Some New Rules Changes for 2008

[Bulls9999]

The Rules of Golf and its Decisions Get a Makeover for 2008
Find out about some of the most significant rules changes
The United States Golf Association, in conjunction with the Royal & Ancient Rules Limited in St. Andrews, Scotland, writes, interprets and maintains the Rules of Golf to guard the tradition and integrity of the game. The two organizations are joint authors and owners of The Rules of Golf and Decisions on the Rules of Golf. Every four years, the USGA and R & A revise the Rules of Golf, while the Decisions on the Rules are revised every two years. On January 1, 2008, revisions for both the Rules of Golf and its Decisions will take effect. While all of the changes are important, we've highlighted a few of the changes that players are more likely to encounter. For a complete list of changes, please visit the USGA's Web site here.

Rule 4-1: Carrying a Non-Conforming Club

OLD: Prior to 2008, if a player carried a club during the round which was non-conforming, the player would be disqualified.

REVISED: Now the penalty for just carrying a non-conforming club has been softened and revised to reflect the similar penalty for carrying more than 14 clubs. Instead of disqualification, the penalty is now a loss of hole in match play or two strokes in stroke play for each hole you carry the non-conforming club with a maximum of two holes deducted or four penalty strokes tacked on. However, if the player uses a non-conforming club to make a stroke, the player will be disqualified.

Rule 12-2: Identification of Golf Ball in Hazards (Bunkers and Water Hazards)

OLD: Prior to 2008, if a ball was in a bunker or water hazard and you could not identify it, usually due to the ball being covered by sand or mud, you were not allowed to lift that ball for identification. Players would not be penalized for playing a wrong ball from a hazard.

REVISED: Now a player will be able to lift his ball for identification anywhere on the course, including bunkers and water hazards. Along with that privilege comes the penalty for playing a wrong ball anywhere on the course (two strokes).

Rule 19-2: Hitting Yourself (Penalty Reduced)

OLD: Prior to 2008, if a player hit a ball and it deflected off a tree or lip of a bunker and came back to hit the player, the penalty would be two strokes in stroke play or loss of hole in match play.

REVISED: Now the penalty for your own ball striking you, your partner, either of your caddies or any of your side's equipment will only be a one-stroke penalty in either stroke play or match play.

Rule 24-1: Moving a Flagstick (Movable Obstruction)

OLD: Prior to 2008, if a player hit a putt and the ball was rolling toward the flagstick that was laying on the green and another player moved the flagstick to prevent the ball from striking it, the person that moved the flagstick would be penalized two strokes.

REVISED: Now if a flagstick has been removed and is laying on the putting green when a player hits his putt too strong, another player may pick up the flagstick and let the player's ball roll by to wherever it was heading without incurring a penalty.

[Bulls9999]

Question: If you break a club (driver shaft snaps, etc)....if you place the broken club in your bag to be reshafted later, is that considered carrying a 'non-conforming club?'.

This summer, going to one of my son's major 3-day golf tournaments, I ran into a mother of a very good player. During the course of play, she told me that her son was DQ'd the previous year....was winning by 3 strokes and snapped his putter in disgust at a missed birdie putt.....then proceeded to choke down on the broken putter shaft (was broken half-way down) and putted out with a short 1 1/2-foot long putter. She said the rules guy standing at the 18th green observed this and walked up to her son saying, 'do you know what you just did?' (i.e., used a non-conforming club to make a stroke). I gasped and she said, yes, he got DQ'd...would have otherwise won by 3 strokes.

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Rule 4-1: Carrying a Non-Conforming Club

OLD: Prior to 2008, if a player carried a club during the round which was non-conforming, the player would be disqualified.

REVISED: Now the penalty for just carrying a non-conforming club has been softened and revised to reflect the similar penalty for carrying more than 14 clubs. Instead of disqualification, the penalty is now a loss of hole in match play or two strokes in stroke play for each hole you carry the non-conforming club with a maximum of two holes deducted or four penalty strokes tacked on. However, if the player uses a non-conforming club to make a stroke, the player will be disqualified.
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[Fileygolfer]

Did the Official know that the putter had been broken by the player in anger?

He would still be DQ'd today for what he did, but a player is not penalised for using\carrying a club that has become damaged through NORMAL play.

The Non-Conforming parts of Rule 4 are:-
4-1 for the Type and Make of club.
Broken or Damaged clubs are dealt with in Rules 4-3.

[Bulls9999]

Hey, good point. Actually, if I recalled the conversation correctly, he did it on the 17th green and stuck the broken pieces back in his bag....then when he had such a short putt on the 18th green, he jokingly used the short, broken putter to putt out, which seemingly backfired. I guess the official was on the 18th green and didn't see the actual breaking of the club in anger, but I don't know why the other kids would not have challenged him if he broke it in anger, but the mom was referring to the previous year.

That would have brought up a question in my mind....could you carry the broken club in your bag? Even if you didn't intend to use it, is it considered a 'club'...what defines a 'club'? If a club is broken, and the pieces are no longer a sanctioned golf club, can they be considered a club for purpose of carrying a non-conforming club?....i.e., to that extent, is my telescoping ball retriever considered a non-conforming club?

Originally Posted by Fileygolfer

Did the Official know that the putter had been broken by the player in anger?

He would still be DQ'd today for what he did, but a player is not penalised for using\carrying a club that has become damaged through NORMAL play.

The Non-Conforming parts of Rule 4 are:-
4-1 for the Type and Make of club.
Broken or Damaged clubs are dealt with in Rules 4-3.

[JungleJ]

I think there are several questions here:

1 - could you carry the broken club? Do you mean to carry in your bag all the time? If so, there would be a penalty for carrying a non-conforming club - up to 4 strokes. If it was broken during a round (in the normal course of play) you can declare it out of play and have it replaced, thus still keeping it in your bag. You cannot declare a non-conforming club out of play BEFORE the start of a stipulated round.

2 - is your ball retriever a non-conforming club? Well since a ball retriever in no way resembles the definitions of "club" it wouldn't be considered one, just as an umbrella wouldn't. However if you attempted to USE it to make a stroke there would be penalties!

[Fileygolfer]

Don't get confused by the new Rule 4, the main change is the penalties invoked.

Some clubs, mainly drivers have been made illegal by the R&A and as these have been promoted as Non-conforming, it can confuse the wording of Rule 4 both in the 2004 and 2008 editions of the RofG.

[Diane]

Originally Posted by Bulls9999

Rule 24-1: Moving a Flagstick (Movable Obstruction)

OLD: Prior to 2008, if a player hit a putt and the ball was rolling toward the flagstick that was laying on the green and another player moved the flagstick to prevent the ball from striking it, the person that moved the flagstick would be penalized two strokes.

REVISED: Now if a flagstick has been removed and is laying on the putting green when a player hits his putt too strong, another player may pick up the flagstick and let the player's ball roll by to wherever it was heading without incurring a penalty.

This is very helpful to know. We were just talking about this when we played last Sunday. Thank you Bull.

[Fileygolfer]

Originally Posted by Bulls9999;86376[B

Rule 24-1: Moving a Flagstick (Movable Obstruction)[/b]

OLD: Prior to 2008, if a player hit a putt and the ball was rolling toward the flagstick that was laying on the green and another player moved the flagstick to prevent the ball from striking it, the person that moved the flagstick would be penalized two strokes.

REVISED: Now if a flagstick has been removed and is laying on the putting green when a player hits his putt too strong, another player may pick up the flagstick and let the player's ball roll by to wherever it was heading without incurring a penalty.

With this wording you can see how easy it is to mis-read a Rule.

Rule 24-1 says
When a ball is in motion, an obstruction that might influence the movement of the ball, other than equipment of any player or the flagstick when attended, removed or held up, must not be moved.

[atticusfinch]

Originally Posted by Bulls9999

Prior to 2008, if a player hit a putt and the ball was rolling toward the flagstick that was laying on the green and another player moved the flagstick to prevent the ball from striking it, the person that moved the flagstick would be penalized two strokes.

REVISED: Now if a flagstick has been removed and is laying on the putting green when a player hits his putt too strong, another player may pick up the flagstick and let the player's ball roll by to wherever it was heading without incurring a penalty.

This is not true. Read the rule posted by Fileygolfer.

[Fileygolfer]

Originally Posted by atticusfinch

This is not true. Read the rule posted by Fileygolfer.

You've fallen for it.

"OTHER THAN" meaning the flagstick.
The "MUST NOT BE MOVED" relates to the origional OBSTRUCTION and not the "OTHER THAN".

[Bulls9999]

I don't know, maybe it's because I just had my morning coffee, but it clearly says to me:

(paraphrasing): Except for any players equipment, or a flag which is being attended/held, or removed (laying on the ground), you can't move anything (else) while the ball is in motion.

So it's correct AF.

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Rule 24-1 says
When a ball is in motion, an obstruction that might influence the movement of the ball, other than equipment of any player or the flagstick when attended, removed or held up, must not be moved.

Originally Posted by Fileygolfer

You've fallen for it.

"OTHER THAN" meaning the flagstick.
The "MUST NOT BE MOVED" relates to the origional OBSTRUCTION and not the "OTHER THAN".

[deronsizemore]

Rule 19-2: Hitting Yourself (Penalty Reduced)

OLD: Prior to 2008, if a player hit a ball and it deflected off a tree or lip of a bunker and came back to hit the player, the penalty would be two strokes in stroke play or loss of hole in match play.

REVISED: Now the penalty for your own ball striking you, your partner, either of your caddies or any of your side's equipment will only be a one-stroke penalty in either stroke play or match play.

So, under the old rule, if I've played my tee shot and landed in a bunker. I'm laying 1. If I hit the ball and it comes back to hit me, at that point, I would be laying 4 with the two stroke penalty, right? 1 off the tee, 2 out of the bunker, 3 and 4 because it hit me? Is that the way the old rule worked? And now, the new rule I would only be laying 3 in that situation after the ball hit me?

[Fileygolfer]

Originally Posted by deronsizemore

So, under the old rule, if I've played my tee shot and landed in a bunker. I'm laying 1. If I hit the ball and it comes back to hit me, at that point, I would be laying 4 with the two stroke penalty, right? 1 off the tee, 2 out of the bunker, 3 and 4 because it hit me? Is that the way the old rule worked? And now, the new rule I would only be laying 3 in that situation after the ball hit me?

CORRECT, and now in Match-Play you would also be laying 3 instead of walking to the next tee having lost the hole.

[atticusfinch]

Originally Posted by Bulls9999

I don't know, maybe it's because I just had my morning coffee, but it clearly says to me:

(paraphrasing): Except for any players equipment, or a flag which is being attended/held, or removed (laying on the ground), you can't move anything (else) while the ball is in motion.

So it's correct AF.

--------------------

Rule 24-1 says
When a ball is in motion, an obstruction that might influence the movement of the ball, other than equipment of any player or the flagstick when attended, removed or held up, must not be moved.

Yes. I concede...my mind was in the past.