USGA/R&A Introduce "Modernized" Rules

[iacas]

21 minutes ago, DeadMan said:

Yeah, that's what I meant.

I think you meant when off the green. People see PGA Tour players take the flagstick out when they're hitting a chip shot or something from off the green.

But yeah, I think this will actually slow the game down. Some will take it out, some will know it's advantageous to have it in and will put it back in.

I don't expect this to happen much inside of eight feet or so (because in our testing the advantage is basically nil when you can control your speed to within +/- two feet), but if someone has a slick downhill putt, they could easily want it put back in and gain an advantage in doing so, even inside of eight or ten feet.

This - more than the definition of a "stroke" to ban anchored putting - changes the way the game is played at a fundamental level. We no longer play to a hole in the ground (with a flagstick that 99.99% of the time simply marks the location of the hole), we play optionally to a deflecting/trapping hole-and-stick contraption.

[cutchemist42]

Am I reading the new rules right when it says more areas can be marked with red yellow stakes? What kinds of areas would this be? Are former out of bound areas now going to have relief instead of stroke and distance?

[iacas]

57 minutes ago, cutchemist42 said:

Am I reading the new rules right when it says more areas can be marked with red yellow stakes? What kinds of areas would this be? Are former out of bound areas now going to have relief instead of stroke and distance?

OB will still be OB, but you could mark an area where lost balls were likely as "penalty areas."

I suspect yellow stakes might actually just go away. They're likely just going to have red and white. They may keep yellow for some things, because in dropping the "opposite margin" drop possibility, you'll still have to navigate the yellow hazard. The only time that could save you is if you carry a yellow hazard and your ball rolls back in from the hole side. I don't know if that's enough reason to keep yellow stakes.

[NEhomer]

I saw something that caught my attention the other day. TGC was airing last year's tourney in Mexico. I watched Justin Thomas take relief and make a drop onto a mulched area. After marking the drop area, with his fingers he plucked out bigger pieces of bark & twigs all around the area he intended to drop the ball and then he dropped in onto this prepared area.

Is a golfer allowed to prep the area of a drop? Seems odd that such would be allowed. 

 

[Missouri Swede]

2 hours ago, NEhomer said:

Is a golfer allowed to prep the area of a drop? Seems odd that such would be allowed. 

Off topic for this thread, but:

Quote

23-1/6

 Removal of Loose Impediments from Area in Which Ball to Be Dropped

Q.Through the green, is it permissible for a player to remove loose impediments from the area in which he is preparing to drop his ball?

A.Yes.

 

[Braivo]

Looks like the "Final" rules have been released. 

http://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/rules-hub/rules-modernization.html

The local rule for stroke and distance makes a great deal of sense for casual golfers, at least those of use who prefer to follow the rules. 

[dennyjones]

“general area” (a new term for “through the green”)

 

No penalty for moving loose impediments, touching the ground, or grounding your club in a penalty area.

Edited March 12, 2018 by dennyjones

[DeadMan]

Looks like they kept the not removing flagstick when putting rule: http://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/rules-hub/rules-modernization/major-changes/ball-played-from-the-putting-green-hits-unattended-flagstick-in-hole.html

Edit to add: and looks like they didn't do any actual research on this.

On balance it is expected that there should be no advantage in being able to putt with the unattended flagstick in the hole:

• In some cases, the ball may strike the flagstick and bounce out of the hole when it might otherwise have been holed, and
• In other cases, the ball may hit the flagstick and finish in the hole when it might otherwise have missed. 

Edited March 12, 2018 by DeadMan

[dsc123]

I haven't been following these changes closely but this one really sticks out:  http://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/rules-hub/rules-modernization/major-changes/golfs-new-rules-stroke-and-distance.html

Not sure whether I like it or not.  I like that it will remove the guilt I feel about my score when I decide to do that anyway to avoid causing delay.  But a drop in the fairway seems really generous.  Only allowing the drop at the ball reference point would seem more appropriate to me.  Oh well, things change.

 

I wish they'd just make the rules effective now.  It'll be a bit odd to lose a ball and drive back to the tee knowing that next year, you don't have to do that.  Of course, most will be tempted to just play with the new rule.

[GrandStranded]

1 minute ago, dsc123 said:

I haven't been following these changes closely but this one really sticks out:  http://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/rules-hub/rules-modernization/major-changes/golfs-new-rules-stroke-and-distance.html

Not sure whether I like it or not.  I like that it will remove the guilt I feel about my score when I decide to do that anyway to avoid causing delay.  But a drop in the fairway seems really generous.  Only allowing the drop at the ball reference point would seem more appropriate to me.  Oh well, things change.

 

I wish they'd just make the rules effective now.  It'll be a bit odd to lose a ball and drive back to the tee knowing that next year, you don't have to do that.  Of course, most will be tempted to just play with the new rule.

Agree here 100% with the above. Why wait? One more question. If they are eliminating the stroke penalty for a double hit, why not eliminate the stroke for a whiff?

[DaveP043]

I like that they established a minimum drop height, knee level.  I really didn't like the idea of dropping the ball from an inch, or even less.

[iacas]

1 hour ago, DeadMan said:

Looks like they kept the not removing flagstick when putting rule: http://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/rules-hub/rules-modernization/major-changes/ball-played-from-the-putting-green-hits-unattended-flagstick-in-hole.html

Edit to add: and looks like they didn't do any actual research on this.

Oh my.

Well, here you go: on every putt where you cannot basically guarantee that you're going to leave the putt within 3' of the hole, leave the flagstick in.

That's my advice.

46 minutes ago, GrandStranded said:

Agree here 100% with the above. Why wait? One more question. If they are eliminating the stroke penalty for a double hit, why not eliminate the stroke for a whiff?

Because they have to prepare golfers, train officials, print rules books, etc.? It's a massive undertaking.

This is the place to discuss the new published finalized 2019 Rules.