New Rule Changes

By now, most of you should be aware of the new rules coming into effect on January 1st, 2019. Now this is less than a year away these are becoming more of a talking point.

Originally there were 34 proposed new rules changes but that was reduced to 24. I am going to highlight a few of the rules which you may find affects you personally on a weekly basis on the golf course.

Rule 1

Elimination or reduction of “ball moved” penalties: There will be no penalty for accidentally moving a ball on the putting green or in searching for a ball; and a player is not responsible for causing a ball to move unless it is “virtually certain” that he or she did so.

This means although you are still expected to be very careful when examining if a ball may be yours on not, or if you accidentally move your ball on the putting surface you will not be penalised unless it is deemed you did so on purpose.

Rule 2

Relaxed putting green rules: There will be no penalty if a ball played from the putting green hits an unattended flag stick in the hole; players may putt without having the flag stick attended or removed. Players may repair spike marks and other damage made by shoes, animal damage and other damage on the putting green and there is no penalty for merely touching the line of putt.

This rule I am in total agreement with. I never understood how you could be penalised because someone hours or days before had walked on the line you now have to putt on which left a spike mark. The same applies to an animal scrapping or damage, in my opinion you should be allowed to repair this as well as possible.