{"id":42406,"date":"2017-03-14T07:56:42","date_gmt":"2017-03-14T05:56:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.times.mw\/?p=42406"},"modified":"2017-03-14T07:56:43","modified_gmt":"2017-03-14T05:56:43","slug":"more-on-rules-modernization","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.times.mw\/index.php\/2017\/03\/14\/more-on-rules-modernization\/","title":{"rendered":"More on rules Modernization"},"content":{"rendered":"

At this time, less than two weeks after the R&A and USGA unveiled their preview of the proposed new Rules of Golf, I have decided not to comment in any detail about my opinions on any of the changes.<\/p>\n

A lesson that I have learned during the 10- plus years that I have been studying and writing on the Rules of Golf, is that there is little to be gained by making an instant judgement based on personal, limited experiences and preferences, without carefully considering the potential consequences for others, as there are often several implications, which may not be immediately apparent, to absorb and think through.<\/p>\n

Overall, I welcome the proposals, particularly those that relate to improving the pace of play, which to my mind is one of the biggest issues facing the future of recreational golf.<\/p>\n

For those of you that have not seen, or have not been interested in studying the detail of the ruling bodies\u2019 proposals at this very early stage, here is my brief outline of 10 of the most significant changes affecting amateur golfers;<\/p>\n

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  1. There is no penalty when a player\u2019s ball in motion accidentally hits them, or their equipment (e.g. it rebounds off the lip of a bunker).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    2.A ball may be dropped from any height (yes, even one inch!)<\/p>\n

    3.Defined relief areas (e.g. for dropping) to be either 20\u201d or 80\u201d (not club-lengths). This translates to 50.8 cm and 203.2 cm!<\/p>\n

    4.A ball is lost after three minutes search.<\/p>\n

    5.There is to be relief for a ball that is embedded anywhere, except in sand.<\/p>\n

    6.The flagstick may be left in the hole while putting.<\/p>\n

    7.Spike marks and other damage to the putting green may be repaired before making a stroke.<\/p>\n

    8.Increased use of red penalty areas (previously known as lateral water hazards), so that lateral relief is always allowed from them, even if they are not areas of water (e.g. deserts, jungles, or lava rock fields).<\/p>\n

    9.There is no penalty for removing loose impediments in either penalty areas or bunkers.<\/p>\n

    10.A caddie is not permitted to line up their player before they make a putt, or any other stroke.<\/p>\n

    Please remember that the above outlines just 10 of the proposals, which are not yet in operation and even if they are agreed are unlikely to replace the existing rules until January 2019.<\/p>\n

    This is the published, estimated timeline from the ruling bodies;<\/p>\n