The USGA and R&A announced their plan for a major overhaul of the Rules of Golf. The initiative has been dubbed the Modernization of the Rules of Golf, and there are a number of proposed changes to the next cycle of the Rules of Golf. You can review a chart with the major proposed changes to the rules HERE. If you prefer to view videos on the major proposed changes click HERE. Some of the highlights include no penalty for removing loose impediments and grounding the club in a hazard or bunker; no penalty for touching your line of putt (as long as no improvement is made); fixing spike marks on the putting green; changing “hazards” to “penalty areas,” and allowing a committee to mark areas without water as a “penalty area.”
The Rules Modernization initiative began five years ago in an effort to update the Rules to fit the needs of the game today globally. A major theme of the initiative was to make far-reaching rule changes, while preserving golf’s essential principles and character. The revisions are meant to take all golfers into consideration (not just the elite players), with the ultimate goal of making the rules easier to understand and apply for professionals, elite amateurs, and recreational golfers of all levels.
One specific objective in this project is changing how the rules are written in order to simplify the way that someone accesses the information. The USGA plans to make greater use of visual aids (charts and graphics) and technology to explain the application of a rule on or off the golf course. It also plans to include a version of the Rules that is written from the player’s perspective, focusing on what the typical golfer needs to know.
The current rules of golf will remain in effect until the new cycle commences on January 1, 2019. In an effort to maintain uniformity with the rules throughout the world, golf courses will not be able to adopt any of these proposed rule changes as local rules before 2019. The USGA anticipates having a finalized version of the modernized Rules of Golf in early 2018. Until then, they would like for golfers throughout the country to try out some of these new rules on the golf course over the next few months and provide the feedback on what they think of these proposed changes. Please visit the USGA’s website for more information on the proposed changes and to provide feedback. USGA RULES MODERNIZATION. You can ask questions and give feedback by emailing rules@usga.org or calling 908-326-1850.
