Old game, new rules

The Royal & Ancient Golf Club and the U.S. Golf Association released a draft of modern rules Wednesday aimed at bringing common sense to what can be a complicated sport. The result figures to be golf’s most comprehensive overhaul since its first set of rules was published in 1744.

MEXICO CITY — Golf’s two governing bodies released a draft of modern rules on Wednesday aimed at bringing common sense to what can be a complicated sport.

The Royal & Ancient Golf Club and the U.S. Golf Association spent more than five years trying to simplify the Rules of Golf without stripping the centuries-old game of its traditions and fundamentals of fair play. The result figures to be the most comprehensive overhaul since the first set of rules was published in 1744.

But in this case, the Rules of Golf actually shrunk.

The proposal, which now faces six months of public feedback, reduces the number of rules from 34 to 24.

In many cases, penalties have been rescinded. Players no longer will be assessed a one-shot penalty if their golf ball accidentally moves, if their club touches the ground while in a hazard or even if a putt strikes a flagstick that is not being tended.

“The primary objective was, ‘How do we make the rules easier to understand and easier to apply around the world,’” said Thomas

Pagel, the USGA’s senior director of rules and amateur status. “I think what you’ll see is that part of this process is to evaluate all the outcomes and identify outcomes that are more reasonable and common-sense based.”

One of the proposed rules concerns how to drop. The goal was to get the ball back in play quickly. Modern rules would more easily identify where to drop, and players would only have to hold the ball above the ground without it touching anything. The recommendation is at least 1 inch above the ground or grass. Currently, players have to stand upright and hold the ball at shoulder height and arm’s length from their bodies. Among other proposed rules: Instead of only being allowed to repair pitch marks or old hole plugs on the greens, players now can fix just about anything, including spike marks and heel prints.

Players were disqualified if they used a club that was damaged in anger. Under the proposal, they can still use it.

Players who touched the line of their putts or the putting green in pointing out a target faced a two-shot penalty. The modern rule has no penalty, provided they are not improving the condition of the putt.

Depending on the six-month public comment period, the proposal would be finalized in 2018 and become effective in 2019.