Rules Changes Effective January 1, 2019 Ball Moved - Player accidentally moves ball during search - No Penalty Ball Moved - Player accidentally moves his ball or ball-marker on putting green - No Penalty Ball Moved - Player will be found to be the cause only when it is known or virtually certain (meaning at least 95%) to be the case. Ball Replaced - When a ball is lying off the green and the exact spot is not known after it has been moved, replace the ball on an estimated spot. Ball In Motion - Player s ball in motion accidentally hits the player, his caddie, or person attending the flagstick or the attended or removed flagstick - No Penalty Ball Holed - In addition to a ball being holed when it is at rest and the entire ball is below the surface of the green, a ball is holed when it is resting against the flagstick in the hole and any part of the ball is below the surface of the green. Ball Deflected - there is no longer a penalty for a double hit. Dropping Procedure - It is recommended a tee be placed on the nearest point of relief. The ball must come to rest within the relief area (either 1 or 2 club lengths) or the ball must be re-dropped. If the ball does not come to rest in the relief area after the second drop, the ball is placed within the relief
area where it first struck the ground on the second drop. Dropping Procedure - In taking relief, the player must let go of the ball from a location at knee height. Dropping Procedure - when measuring one or two club-lengths, a player may use any club in his bag except the putter. Dropping Procedure - If a ball dropped properly first hits the ground in the relief area and then hits the player or his equipment and comes to rest in the relief area, the ball is in play, no penalty. Lost Ball - A ball is lost if it is not found within 3 minutes. Substituting A Ball - A player may always substitute a ball when taking relief. Embedded Ball - Unless a Local Rule been adopted restricting relief only to areas cut to fairway height or less, a player may take relief without penalty anywhere (except in the sand) in the general area ( new term for through the green ). Putting Green - Once marked and replaced, a ball moved must always be replaced on its original spot, even if it was blown by the wind or moved for no clear reason. Putting Green - A player may repair almost any damage (including spike marks and animal damage but not including natural imperfections).
Putting Green - A player can touch the line of putt in pointing out a target, so long as doing so does not improve the condition for a player s stroke. Putting Green - If a ball played from the putting green ( or anywhere else) hits the unattended flagstick in the hole - No Penalty Penalty Areas - New term for hazards are marked as either Red or Yellow. Red Penalty areas may include areas of desert, jungle, lava rock etc., in addition to areas of water. Penalty Areas - A player moves loose impediments, touches the ground with hand or club or grounds the club in a penalty area when the ball is in the penalty area - No Penalty Penalty Area - Unless the Committee adopts a Local Rule allowing it, a player is no longer allowed to take relief from a red penalty area on the opposite side from where the ball entered that penalty area. Penalty Areas - there is no relief for a player s ball in a penalty area for interference by an abnormal ground condition, an embedded ball or an unplayable ball. Bunkers - A player can move or touch a loose impediment in a bunker when the ball is in the bunker - No Penalty Bunkers - A player is not allowed to touch the sand with his hand or club to test the condition of the bunker or with the club in the area right behind or in
front of the ball, in making a practice swing or in making the backswing for the stroke. Bunkers - A player may take relief outside a bunker for an unplayable ball in a bunker by dropping back on a line from the hole through where the ball was at rest - 2 penalty strokes. Damaged Clubs - A player may keep using any damaged club, even if the player damaged the club in anger. Damaged Clubs - A player may not replace a damaged club, unless the player was not responsible for the damage. Playing a ball - A caddie or partner is not allowed to stand on a line behind a player while the player is taking his stance and until the stroke is made. Integrity - When a player has good reason to mark and lift a ball to identify it, check for damage or see if it lies in a condition where relief is allowed (such as to see whether it is embedded), the player is no longer required first to announce to another player the intent to do so. Player Behavior - Committees are given the authority to adopt their own code of player conduct and to set penalties for the breach of the standards in that code. Lee Wortman Rules Chairman