Page 12 - GBC Summer 2019 Eng

two club lengths, his or her next shot could be 4 club lengths from where the unplayable ball originally was. Now, the golfer has to identify a reference point and the relief area, drop the ball from knee height, and the ball must stay within the relief area. After dropping, if the ball rolls out of the relief area, it must be redropped. If it happens a second time, that spot is marked and the ball is placed. IMPACT
A clearer, more straightforward approach is now in place for dropping a ball and where the ball must come to rest.
Procedure for Taking Lateral Relief and Back-On-The-Line Relief (Rule 17.1)
There are now three options for taking lateral relief from a red penalty area: 1) stroke and distance; 2) back-on-the-line relief; and 3) lateral relief. If the stroke and distance option is taken when playing off the teeing area, the ball may be played from anywhere within the teeing area. For each of the remaining options, a reference point must rst be established before determining the relief area.
For stroke and distance relief from the general area, the reference point is the point where the last stroke was made. The relief area is one club length from this point, no nearer to the hole. For back-on- the-line relief, the reference point is a spot on that line, and the relief area is one club length measured on either side of the reference point. For lateral relief, the reference point is the point where the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard, and the relief area is two club lengths from that point, no nearer the hole.
IMPACT
Once golfers are educated on identifying a reference point and dropping area, the ball-drop procedure should be clearer and easier for the golfer.
BALL AT REST
No Penalty for Moving Ball or Ball Marker on Putting Green
(Rule 13.1 d)
Call this the “Dustin Johnson” Rule. The controversy arose when Dustin’s ball moved on the green on hole 5 during the U.S. Open at Oakmont in 2016. A “local rule” was put into effect in January, 2017 and has now become a permanent Rule. Basically, if a golfer’s ball is moved for any reason on a putting green, it is replaced without penalty. IMPACT
There is a lot of movement on the putting green around the ball or ball marker, which greatly increases the likelihood that one or the other will occasionally be moved accidentally. This avoids any controversy on the putting green.
Standard for Deciding Why a Ball Moved (Rule 9.2 b)
In the past, it was assumed the golfer caused a ball to move unless it was known or virtually certain that he or she didn’t. In other words, it was almost as though the golfer was guilty until proven innocent. Now, it is assumed that the ball moved on its own unless it is known or virtually certain that the golfer caused it to move, i.e. the golfer is now innocent until proven guilty!
IMPACT
A positive change for the golfer.
PGA Tour Player Reactions
12
Golf Business Canada
The initial reaction from PGA Tour players on the new Rules of Golf was mixed, with some being quite negative, including Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler.
On Twitter, Justin Thomas repeatedly criticized the new Rules during the 2019 Honda Classic, calling them “terrible” and charging that they “don’t make sense.”
Rickie Fowler illustrated his feelings on the new Rules while taking a drop during his opening round of the 2019 Honda Classic. Standing in the fairway after his ball had plugged in the turf, he squatted halfway down, reached behind his legs and pretended to take a drop in a motion that made it look like he was going to the bathroom.
As there has been more communication between the PGA Tour players and the USGA, much of this negative reaction has died down. During the 2019 Masters Tournament, many of the players including Adam Scott and Bryson DeChambeau actually made the decision to leave the agstick in for their putts, not because it improved pace of play, but because they felt it gave them an advantage.
Bryson said last year, that he’s seen experiments suggesting that it’s advantageous to leave the agstick in for all putts. If a putt is going too fast, the pin serves as a backstop, so when the ball hits it, it loses momentum and drops. Additionally, having a stick in the middle of the hole provides an extra object of focus, making depth perception easier.
This theory was also con rmed by short-game guru Dave Pelz. Pelz ran a study that showed leaving the agstick in place was a slight advantage for players. “The test results were conclusive,” he wrote. “You will hole a higher percentage of putts when you leave the agstick in.”