TheRules
THE NEW RULES OF GOLF
Compiled by CHRIS LANG
About Ball
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WE ’ RE NOW LESS THAN SIX MONTHS AWAY from the implementation of the modernized Rules of Golf , set to take effect on Jan . 1 , 2019 . In a continuing effort to educate members on the changes coming next year , with help from the USGA and the R & A , we ’ ll take a look in this issue of Virginia Golfer at how the rules governing the golf ball will evolve . to apply complicated analysis to decide which player the shared equipment belonged to at the time .”
BALL MOVED DURING SEARCH Current rule : If a player moves his or her ball while searching for it , the player generally gets a one-stroke penalty ( with four limited exceptions ), and when the player does not know the ball ’ s exact original spot , he or she must return it to play by dropping it as near as possible to that estimated spot .
BALL ACCIDENTALLY STRUCK MULTIPLE TIMES DURING STROKE Current rule : If a player accidentally strikes his or her ball two or more times when making a single stroke , the player gets a one-stroke penalty in addition to the stroke that was made , regardless of the number of times the ball is struck . The ball is then played as it lies .
2019 rule : Under Rule 10.1a , if the player ’ s club accidentally hits the ball more than once during a single stroke , there will be no penalty and the ball will be played as it lies . If the player deliberately strikes the ball more than once when it is in motion , in addition to counting the stroke , he or she will also get the general penalty under Rule 11.3 for deliberately deflecting a ball in motion .
Why the change ? Simply put , accidents are being treated as accidents .
“ When a player ’ s club accidentally strikes his or her ball multiple times , it usually results in the ball going somewhere that the player did not intend for it to go ,” the USGA and R & A reason . “ The outcome in such cases is random and unpredictable , and it results in a disadvantage for the player as often as it results in an advantage . … Treating all accidental deflections the same no matter who or
what caused them will simplify the Rules by providing consistency .”
BALL IN MOTION ACCIDENTALLY DEFLECTED Current rule : If a player ’ s ball in motion is accidentally deflected , the outcome depends on what caused the deflection , including a one-stroke penalty in most cases where a ball hits the player or his or her equipment or caddie .
2019 rule : Under Rule 11.1 , for all accidental deflections , including when the ball hits the player or opponent , or their equipment or caddies , there will be no penalty and the ball will be played as it lies , with limited exceptions . To address any concern that a player might deliberately position equipment to act as a backstop and potentially deflect his or her ball , there will be a penalty if the ball hits equipment that was positioned for that purpose ( Rule 11.2a ).
Why the change ? “ Treating all accidental deflections the same , no matter who or what caused them , will greatly simplify the Rules in various situations , such as when a player ’ s ball is deflected by equipment being shared with another player ( such as a golf cart ),” the USGA and R & A reason . “ It will no longer be necessary
2019 rule : Under Rule 7.4 , if a player accidentally moves his or her ball while searching for it , the player will get no penalty for causing it to move , and the ball will always be replaced . If the exact spot is not known , the player will replace the ball on the estimated original spot ( including on , under or against any attached natural or man-made objects which the ball had been at rest under or against ).
Why the change ? The USGA and R & A lay out several reasons for this change , but in simple terms , a fundamental principle of golf is to play the ball as it lies , so the Rules should help the player to find his or her ball and play it from the spot where it was at rest . Players often need to probe in grass , bushes and leaves and other conditions to look for a hidden ball , and such reasonable acts create an inherent risk of moving the ball . Replacing the ball once found rather than dropping it will help recreate the original , and likely , more difficult lie where the ball originally came to rest .
We ’ ll tackle more Rules changes in upcoming Virginia Golfer issues . For more information , visit the USGA ’ s New Rules Hub at USGA . org , or visit the site of Virginia Golf Hall of Famer and Rules expert Dr . Lew Blakey at generalarea . org .
16 V IRGINIA G OLFER | J ULY / A UGUST 2018 vsga . org