Do you know the new rules? The new rules have caused quite a stir in the golfing world since they were introduced on the 1st January and I think it will take a while for everyone to get used to them. Lots of people have asked if we are using the new rules at the club and whether the professionals are using them on Tour? Of course, they are the new rules for the game of golf to be played by and are relevant to everyone, it was certainly strange watching some of the PGA Tour players in Hawaii leaving the flag in for a selection of their putts. If you are unsure of any rule, please come into the shop and ask one of us for advice. We have copies of the rules to hand and a folder detailing the 20 most significant changes. I would say the most important aspect when discussing rules or taking advice is to witness the rule itself in black and white, certainly the case with the more detailed rules. It’s not advisable to always believe whatever someone tells you about a rule without seeing it for yourself, especially as they may genuinely be mixing up old and new rules and it is good practice to get to know your way around the rule book. I’m going to be highlighting a different rule each week in this newsletter. One of them which has definitely been misconstrued is the Out-of-Bounds rule #18. I’ve heard many people mentioning how good it is to be able to now drop a ball adjacent to the point it went out of bounds for a 2 shot penalty, but that isn’t an option under the Rules of Golf. We still only have this option - "If a ball is lost or out of bounds, the player must take stroke-and-distance relief by adding one penalty stroke and playing the original ball or another ball from where the previous stroke was made” A new local rule can be implemented by clubs to allow the ability to drop out sideways for a 2 shot penalty but this is purely intended for social golf and as such we haven’t adopted it anyway.
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