MAIN MODIFICATIONS IN THE GOLF RULES 2019.

MAIN MODIFICATIONS IN THE GOLF RULES 2019.

By Ergio Guitian.

Since January 1st, 2019, the modifications of the golf rules adopted jointly by the USGA and the R & A will become effective. The main objectives of the golf new rules 2019 are that they are easier to understand and apply to all golfers; be more consistent, simple, and fair; and reinforce the principles and character of the game.

Here are some of the modifications:

1)      Ball at rest accidentally moved.

•         There will be no penalty when a player accidentally moves his ball during the search.

•         There will be no penalty when a player accidentally moves his ball, or the mark of his ball, when it is on the Green.

2) Ball in motion accidentally deflected. There will be no penalty if the player's moving ball accidentally hits himself, his equipment, his caddy, someone attending the flagpole, or a flagstick removed.

3) Taking relief and dropping.

•         Drop procedure. The only requirement is that the player holds the ball between the height of his shoulder and his knee, and let it fall freely through the air before stopping.

•         Relief area defined for dropping. The ball needs to be dropped and played within the defined drop area. The fact that the ball must necessarily be inside the relief area greatly simplifies in which situation it should be dropped again.

4) Lost ball. The time to search for the ball is reduced. A ball is lost if it is not found within three minutes (not like the current five minutes) since the search began.

5) Elimination of the double-hit penalty. The penalty for accidentally hitting the ball more than once has been eliminated.

6) In the Green:

•         Putting with the flag placed in the hole. There will be no penalty if the player plays a ball from the green and it hits the flagpole that is in the hole.

•         Fixing damage to the green. On the green you can fix the damage caused by shoe nail marks and any damage done by animal and you will not be more limited to fixing only ball marks or old holes.

•         Touching the line of putt on the green by pointing to the line. There will be no penalty if the player or his caddy touches the line of the putt, while doing so does not improve the conditions that affect his stroke.

•         Replacing the ball if it moves only after the player has marked, lifted, and replaced it. At any time, this happens on the green the player must replaces his ball without penalty, even if it has been moved by the wind or without a clear reason.

•         The caddy marks and lifts the ball on the green. There will be no penalty if the caddy does this without the express authorization of the player.

7) Penalty areas.

•         In golf rules 2019, the concept of obstacles disappears and is replaced by "penalty areas" that extend beyond water obstacles. The "penalty areas" marked in both red and yellow can now cover areas that the Committee decides to mark for this purpose (such as deserts, jungles or wild native areas) in addition to water areas.

•         Larger use of red penalty areas. Committees are given the discretion to mark all penalty areas as red so that lateral relief is always allowed (but they can still mark penalty areas as yellow where they deem appropriate).

•         Elimination of the option of relief in the opposite margin. The player will not be authorized to relieve himself of a red penalty area in the opposite margin from where the ball entered the penalty area for the last time (unless the Committee dictates a Local Rule authorizing it).

•         Removal of all special restrictions to move or touch things in a penalty area. There will be no penalty if the player touches or moves loose impediments (such as leaves, stones and twigs) or touches the ground with his hand or his club in a penalty area.

8) In the bunkers

•         Removal of special restrictions to move loose impediments: There will be no penalty if the player touches or moves loose impediments in a bunker.

•         Milder restrictions on touching the sand with your hand or a club when the player's ball is in the bunker. The player will only be prohibited from touching the sand (a) with his hand or club to prove the condition of the bunker or (b) with his club in the area immediately in front of or behind the ball, or when doing a practice swing or when doing the "backswing" for his stroke.

9) Promoting a faster pace of play. The pace of play is one of the great problems of golf today. In golf new rules 2019 is recommended that the player execute each stroke in no more than 40 seconds - and usually faster - once it is his turn to play. Players are strongly encouraged to practice "Ready golf" in a safe and responsible manner for convenience or to save time.

10) Ball lost or out of bounds: Alternative to stroke and distance penalty. The Committee is authorized to establish a local rule that allows golfers the option of dropping the ball near where it was lost or out of bounds (including the area of the nearest fairway), under the penalty of two strokes. Note: This Local rule is not intended for high levels of competitions.