Since 1952,
the Rules of Golf have been jointly written by the USGA
and the R&A in St. Andrews, Scotland. The Rules Committees
of each ruling body meet periodically during the year and two
joint meetings are held annually. Changes to the Rules of
Golf themselves are made on a 4-year cycle coincident with
leap years. Each even-numbered year, changes are made to the
Decisions on the Rules of Golf. These changes represent
interpretations or clarifications of the Rules.
In 2006, there were 111 changes to the
Decisions on the Rules of Golf. While this number
sounds large, only a few of those changes will have a
significant effect on the way golf is played.
Relaxed standard for clubs which are
‘Damaged in the Normal Course of Play’
The 2006 revision of Decision 4-3/1 interprets ‘normal
course of play’ to include all reasonable acts but
specifically excludes damage due to abuse. Prior to 2006, only
damage occurring during a practice swing, practice stroke, or
stroke could be considered to have occurred in the normal
course of play. Related changes were made to Decisions 4-3/7
and 4-3/9.
Ruling regarding a player who starts his
round with a broken club
Decision 4-4a/14 was added in 2006 to answer the question,
"What is the ruling if a player begins his stipulated
round with 14 clubs plus a club that had broken into pieces
during a previous round?" The ruling, in equity, is that
the player incurs no penalty provided he does not use the
broken club.
Distance and Distance-measuring
Revised Decision 8-1/2 explains that the distance between any
objects, including golf balls, is considered to be a matter of
public information and therefore not advice. Such information
may be shared without restriction.
New Decision 14-3/0.5 also permits the
Committee in charge of a competition or course to adopt a
Local Rule permitting the use of devices that measure distance
provided the device is not capable of measuring other
conditions which might affect play (e.g., wind-speed, the
slope of the ground, etc.). In conjunction with this change,
Decision 17/3.5 was added to permit small non-circular
reflectors on flagsticks and Decisions 14-3/1, 14-3/2, 14-3/3,
and 14-3/5.5 were amended in light of the addition of Decision
14-3/0.5.
When the Local Rule has been adopted to
allow the use of devices that measure distance only, the
players may share the device and, due to the revision of
Decision 8-1/2, may share the information provided by the
device.
Clarification regarding movement of a
ball in play after a loose impediment near the ball has been
moved
In 2004, Rule 18-2c was removed from the Rules of Golf.
Previously, if a player’s ball in play moved after he had
touched or moved a loose impediment within one club length of
the ball, the player was deemed, by Rule 18-2c, to have caused
the ball to move (and he incurred a one stroke penalty and was
required to replace the ball). With the removal of Rule 18-2c,
it is a question of fact whether the player’s actions caused
his ball in play to move. New Decision 18-2a/30.5 was added to
clarify that point.
For access to the complete updated Rules of
Golf and Decisions on the Rules of Golf, go to the USGA
Rules site.
