NATAL NOMADS Golf Club Monthly issue Nomads Newsletter Beachwood Golf Club Volume 2 Iss | Page 18

2019 Rules of Golf Changes
FLAGSTICK:
•
•
•
•
The player can now putt leaving the flagstick in the hole, but the player must decide this before making the
stroke.
If the player elects to putt with the flagstick in the hole, it must NOT be moved after the stroke and while a
ball is in motion. There is a practical exception to this. If the player elects to putt with the flagstick left in the
hole, it can be taken out of the hole while the player's ball is still in motion without penalty if there is no
reasonable possibility the ball will strike it.
There is NO penalty if the ball accidentally strikes an attended flagstick after a stroke made on the putting
green.
If a ball rests against a flagstick in the hole and part of the ball is below the level of the lip, the ball will be
considered holed, even if the entire ball is not below the surface. There is no longer a requirement to move
the flagstick to see if the ball falls into the hole. The ball may simply be picked up.
BUNKERS:
•
•
•
•
•
Loose impediments (like stones, leaves, twigs and acorns) in a bunker may now be removed or touched
without penalty, provided the ball does not move. If the ball moves as a result, there is a one stroke penalty
and the ball must be replaced.
Hence, a Local Rule for Stones in Bunkers will no longer be used since the new Rule allows stones in
bunkers to be moved without penalty.
The Rules now allow the player to generally touch the sand in a bunker with a hand or a club, but there are
limitations. For example:
You cannot touch the sand in a bunker when making a practice swing or in the backswing for the stroke.
You cannot deliberately touch the sand in the bunker with your hand, club, rake or other object to test the
condition of the sand to learn information for the stroke.
You cannot touch the sand in a bunker with a club in the area right in front of or right behind the ball,
except when searching or removing a loose impediment or movable obstruction.
There is NO longer a penalty for striking the sand in anger or frustration, or for leaning on a club in the sand
away from the ball while waiting to play.
2019 / 2020 NATAL NOMADS FIXTURES
Monthly Games
Thursday
Thursday
Thursday
Thursday
Thursday
Thursday
Thursday
SPECIAL EVENTS 17th October 2019
14th November 2019
5th December 2019
16th January 2020
13th February 2020
26th March 2020
23rd April 2020
Royal Durban Golf Club
Cato Ridge Golf Club
Beachwood Country Club
Umhlali Country Club
Athlone Golf Club
Amanzimtoti Golf Club
Mount Edgecombe Country Club
20 th JULY 2019
21 ST JULY 2019
27/29 SEPT 2019
18/20 OCT 2019
1ST NOV 2019
8/13 MARCH 2020 DRAKENSBURG GARDENS CUP
LANGHAM EDWARD TROPHY
SOUTHERN NATAL ANNIVERSARY
SWAZILAND NATIONALS
ANDREW MENTIS GOLF DAY
S.A. NATIONALS
COTSWOLD DOWNS GOLF CLUB
DURBAN COUNTRY CLUB
SELBORNE PARK G.C.
ROYAL SWAZI SPA C.C.
ROYAL DURBAN GOLF CLUB
BORDER/EAST LONDON G.C.