Page 9 - GBC Summer 2019 Eng

Casual golfers are often oblivious to the Rules of Golf – grip it and rip it, maybe (or maybe not) keep score, and have fun. However, for golfers who want to maintain a handicap, or play competitively, the Rules are critical.
I frequently remind golf course superintendents that they’re managing the playing eld for a game. Attention to detail in course marking and maintenance is essential, just as it would be for the playing surface in soccer, hockey, or any other sport. Golf is different, however, in that no two playing elds are the same, which makes the ability of the golfer to play by the Rules even more critical.
In January 2019, golf experienced the most comprehensive changes to the Rules of Golf since 1984. A primary objective was to speed up play and many of these changes were intended to make the Rules clearer and more easily understood.
Laurence Applebaum, Chief Executive Of cer of Golf Canada, said, “Superintendents and course managers play an integral role in creating a positive experience for all golfers. I would encourage clubs across Canada to carefully review the new Rules of Golf to determine course speci c Rules that could have an impact on pace of play and enjoyment at the club level.”
The question that remains is how these changes may impact golf course operations, including actions
of the golf course superintendent and golf professional. With some of the Rules modi cations, it is possible to anticipate potential positive and negative results; with others, only time will tell.
In this article, some of the more important changes are highlighted and the impact of the change on course operations and the golfer is noted. Rules changes that are more critical include, “Areas of the Course,” “Taking Relief,” “Ball at Rest,” and a new local rule.
AREAS OF THE COURSE
Although the total number of Rules has been reduced from 34 to 24, the de ned areas of the course have increased from 4 to 5 (see Table 1). The General area (previously Through the Green) includes all areas of the golf course, except the teeing area from which the golfer is playing, all penalty areas, all bunkers, and the putting green on the hole being played.
Hazards (which previously included water hazards and bunkers) is no longer a term used in the Rules. Instead, the proper terms are penalty areas and bunkers. The teeing ground is now the teeing area, and the putting green is still the putting green.
Penalty areas (Rule 17)
No Rules change will impact course operations as much as the new guidelines for marking penalty areas. Prior to 2019, only areas that contained water permanently or occasionally, could be marked as water hazards (yellow stakes and/or paint) or lateral water hazards (red stakes and/or paint).
In the new Rules, these water hazards, which are now penalty areas, can continue to be differentiated with yellow or red markings. However, the big change is that other areasofthecoursethatdon’tcontain water can also be designated as penalty areas. The golf course committee may now decide to mark forested areas, desert, and areas of tall grass, etc. as penalty areas. Although it may be that golfers can be informed of some penalty in writing, and not by physically marking, this is not the preferred method. For golfers less familiar with the course, and during tournaments, marking of all penalty areas with stakes or paint is essential. IMPACT
Course managers need to be cognizant of the impact that marking additional areas of the course may have on operations. If new penalty areas, not previously marked as water hazards, are to be marked consistently, an additional investment in stakes, paint, and labour will be needed.
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