2008 Golf Rule Changes
Rules of Golf Changes For 2008
The United States Golf Association and the Royal &Ancient Golf Club in St. Andrews, Scotland recently announced many changes to the Rules of golf that will change the way the game is played. These two organizations are joint authors and owners of The Rules of Golf and Decisions on the Rules of Golf. Every four years they meet to Re-writes, interpret and maintain the Rules of Golf to guard the tradition and integrity of golf. These changes take effect on January 1, 2008.
Any changes to the Rules of Golf fall into one of two broad categories. Changes that improve the clarity of the Rules and changes that reduce the penalties in certain situations for fairness.
Some notable 2008 changes are:
Definition Advice - Amended to allow the exchange of information on distance,
as it is not considered to be “advice.”
Definition Lost Ball - Amended to clarify substituted ball issues and to include
the concept of “stroke-and-distance”
Definition Matches – Withdrawn, no longer in the rule book. Replaced by two
new Definitions, “Forms of Match Play” and “Forms of Stroke Play.”
Rule 4-1 Reduction in penalty for carrying, but not using, a non-conforming
club from disqualification to, in stroke play, a penalty of two strokes
per hole, with a maximum penalty of four strokes for the round.
Rule 12-2 A golfer will be allowed to lift a ball for identification in a bunker or
water hazard.
Rule 15-3 There now will be a two-stroke penalty for playing a wrong
ball from a hazard. In match play, the penalty will be loss of hole.
Rule 19-2 The penalty for the accidental deflection of a ball by a player, his
partner or either of their caddies or equipment will be reduced to one
penalty stroke in both match play and stroke play. (In 2007, the
penalty was loss of hole in match play and two strokes in stroke play.)
Design of Clubs
Adjustability - Amended to allow forms of adjustability other than
weight adjustment, subject to evaluation by the USGA.
Rules of Amateur Status
Rule 3-2a — Exception amended to clarify a cash prize for a
hole-in-one made while playing golf is permissible.
These changes will be included in the new editions of “2008-2009 The Rules of Golf”, “2008-2009 Decisions on The Rules of Golf” can be ordered online at www.usgapubs.com or by calling the USGA Order Department at (800) 336-4446.
For a full report on the changes go to usga.org.
To discuss any of these please visit our golf forum
