Greetings Golfers,

Rules: “One of a set of explicit or understood regulations governing conduct within a particular activity”.

Well, do you “understand” the new Rules of Golf? Are they “explicit”? Not sure that I do, but let’s give it a go.

I’m all for simplifying rules and laws. The simpler and clearer the better. And hopefully this is a start.

You can now fix spike marks on the green. Good. You could fix ball marks before … why not spike marks? Obviously, people have to use common sense … you shouldn’t go crazy and try to make every inch of the green perfect. It’s not a billiard table. Fix obvious stuff and putt.

Also on the green … you can leave the flagstick in while you putt. Fine. I leave it in when I chip. Some people take it out. It’s probably 50-50. At least, if you’re first to putt and far away, you won’t have to wait for someone to tend the pin.

People are going crazy about the new drop rule … that you have to drop the ball at knee height? Is this a big deal? What am I missing? If I changed the rule, you could place it. Then, you wouldn’t have to worry about weird drops, or having to re-drop until you place it anyway.

Speaking of drops. We don’t have “water hazards” anymore … they’re called “penalty zones”. And, they’ll be much easier to hit out of than before … because now, you can ground your club and remove loose impediments. Basically, you have to hit the ball as it lies, but you’re not penalized for infractions that were not intended to improve your lie. Makes sense to me.

How about sand traps/bunkers? Similar to water hazards – I mean penalty zones (I’m learning). You can move loose impediments, but you can’t ground your club. Again, the focus is on playing the shot as it lies, not penalizing the player for an involuntary infraction.

Same concept when looking for a lost ball. If you accidentally step on it, you’re not penalized. And, you can replace it – not drop it. Again, sensible.

What about playing with a broken club – one you broke during the round in anger? You can keep using it or replace it. The old rule was that you could only use a broken club if the damage happened during normal use. Now, you can have a temper tantrum and still use your bent putter. You should learn how to putt with your wedge anyway … it’s good for your putting.

No more worrying about double-hitting a chip shot – it’s not a penalty. It’s embarrassing enough without adding a stroke to your score. Somebody sent me a video about people trying to double-hit a shot to hit around a tree, etc. If you’re talented enough to do that, you’re probably not double-hitting normal chip shots. Another good decision.

Here’s another accidental situation:  if your ball moves while on the green or while you’re preparing to putt. If the wind moves it – move it back. If you accidentally kick it, or move it with your marker or some other clumsy maneuver … it’s not a penalty … just sort of embarrassing and probably funny. A penalty makes it harder to laugh. Another common sense decision.

Now to me, this next one is the biggie. If you hit the ball out-of-bounds, you can drop it in the fairway in line with where it finished or went OB. Hmmm. I’m not sure exactly what that means. I guess you can choose either the spot it went OB or where it ended-up. And, then you drop it on the edge of the fairway where it meets the rough. Is this free? Hardly. You must take a 2 stroke penalty.

This is an interesting solution. I’d prefer OB would be played as a lateral hazard, and you would drop, and take a 1 stroke penalty. I said would drop – not could drop. And you couldn’t go where it went and play it. You would have to take a drop – but it would only be a 1 stroke penalty. This would speed up play and end a lot of confusion. Maybe someday.

Then we have some easy ones: You can use a measuring device such as a range finder, GPS, etc. Fine. Most of us aren’t playing in the US Open. Also, if your shot hits your bag or even you … it’s not a penalty. Again, the embarrassment is bad enough.

I believe we’ve covered the Rule changes. And if not, I’m sure I’ll be sent scathing emails. (I probably will be anyway). However, I’m pretty pleased with the new Rules. They seem to based on common-sense and fair play.

More rules and laws are not always an improvement. As Thomas Hobbes said many years ago, “Unnecessary laws are not good laws, but just traps for money”. Unnecessary golf rules are not traps for money … they’re probably misguided attempts at making golf more fair. But golf (like life) can never be perfectly fair. I admire attempts in all aspects of life to make things more fair. Yet, the bottom line is, we have to make the best of the situation – fair or unfair.

Cheers,

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

Deer Run Golf Club
8661 Deer Run Drive
Victoria, MN 55386
(952) 443-2351
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