I'm hoping we can finally look at Matt's unanswered followup question above. I think the answer is obvious -- but I'd prefer to hear from our best measurers and RRTC authorities.
What if the course is not a perfect loop that STARTs and FINISHes at the same spot? What if, instead, it's effectively more like a point-to-point.
This question comes up around here (Buffalo/WNY) occasionally and just did again today. The course in question is not quite a loop. The START and FINISH points are separated by about 1/4 mile.
Today, I heard from the first time RD who is publically contending he has a Certified Course (NY10015JG) even though he intends to move the start a mile away from the official start point and place it on an entirely different road.
I advised him that his course would not be considered certified unless he takes specific action to make it so.
Technically, his altered course might be good if he were to steel-tape, or calibrated-ride it to measure the separation and then accurately transfer that separation to the new road and then note the spots reliative to physical reference points -- but that's approaching an original course measure. Do we have such a procedure authorized? I would not think so. I'd hate to have to try to get a record ratified with all that going on.
Was my contention correct?
Thanks for any input.