Rules changes over the past decade

[Ranchobob]

Took a golf vacation for about ten years and just dug the sticks back out. 
 

Seems that a lot of rules have changed.  
 

If you had to make a list of the most significant rules changes, what would you pick?  What would I find most surprising?

 

FWIW, I hate the pin in while putting rule.  Pull that damned thing.  

[rogolf]

Glad you're back playing.

There were very significant changes in 2019.  Best that you research that.

Listing them is old news.

Edited April 7 by rogolf

[ShortGolfer]

Dropping the ball back out of the bunker for a 2 shot penalty.

[Ranchobob]

18 minutes ago, ShortGolfer said:

Dropping the ball back out of the bunker for a 2 shot penalty.

You’re kidding?  Usually the folks I see just grab it and toss it.  😂

 

23 minutes ago, rogolf said:

Glad you're back playing.

There were very significant changes in 2019.  Best that you research that.

Listing them is old news.

 

Is there a compilation?  I did some searching but I think I’m a bit of an outlier with a decade off and couldn’t find anything.  Hah.  

[iacas]

5 minutes ago, Ranchobob said:

Is there a compilation?  I did some searching but I think I’m a bit of an outlier with a decade off and couldn’t find anything.  Hah.  

 

LMGTFY

 

https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/rules-hub/rules-modernization/major-changes/major-changes.html

[Augster]

Major changes that actually affect play:

E-5

No penalty for movement of the ball on the putting green. 
Drop from knee height

Putting with the pin in isn’t a penalty. 
Change from “water hazard” to penalty area (PA).
Ability to move loose impediments in PA’s AND ground your club. 
All PA’s are red PA’s unless defined yellow by the committee. 
PA’s can be virtually anywhere. Woods, grass, weeds, desert. Before, “water hazards” had to have water. 
No opposite margin relief for Red PA’s unless defined by the committee. 
 

That’s about it. Figure those out and your daily play will be nearly 100% within the Rules. 

[bluedot]

IMO, the most significant of the 2019 changes is the PA designation that allows red stakes unrelated to water.  That is a very big deal on many, many courses.  
 

Second in impact would be removing loose impediments and grounding your club, including practice swings, in PA’s.  Those shots aren’t just a little bit easier; it can be a night and day difference.
 

E5 is a big deal, but since that’s a local rule that is often not in effect in competition, it’s a little difficult to characterize the impact.  
 

The “quirkiest” change is the flagstick, which for the most part is much ado about nothing.  But it’s interesting, at least to me, that the old “tending the flag” thing has all but disappeared.  That was commonplace before 2019; multiple times every round. But that went away almost instantly; now if someone asks to have the flagstick tended, it’s sort of a shock.  Even in tournament play, it just doesn’t happen much.

[Imp]

10 minutes ago, bluedot said:

The “quirkiest” change is the flagstick, which for the most part is much ado about nothing.  But it’s interesting, at least to me, that the old “tending the flag” thing has all but disappeared.  That was commonplace before 2019; multiple times every round. But that went away almost instantly; now if someone asks to have the flagstick tended, it’s sort of a shock.  Even in tournament play, it just doesn’t happen much.

Yeah, it's either in or out. Rarely today is the flag tended, or put back in for some, taken out for others. The group just abides to who wants what "for the rest of the putting". A common theme that has evolved since the rule is that it's in for the longer putts (if anyone wants it), and once pulled for anyone it hardly ever goes back in for anyone else. It can, just... everyone is generally OK with it being out once pulled. So, it saves from anyone having to tend it and standing next to it on the longer putts  (sometimes/often awkwardly to avoid standing in the line of someone else)

[davep043]

10 hours ago, Ranchobob said:

You’re kidding?  Usually the folks I see just grab it and toss it.  😂

 

 

Is there a compilation?  I did some searching but I think I’m a bit of an outlier with a decade off and couldn’t find anything.  Hah.  

@iacas gave you one good source, here's a short summary of each of the changes:

https://www.usga.org/content/dam/usga/pdf/2019/rules/Explanation for Each Major Change in the New Rules of Golf for 2019.pdf

One more change, you can get a really good app for your phone from either the USGA or the R&A, check your source for phone apps.  Make sure to change the settings to Expert Mode, so you can access the Clarifications and Committee Procedures.  Its searchable, and links quickly to the Definitions or rules references.

Edited April 7 by davep043

[Socrates]

14 hours ago, Ranchobob said:

Took a golf vacation for about ten years and just dug the sticks back out. 
 

Seems that a lot of rules have changed.  
 

If you had to make a list of the most significant rules changes, what would you pick?  What would I find most surprising?

 

FWIW, I hate the pin in while putting rule.  Pull that damned thing.  

You are better off to just read the Current Rules (on line or buy a book).  You likely have forgotten most of them anyway and it would be just easier to learn them as they now are.  No point in figuring out what changed.  

 

Doing what is fair is still valid.  If it feels like you are doing something wrong, you likely are.  Note it.  Play on and figure it out later by reading up on it.

[davep043]

3 hours ago, Socrates said:

Doing what is fair is still valid.

I can't say that the rules are intended to be fair, but I know they're written to try to be as consistent as possible.  

[antip]

This short doc about further rules evolution in the (current) 2023 edition of the Rules helps too.

chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.usga.org/content/dam/usga/pdf/2022/rules/2023ROG5KeyChangesInfographic.pdf 

 

If that doesn't work, the 'parent' page is here - see the top doc:

https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/rules-hub/2023-rules-of-golf/2023-rules-resources.html

 

Edited April 8 by antip

[Strategery]

We should start a thread on candidates (or wishes) for next major revision.

[Hawkeye77]

1 hour ago, Strategery said:

We should start a thread on candidates (or wishes) for next major revision.

So you can make the silly no Aimpoint suggestion? 😀

 

Let's not.

[davep043]

22 minutes ago, Hawkeye77 said:

So you can make the silly no Aimpoint suggestion? 😀

 

Let's not.

And we'd certainly get the "divot relief" suggestion too.

[Ranchobob]

3 hours ago, davep043 said:

And we'd certainly get the "divot relief" suggestion too.

Guys I played with last would have been on board with that. “Perfect drive, crappy lie. Not fair.”

[sui generis]

4 minutes ago, Ranchobob said:

Guys I played with last would have been on board with that. “Perfect drive, crappy lie. Not fair.”

Did they also vote for "Bad drive, lucky bounce. Well, that's okay."

[Strategery]

No line straddling to read putts, relief from fresh divots (ground under repair), ban broomstick putters, ban armlock, revise sprinkler head rule near green, revise "general penalty", eliminate "testing the sand" and allow practice swings in sand, eliminate alignment aids on ball, consolidate red/yellow PAs, change 2 strokes to drop out of bunker, pro-only: drop cannot change grass cut, and... clearly the best ever suggestion... ball accidentally moved replace without penalty.

[sui generis]

4 minutes ago, Strategery said:

No line straddling to read putts, relief from fresh divots (ground under repair), ban broomstick putters, ban armlock, revise sprinkler head rule near green, revise "general penalty", eliminate "testing the sand" and allow practice swings in sand, eliminate alignment aids on ball, consolidate red/yellow PAs, change 2 strokes to drop out of bunker, pro-only: drop cannot change grass cut, and... clearly the best ever suggestion... ball accidentally moved replace without penalty.

So, in short, write down any score you want and go have a beer. 😉

[Strategery]

3 minutes ago, sui generis said:

[anything sui says]

[iacas]

3 hours ago, Strategery said:

No line straddling to read putts, relief from fresh divots (ground under repair), ban broomstick putters, ban armlock, revise sprinkler head rule near green, revise "general penalty", eliminate "testing the sand" and allow practice swings in sand, eliminate alignment aids on ball, consolidate red/yellow PAs, change 2 strokes to drop out of bunker, pro-only: drop cannot change grass cut, and... clearly the best ever suggestion... ball accidentally moved replace without penalty.

What a terrible list. So many obvious issues with several of those. Off-topic as well.

[Hawkeye77]

5 hours ago, Strategery said:

No line straddling to read putts, relief from fresh divots (ground under repair), ban broomstick putters, ban armlock, revise sprinkler head rule near green, revise "general penalty", eliminate "testing the sand" and allow practice swings in sand, eliminate alignment aids on ball, consolidate red/yellow PAs, change 2 strokes to drop out of bunker, pro-only: drop cannot change grass cut, and... clearly the best ever suggestion... ball accidentally moved replace without penalty.

 

I expected the "greatest hits" but you found a couple of bonus tracks! 

[Strategery]

1 hour ago, iacas said:

What a terrible list. So many obvious issues with several of those.

The best list so far.  You are welcome to speak up if you have anything interesting to offer. Nah.

[Strategery]

12 minutes ago, Hawkeye77 said:

I expected the "greatest hits" but you found a couple of bonus tracks! 

You are tiresome. Putting you on ignore to avoid your spam posts.

[Hawkeye77]

3 minutes ago, Strategery said:

You are tiresome. Putting you on ignore to avoid your spam posts.

Thanks!

[Hawkeye77]

9 hours ago, davep043 said:

And we'd certainly get the "divot relief" suggestion too.

 

You are like Kreskin, or Carnac! 😀

 

 

[antip]

5 hours ago, Strategery said:

No line straddling to read putts, relief from fresh divots (ground under repair), ban broomstick putters, ban armlock, revise sprinkler head rule near green, revise "general penalty", eliminate "testing the sand" and allow practice swings in sand, eliminate alignment aids on ball, consolidate red/yellow PAs, change 2 strokes to drop out of bunker, pro-only: drop cannot change grass cut, and... clearly the best ever suggestion... ball accidentally moved replace without penalty.

'Course, I'm likely guilty of reading between the lines a bit ...

 

But have you ever considered getting a pro to teach how to play out of bunkers?

 

Or joining a club that doesn't have any?

 

That would take care of a few of your grievances that are actually about you, rather than telling anyone else how to play.

But you do have one idea listed that I think merits consideration: sprinklers near the greens. I would reverse the onus of MLR F-5 and make the rule default that line of play relief is available for an immovable obstruction within 2CL of the green and 2CL from the ball at rest in the general area cut to fairway height, and have an MLR available for any club that wishes to do something different. I don't know any decent club with considered/intelligent local rules in place that don't have F-5 operating. 

[Strategery]

9 minutes ago, antip said:

'Course, I'm likely guilty of reading between the lines a bit ...

 

But have you ever considered getting a pro to teach how to play out of bunkers?

 

Or joining a club that doesn't have any?

 

That would take care of a few of your grievances that are actually about you, rather than telling anyone else how to play.

But you do have one idea listed that I think merits consideration: sprinklers near the greens. I would reverse the onus of MLR F-5 and make the rule default that line of play relief is available for an immovable obstruction within 2CL of the green and 2CL from the ball at rest in the general area cut to fairway height, and have an MLR available for any club that wishes to do something different. I don't know any decent club with considered/intelligent local rules in place that don't have F-5 operating. 

Not grievances. I'm thinking of regular unskilled players, perhaps like yourself, who find the game somewhat unapproachable due to the rules alone. These are some thoughts to simplify.

[Hawkeye77]

45 minutes ago, Strategery said:

Not grievances. I'm thinking of regular unskilled players, perhaps like yourself, who find the game somewhat unapproachable due to the rules alone. These are some thoughts to simplify.

 

The biggest fallacy out there.  Most people don't play by the rules of golf and have plenty of fun, there's nothing literally or figuratively "unapproachable" about it nor does knowing or enjoying the rules have any correlation to skill.

 

Facts - among beginners, adults and particularly kids, I've found almost 100% they want to know and learn the rules and play by them.  

[Mr. Bean]

17 hours ago, Ranchobob said:

Guys I played with last would have been on board with that. “Perfect drive, crappy lie. Not fair.”

 

Talk about fair. I was reading the Rules yesterday to prepare myself for the annual exam when I came accross with a Clarification that digs this fairness even deeper.

 

Your ball lies on the fairway in a divot hole. Another player makes a stroke at your ball (playes a wrong ball) and deepens that divot hole to some extent. Now, if there is no other divot hole similar to the original one within one club length no closer to hole you will have to place your ball into that deepened divot hole.

 

A real rub of the green...