can be directed to the Pennsylvania Golf Association's tournament department at 610-687-2340, ext. 19.