R&A chief executive Peter Dawson would like to see badly-behaved golfers publically reprimanded to discourage further misdemeanors.
The conduct of former world number one Tiger Woods, as the most high-profile golfer on the circuit, has often come in for criticism.
Ironically, the American is one of the few players to have his punishment made public after he was reprimanded for spitting at last year's Dubai Desert Classic.
Dawson would like more openness in the disciplinary process in order to discourage poor behaviour, but admits they cannot enforce it for one week of the year at the Open, which this summer is being staged at Royal Lytham and St Annes.
"The European Tour have published once or twice. Both tours know our view on that but it is a matter for them," he said.
"I have gone on record as saying more public sanctioning would not be a bad thing.
"That would not be the Tour policy certainly in the United States and they have reasons for that.
"One would have thought public sanctions would be more likely to lead to a correction of behaviour rather than private sanctions.
"We have always relied on the tours to put players through their disciplinary procedures or tour members if there is some kind of misbehaviour.
"We don't actually have a published Open championship bad behaviour policy.
"It is not something you can do for one week a year."
Asked what the response would be should Woods be caught spitting or swearing at the Open, Dawson responded diplomatically: "It is an unedifying spectacle."
