New Rules Took Effect 1 January 2012
(is your new rules book in your bag yet?)
30th January 2012
After a four year review of golf’s 34 playing rules, the R&A have amended 9 principal rules to improve clarity and fairness. It is every golfer’s responsibility to know the rules of the game.
‘Play the ball as it lies, play the course as you find it, and if you cannot do either, do what is fair. But to do what is fair, you need to know the Rules of Golf’
Please take some time to familiarise yourself with the changes which are summarised at the front of the 2012-15 rules book. There’s some very clear and specific examples with video explanations on the R&A website www.randa.org/en/Rules-and-Amateur-Status/New-Rules-2012.aspx
Here’s just a few examples of changes that you’ll need to know for your everyday golf.
13.4 Ball in Hazard, Prohibited Actions Rule
13-4 has been amended to permit a player to smooth sand or soil in a hazard at any time, including before playing from that hazard, provided it is for the sole purpose of caring for the course and Rule 13-2 is not breached.
So, if a player retrieves the rake from the bunker and smooths the footprints they’ve created before going to play their ball, there is no penalty for the smoothing so long as the sole purpose was caring for the course.
18.2b Ball Moving After Address
A new exception has been added that removes the penalty if the ball moves after it has been addressed when it is known or virtually certain that they did not cause the ball to move. For example, if it’s a gust of wind that moves the ball after address there is no penalty and the ball is played from its new position.
Appendix 4 - Devices and other Equipment
SCLGA and EWGA have approved the use of Distance Measuring Devices (DMD’s) for use in competitions from this season. With the growing numbers of smartphone applications with DMD capability (eg iphone), the R&A have clarified that the device must be limited to measuring distance only. Appendix 4, Section 5 of the rules book details non-conforming features which would breach the rules regardless of whether they are enabled or used.
