Changes to the Rules of Golf

Principal Changes Introduced into the 2012 Code Rules of Golf

Definitions

Addressing the Ball

The Definition is amended so that a player has addressed the ball simply by grounding his club immediately in front of or behind the ball, regardless of whether or not he has taken his stance. Therefore, the Rules generally no longer provide for a player addressing the ball in a hazard. (See also related change to Rule 18-2b)

Rules

Rule 1-2. Exerting Influence on Movement of Ball or Altering Physical Conditions

The Rule is amended to establish more clearly that, if a player intentionally takes an action to influence the movement of a ball or to alter physical conditions affecting the playing of a hole in a way that is not permitted by the Rules, Rule 1-2 applies only when the action is not already covered in another Rule. For example, a player improving the lie of his ball is in breach of Rule 13-2 and therefore that Rule would apply, whereas a player intentionally improving the lie of a fellow-competitor’s ball is not a situation covered by Rule 13-2 and, therefore, is governed by Rule 1-2.


Rule 6-3a. Time of Starting

Rule 6-3a is amended to provide that the penalty for starting late, but within five minutes of the starting time, is reduced from disqualification to loss of the first hole in match play or two strokes at the first hole in stroke play. Previously this penalty reduction could be introduced as a condition of competition.

Rule 12-1. Seeing Ball; Searching for Ball

Rule 12-1 is reformatted for clarity. In addition, it is amended to (i) permit a player to search for his ball anywhere on the course when it may be covered by sand and to clarify that there is no penalty if the ball is moved in these circumstances, and (ii) apply a penalty of one stroke under Rule 18-2a if a player moves his ball in a hazard when searching for it when it is believed to be covered by loose impediments.


Rule 13-4. Ball in Hazard; Prohibited Actions

Exception 2 to Rule 13-4 is 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.

Rule 18-2b. Ball Moving After Address

A new Exception is added that exonerates the player from penalty if his ball moves after it has been addressed when it is known or virtually certain that he did not cause the ball to move. For example, if it is a gust of wind that moves the ball after it has been addressed, there is no penalty and the ball is played from its new position.

Rule 19-1. Ball in Motion Deflected or Stopped; By Outside Agency

The note is expanded to prescribe the various outcomes when a ball in motion has been deliberately deflected or stopped by an outside agency.


Rule 20-7c. Playing from Wrong Place; Stroke Play

Note 3 is amended so that if a player is to be penalised for playing from a wrong place, in most cases the penalty will be limited to two strokes, even if another Rule has been breached prior to his making the stroke.


Appendix IV

A new Appendix is added to prescribe general regulations for the design of devices and other equipment, such as tees, gloves and distance measuring devices.

Posted: 24/10/2011 at 11:46

Changes for Amatuer Status ....

Rules of Amateur Status

Definitions

Amateur Golfer

The Definition is amended to establish more clearly that an “amateur golfer”,
regardless of whether he plays competitively or recreationally, is one who plays
golf for the challenge it presents, not as a profession and not for financial gain.


Golf Skill or Reputation

A time limit of five years is introduced for the retention of “golf reputation”
after the player’s golf skill has diminished.

Prize Vouchers

The Definition is expanded to allow prize vouchers to be used for the
purchase of goods or services from a golf club.

Rules

Rule 1-3 Amateurism; Purpose of the Rules

Rule 1-3 is amended to re-state why there is a distinction between amateur
and professional golf and why certain limits and restrictions are needed in the
amateur game.

Rule 2-1 Professionalism; General

The existing Rules on professionalism are consolidated and re-formatted into
new Rule 2-1.

Rule 2-2 Professionalism; Contracts and Agreements

National Golf Unions or Associations – New Rule 2-2(a) is added to allow
an amateur golfer to enter into a contract and/or agreement with his national
golf union or association, provided he does not obtain any financial gain,
directly or indirectly, while still an amateur golfer.

Professional Agents, Sponsors and Other Third Parties - New Rule 2-2(b) is
added to allow an amateur golfer, who is at least 18 years of age, to enter
into a contract and/or agreement with a third party solely in relation to
the golfer’s future as a professional golfer, provided he does not obtain any
financial gain, directly or indirectly, while still an amateur golfer.

Rule 3-2b Hole-in-One Prizes

New Rule 3-2b excludes from the general prize limit prizes (including cash prizes)
awarded for achieving a hole-in-one while playing a round of golf. This exception
is specific to prizes for holes-in-one (not longest drive or nearest the hole) and
neither separate events nor multiple-entry events qualify.

Rule 4-3 Subsistence Expenses

New Rule added to allow an amateur golfer to receive subsistence expenses to
assist with general living costs, provided the expenses are approved by and paid
through the player’s national golf union or association

Posted: 24/10/2011 at 11:55

Rule 18-2b - Ball Moving After Address - about time too, was always very harsh having the wind move your ball and you being penalised.  Might help speed up play as well. 

Posted: 24/10/2011 at 11:57

Yes I agree with the ball moving in the wind rule. It cost me a place in the final last year!

Posted: 24/10/2011 at 12:01

sgr1234 (17) wrote (see)

Rule 18-2b - Ball Moving After Address - about time too, was always very harsh having the wind move your ball and you being penalised.  Might help speed up play as well. 

To be fair the introduction of wind into the game is only a recent development & the R&A have clearly reacted as quickly as they could!  

Posted: 24/10/2011 at 12:12

I do wonder why they said play from new position though. would have been fairer to replace back to original place.

Posted: 24/10/2011 at 12:47

Becasue that is in line with the current rule relating to a ball moving on the green whether its been addressed or not.

If you (for example) mark your ball on the green whilst waiting for your turn to play and then replace your ball and once placed (i.e. it is on the ground and is not moving) the wind blows the ball to a new position then you play it from its new position.

Your ball may be blown towards the hole or away from the hole....either way you play from the new location of the ball.

Posted: 24/10/2011 at 13:33

After further reading I found ....

1. Tees (Rule 11)
A tee is a device designed to raise the ball off the ground. A tee must not:
• be longer than 4 inches (101.6 mm);
• be designed or manufactured in such a way that it could indicate line of play;
• unduly influence the movement of the ball; or
• otherwise assist the player in making a stroke or in his play.

Does this mean I have been using illegal equipment? Afterall I did use the offset tee until they all broke, as supplied by Golfmagic

Posted: 24/10/2011 at 13:56

Broke mine, too BT! I told the manufacturers they made them too brittle. However I had a wooden tee that lasted for at least 25 rounds, though a little battered because I learn to sweep my tee shots away rather than chop down too much! So it was all my fault, really! ED

Posted: 24/10/2011 at 14:15

Appendix IV

A new Appendix is added to prescribe general regulations for the design of devices and other equipment, such as tees, gloves and distance measuring devices.


Any further detail on this?

Disappointed that they have not made a clear decision regarding DMD's

Posted: 24/10/2011 at 16:06

So you can now test the sand surface as long as you find a footprint in the sand?

I think thats a crap rule...

Posted: 24/10/2011 at 16:12

At last!  We no longer have to use our prize money in the pro shop.

Posted: 24/10/2011 at 20:28

I think the wind one is just common sense. The sand rule is a bit more dubious. I think this is in relation Mcilroy a couple of masters a go. Failing to get it out of a bunker on the first go, fixing the sand with his club, then having another go. No benefit gained. No penalty should be imposed.

Posted: 24/10/2011 at 20:41

BT@Home (8) wrote (see)

After further reading I found ....

1. Tees (Rule 11)
A tee is a device designed to raise the ball off the ground. A tee must not:
•
• unduly influence the movement of the ball; or
• otherwise assist the player in making a stroke or in his play.

Does this mean I have been using illegal equipment? Afterall I did use the offset tee until they all broke, as supplied by Golfmagic

Yes. That rule has been in for some years.

Posted: 25/10/2011 at 10:17

Good to see some sense has finally prevailed regarding ball moving when not due to player's actions. But the sand one wont be in the rules for long, as it will be abused. There is always some area of a bunker that could do with a rake, so I think we'll start to see it commonplace to rake before play to be able to test the sand. Odd how they have flipped from paramoia about testing sand to now effectively encouraging it!

Posted: 26/10/2011 at 10:53

Standing in the bunker and shuffling my feet to get a solid stance tells me all I need to know about the sand (or lack of!).

Posted: 26/10/2011 at 13:41

Taz

Appendix IV page162

5. Distance-Measuring Devices (Rule 14-3)

During a stipulated round, the use of any distance measuring device is not 

permitted unless the Committee has introduced a Local Rule to that effect 

(see Note to Rule 14-3 and Appendix I; Part B; Section 9).

Even when the Local Rule is in effect, the device must be limited to measuring distance only. Features that would render use of the device contrary to the Local Rule include, but are not limited to:

•the gauging or measuring of slope;

•the gauging or measuring of other conditions that might affect play 

(e.g. wind speed or direction, or other climate-based information such as 

temperature, humidity, etc.);

•recommendations that might assist the player in making a stroke or in his 

play (e.g. club selection, type of shot to be played, green reading or any other advice related matter); or

•calculating the effective distance between two points based on slope or other conditions affecting shot distance.

Such non-conforming features render use of the device contrary to the Rules, 

irrespective of whether or not:

•the features can be switched off or disengaged; and

•the features are switched off or disengaged.

A multi-functional device, such as a smartphone or PDA, may be used as a 

distance measuring device provided it contains a distance measuring application 

that meets all of the above limitations (i.e. it must measure distance only). In 

addition, when the distance measuring application is being used, there must be 

no other features or applications installed on the device that, if used, would be in 

breach of the Rules, whether or not they are actually used.

Posted: 26/10/2011 at 17:40

tee hee

Posted: 26/10/2011 at 17:50

tee hee<br data-mce-bogus="1">

Posted: 26/10/2011 at 17:50

So, on a windy day a teeshot lands an inch from the hole, rather than tapping it in you could mark it and replace it very lightly on the green in the hope that it might then catch a gust of wind and get a hole in one!

Posted: 26/10/2011 at 19:12