The rules of golf have changed. Substantially.
Officials from Golf Canada, the United States Golf Association and the Royal & Ancient made the most sweeping revisions to golf’s rules in more than 60 years this year.
What does it mean to you? And did they go far enough?
“The existing rule book was pretty complicated. They’ve made it easier to understand and they’ve simplified things,” said Dunc Mills, a level 2 referee with Alberta Golf, who has been helping with several clinics at golf courses across Alberta put on by Alberta Golf to explain the myriad of changes.
“Now if you want to just enjoy the game, hit the ball, be with your friends and be outdoors, the changes might not mean anything to you. And that’s fine.
“But that’s not really playing golf. It’s like the difference between playing a shinny game of hockey with 20 guys on each side and no refs and playing in a midget Triple A hockey game.
“But if you want to play on men or ladies nights and establish a legitimate handicap then you do need to know the rules.”
Here are some of the biggest changes – many made to not only simplify the rules but speed up the game:
• The time to look for a ball – before it becomes ‘lost’ – has been reduced from five minutes to three.
• There is no longer a penalty for hitting a flagstick when putting from the green.
• There is no longer a penalty if a player (or opponent) accidentally causes the player’s ball to move on the putting green.
• When taking a penalty drop you now drop from knee height instead of waist height.
• You can now repair almost any damage on the green including spike marks, shoe damage, animal damage or indentations from a club or flagstick. The exceptions are aeration holes, natural surface imperfections or natural wear of the hole.
• You can remove loose impediments and movable obstructions in bunkers.
• A double hit is no longer a penalty.
• If you kick or move a ball you are looking for you can replace it without penalty.
Leaving the flag in the hole when putting is probably the most noticeable change.
“It benefits pace of play but I also think it will help many players for focusing from longer distances,” said Derrick head pro Trevor Goplin.
Putting guru and noted instructor Dave Pelz has done research confirming Goplin’s belief.
Repairing damage on the green without penalty is also a good change according to pros like Sturgeon’s Gary Christenson who said, “You shouldn’t be punished for someone’s inability to pick up their feet.”
Not a rule change (yet) but a strong recommendation is that you should not take longer than 40 seconds to make a stroke.
“Forty seconds is a long time. It should be like a shot clock,” said Mills. “I think the recommendation is in there because it eventually will be a rule.”
“The PGA tour should adopt this rule as there is consistently grumblings about five and-a-half hour rounds in tournaments,” added Jerry Lukasewich, head pro at Coal Creek.
Asked if they would have made other changes, local golf pros had several ideas.
“I wish they would consider a divot as ground under repair, the person who played earlier in the day has an advantage,” said Jagare Ridge’s Tyler Rumpel.
“You should be able to move your ball in a sand trap if you were in a foot print of someone who neglected to rake the trap,” said The Ranch’s Murray McCourt.
“Maybe allow 15 clubs so I can carry an extra wedge,” suggested Highlands’ Jeremy Tanner.
“I would love to have seen them lift the anchor ban for putting. It’s one of the silliest rules changes they ever made,” said Blackhawk’s head pro Kevin Chow.
Finally, tongue-in-cheek Joshua Davison, head pro at RedTail Landing said “I wish players would receive a two-shot penalty for not fixing their ball marks. I can only hope.”
Follow me on Twitter: CurtisJStock.
Copyright Postmedia Network Inc., 2019
