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 Before you make your first tee times of the golf season, pick up a new The Rules of Golf book and learn about the new changes to the definitions, rules, and decisions. The changes to the Rules fall into two main categories: to improve the clarity of the rule and/or reduce the penalties in certain circumstances to ensure that they are proportionate.
Here’s a few of the modifications highlighted. If you would like to view all of the changes, you can visit the USGA’s website at www.usga.org and test your rules knowledge by completing a rules quiz or two so you are ready for the golf season!
• Identifying your Ball (Rule 12-2) – the player is now allowed to lift a ball to identify it when in a hazard (bunker or water). Prior to 2008, the player was allowed to hit as many wrong balls from the hazard without penalty. The player is now required to identify the ball first. If they hit a wrong ball, they are subject to a two-stroke penalty in stroke play or loss of hole in match play.
• Moving the Flagstick (Moveable Obstruction) (Rule 24-1) – the flagstick can now be moved while attending it or if it is lying on the ground while the ball is in motion. Show great sportsmanship when your competitor’s ball is rolling towards the flagstick by picking it up without any penalty.
• Ball in Motion Deflected or Stopped by Player, Partner, Caddie, or Equipment (Rule 19-2) – if the player’s ball is accidentally deflected, penalty is now one stroke in both match and stroke play versus prior to 2008, loss of hole in match play and two strokes in stroke play.
• Raking the Bunker (Rule 13-4) – if you hit a shot in a bunker and it stays in the bunker or flies into another bunker, you can rake the spot where you just hit from, provided that you are not improving your new lie in the bunker or testing the surface.
• Advice (Definition) – clarification that you are allowed to exchange information on distance. The new text reads: “Information on the Rules, distance or matters of public information, such as…, is not advice.”
• Substituted Ball (Rule 15-2) – exception added to avoid a “double penalty” when the player incorrectly substitutes a ball and plays from a wrong place. Text in 2008 rules: “Exception: If a player incurs a penalty for making a stroke from a wrong place, there is no additional penalty for substituting a ball when not permitted.”
• Carrying a Non-Conforming Club (Rule 4-1) – if the player carries and doesn’t use a nonconforming club, the penalty is now two strokes per hole, with a maximum of four penalty strokes per round for stroke play. Prior to 2008, the penalty was disqualification.
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