New rules will make it easier

Governing bodies unveil new approah that will go a long way to making the game simpler

THE United States Golf Association and the R&A, the custodians of the global game, this week released the new Rules of Golf that will come into effect on Jan 1, 2019.

In a joint statement, the two governing bodies set down several new rules that have been designed to make the game a better one to engage in. It came after “an extensive review that included a request for feedback from the global golf community on the proposed changes”.

In their statement the USGA and R&A said: “The process to modernise the Rules began in 2012 and was initiated to ensure that the Rules are easier to understand and apply for all golfers and to make the game more attractive and accessible for newcomers.

“While the majority of proposed Rules remain intact in the final version, several important changes to the initial proposals and further clarification of many Rules were incorporated.”

According to the statement, the changes effected “significant adjustments” and included a review of the feedback received from around the world.

Among other things, these included removing the penalty for a double hit. What this really means is that the penalty stroke for “accidentally striking the ball more than once in the course of a stroke has been removed”.

Golfers will simply count the one stroke they made to strike the ball. (Key change: the proposed Rules released in 2017 included the existing one-stroke penalty).

So far as balls lost or out of bounds go (alternative to stroke and distance) a new Local Rule will now be available in January 2019, permitting committees to allow golfers the option to drop the ball in the vicinity of where the ball is lost or out of bounds (including the nearest fairway area), under a two-stroke penalty.

“It addresses concerns raised at the club level about the negative impact on pace of play when a player is required to go back under stroke and distance,” said the statement. “The Local Rule is not intended for higher levels of play, such as professional or elite level competitions. (Key change: this is a new addition to support pace of play)

Malaysian Golf Association (MGA) Rules Sub-Committee chairman C.C. Boo said they were encouraged by the new developments and looked forward to the R&A seminar on the matter in Bangkok, Thailand next month.

“We’ll be going up to Bangkok next month where this will be discussed at length and obviously share more on it.

“It can only do better things for the game as a whole,” said Boo.

R&A executive director – Governance David Rickman said in the statement: “We are pleased to be introducing the new Rules of Golf after a collaborative and wide-ranging review process which has embraced the views of golfers, rules experts and administrators worldwide.

“We believe that the new Rules are more in tune with what golfers would like and are easier to understand and apply for everyone who enjoys playing this great game.”

Meanwhile, USGA senior director of Rules & Amateur Status Thomas Pagel added: “We’re thankful for the golfers, and everyone in the game who took the time to provide us with great insight and thoughtful feedback.

“We couldn’t be more excited to introduce the new Rules ahead of their education and implementation.”