New Rules Videos
Dropping & Measuring
VIDEO: Measuring relief area where ball must be dropped and played (1:19min)
Your relief area for dropping a ball will be a fixed size of either one or two club-lengths using the longest club in your bag, other than your ...Read more
VIDEO: New procedure for dropping ball (0.40min)
Your ball must be let go from knee height and fall through the air without touching any part of your body or equipment. Read more
VIDEO: Where dropped ball must come to rest (0.48min)
Your ball must come to rest in the relief area where it was dropped, or else it must be redropped. Read more
Longest club, putter aside, to be used for measuring
A fixed distance of the longest club in your bag, other than your putter, will be used for measuring. Read more
VIDEO: How to take sideways relief (0.53min)
In taking lateral relief, you will drop within two club-lengths of where your ball entered the penalty area. The size of a club-length will always be ... Read more
VIDEO: How to take back-on-the-line relief (1.02min)
One of your options for relief from either a red or yellow penalty area will be called back-on-the-line relief. Read more
Ball at Rest
VIDEO: No penalty for ball moved while searching (0.38min)
In the new Rules of Golf from January 1, there will be no penalty for accidentally moving your ball during search. Read more
VIDEO: No penalty for moving ball on green (0.55min)
In the new Rules of Golf from January 1, there is no penalty for accidentally moving your ball or ball-marker on the putting green. Read more
VIDEO: Replacing ball when original spot unknown (0.49min)
When the original location of your ball is not known, replace it on its estimated spot. Read more
VIDEO: Determining why ball moved (0.56min)
New standard to determine if you caused your ball to move. Read more
Ball in Motion
No penalty for accidental deflection
No penalty if your ball in motion is accidentally deflected by you, your equipment, or your caddie. Read more
Relief Rules
Relief without penalty for an embedded ball in the rough
Relief allowed without penalty for an embedded ball anywhere (except in sand) in the “general area” (a new term for “through the green”). Read more
VIDEO: Ball change always allowed when taking relief (0.48min)
For free relief, as well as in penalty situations, players are now entitled to change their ball.Read more
Your ball is lost if not found in three minutes, rather than the current five minutes. Read more
Areas of the Course
VIDEO: When to replace moved ball on green (0.43min)
In the new Rules of Golf from January 1, after your ball has been lifted and replaced, you would always replace your ball on its original spot, even ... Read more
VIDEO: No penalty for moving loose impediments in bunker (0.46min)
Relaxed Rules relating to loose impediments and touching the ground in a bunker. Read more
VIDEO: Spike mark repairs allowed on green (0.45min)
Repair of almost any damage allowed on the putting green, including spike marks and animal damage. Read more
VIDEO: Penalty relief always allowed from bunker (0.55min)
In the new Rules of Golf from January 1, relief is allowed outside a bunker for an unplayable ball for two penalty strokes. Read more
Elimination of opposite side relief for red penalty areas
Relief from a red penalty area no longer allowed on the opposite side from where the ball last entered the penalty area. Read more
Expanded use of red-marked penalty areas
Committees are given the discretion to mark any penalty area as red so that lateral relief is always allowed. Read more
VIDEO: Relaxing rules in penalty area (0.47min)
No penalty for moving loose impediments, touching the ground, or grounding your club in a penalty area. Read more
VIDEO: Areas committee can mark as penalty areas (1.09min)
Areas of desert, jungle, lava rock, etc. (in addition to areas of water) may now be marked as red or yellow “penalty areas.” Read more
VIDEO: Flagstick can remain in when putting (0.50min)
No penalty if your ball played from the putting green (or anywhere else) hits the unattended flagstick in the hole. Read more
VIDEO: Touching line of putt allowed (0.39min)
No penalty for touching your line of play on the putting green so long as doing so does not improve the conditions for your stroke. Read more
Equipment
Use of distance-measuring devices
The use of DMDs will be allowed unless a Local Rule has been adopted prohibiting their use.Read more
When you can replace a damaged club
You will not be allowed to replace a damaged club during a round if you were responsible for the damage. Read more
Use of clubs damaged during round
A club damaged during a round can continue to be used, even if you damaged it in anger. Read more
Playing a Ball
Ball accidentally struck more than once during stroke
If your club accidentally strikes your ball more than once during a stroke, there will be no penalty and your ball will be played as it lies.Read more
VIDEO: Caddie lifting ball on green (0.34min)
Your caddie may lift and replace your ball on the putting green without your specific authorization to do so. Read more
VIDEO: Caddie standing behind to line player up (0.36min)
A caddie is not allowed to stand on a line behind you while you are taking your stance and until your stroke is made. Read more
When to Play During a Round
VIDEO: Capping stroke play hole scores allowed (0.59min)
A new “maximum score” form of stroke play is recognised, where your score for a hole is capped at a max score. Read more
VIDEO: Encouraging prompt pace of play (0.57min)
It is recommended that you play “ready golf” and make each stroke in no more than 40 seconds.Read more
Model Local Rules
New Local Rule for Lost Ball or Ball Out of Bounds
A new Local Rule is available as an alternative to the stroke & distance penalty for Lost Ball or ball Out of Bounds. Read more
Player Behaviour
Reasonable judgment shown when estimating and measuring
A player’s reasonable judgment will not be second-guessed based on later evidence. Read more
VIDEO: Elimination of need to announce intent to lift ball (0.51min)
When you have good reason to mark and lift your ball, you are no longer required to first announce your intention. Read more
Committees are given authority to adopt their own code of player conduct and to set penalties for breaches of that code. Read more
Expected standards of player conduct
The proposed new Rules speak to the high standards of conduct expected from players.Read more
Main Changes.pdf