Page 11 - 2019_January Bush Telegraph_WEB SITE_Neat

New rules of golf will ensure consistency and • The Official Guide to the Rules
revised Rules.
simplicity in the dropping
process while also preserving of Golf: This “guidebook”
the randomness of the drop. replaces the Decisions book and
Effective 1st January 2019 • Measuring in taking relief: the contains information to best
golfer’s relief area will be support committees and
HE Royal & Ancient (R&A) and be replaced on its original spot. measured using the longest club officials. It includes
TUnited States Golf Association • Relaxed rules for “penalty in his/her bag (other than the interpretations on the Rules,
(USGA) have unveiled the new areas” (currently called “water putter) to measure one club- committee procedures and the
Rules of Golf, which will be hazards”): Red and yellow- length or two club-lengths, Modified Rules of Golf for
effective from 1st January 2019. marked penalty areas may cover depending on the situation, Players with Disabilities. It is a
The process to modernise the areas of desert, jungle, lava providing a consistent process comprehensive resource
Rules began in 2012 and was rock, etc., in addition to areas of for golfers to establish his/her document intended as a
initiated to ensure that the Rules water; expanded use of red relief area. supplementary publication.
are easier to understand and apply penalty areas where lateral • Removing the penalty for a
for all golfers and to make the relief is allowed; and there will double hit: The penalty stroke
game more attractive and be no penalty for moving loose for accidentally striking a ball
more than once in the course of The new
accessible for newcomers. The impediments or touching the
extensive review has condensed ground or water in a penalty a stroke has been removed. handicapping
the old rules, of which there were area. Golfers will simply count the
thirty four, down to a more • Relaxed bunker rules: There will one stroke they made to strike system 2020
manageable twenty four. Each Rule be no penalty for moving loose the ball.
now has a Purpose Statement to impediments in a bunker or for
help the reader better understand generally touching the sand with Publications HE new handicapping system,
the principles behind the Rule. a hand or club. A limited set of Three new publications are now Tof which readers may have
Although the majority of the Rules restrictions (such as not available from the R&A and USGA heard, does not come into
are essentially unchanged from grounding the club right next to to help players, as well as officials, operation until 2020 and, even
those we all know and love (?), the ball) is kept to preserve the and provide interpretation and then, the changes are largely
they have been rewritten in challenge of playing from the guidance in how the Rules are to administrative and need not
simpler, less legalistic, language sand; however, an extra relief be applied. concern most players. The key
and have been reordered into a option is added for an • The Player’s Edition of the Rules ‘news’ is that the new system will
more logical sequence. There are unplayable ball in a bunker, of Golf: An abridged, user- make handicaps portable around
also a number of significant allowing the ball to be played friendly set of the Rules with the world and adjustable from
changes to the Rules, the most from outside the bunker with a shorter sentences, commonly course to course through the
important of which are outlined two-stroke penalty. used phrases, and diagrams. Course and Slope Rating System.
below. • Relying on player integrity: A Written in the “second person,” In Middlesex Golf we are still in
The new Rules and more than player’s “reasonable judgment” The Player’s Edition is intended the process of rating all the
thirty “how to apply” videos are when estimating or measuring a to be the primary publication for county’s courses according to this
available at www.rules.golf and we spot, point, line, area or golfers. system and should finish this in
are all encouraged to study these. distance will be upheld, even if • The Rules of Golf: The full 2019 (Bush Hill has been done).
New Rules books are available at video evidence later shows it to edition of the Rules is written in
the Club and in January there will be wrong; and elimination of the third person and includes ROBBIE MARTIN, DIRECTOR OF COMPETITIONS,
be a seminar run by Robbie Martin announcement procedures illustrations. It is intended to be MIKE STEEL, COUNTY REFEREE,
and David Dickinson about the when lifting a ball to identify it a more thorough version of the MIDDLESEX GOLF
new Rules to which we are all or to see if it is damaged.
invited (Robbie Martin to supply • Pace-of-play support: Reduced
details) time for searching for a lost ball
(from five minutes to three);
Principal changes in the rules of affirmative encouragement of
golf “ready golf” in stroke play;
Some of the most significant recommending that players take
changes to the Rules include the no more than 40 seconds to play
following: a stroke and other changes
• Elimination or reduction of “ball intended to help with pace of
moved” penalties: There will be play.
no penalty for accidentally
moving a ball on the putting Some Rule Changes Differ from
green or in searching for a ball; Proposed Versions.
and a player is not responsible During the consultation process
for causing a ball to move unless undertaken by the R&A and USGA
it is “virtually certain” that he or a number of proposals for changes
she did so. were made that were ultimately
• Relaxed putting green rules: not included in the final version,
There will be no penalty if a ball although changes to the old rules
played from the putting green were made. We may all have
hits an unattended flagstick in heard of some of these proposals,
the hole; players may putt for example dropping a lifted ball
without having the flagstick from any height, or measuring
attended or removed. Players relief in inches or centimetres
may repair spike marks and rather than club lengths. For
other damage made by shoes, clarity, the final versions of the
animal damage and other rules concerned are summarised
damage on the putting green below:
and there is no penalty for • Dropping procedure: When
merely touching the line of putt. taking relief (from an abnormal
If a ball that has been lifted and course condition or penalty
replaced then moves due to area, for example), golfers will
natural forces (eg wind), it must now drop from knee height. This