2019 Rule Changes
This page is intended to give you a very brief summary of the 2019 Rules Changes and provide you with accompanying links to the R&A information and importantly their explanatory videos. These videos are very short and well worth viewing.
Some of the Rule Changes are not applicable to Orsett G.C. such as those concerning Lateral Hazards, though they will apply at other courses, also there are changes related to Caddies which again are not covered here.
Some of the Rule Changes which are club dependent are not being adopted by Orsett G.C. and therefore are not referred to below, for example the 2 stroke penalty process for lost ball / O.O.B. and the maximum number of shots per hole option for stroke play.
READ AND LEARN - AS HOWARD WOULD HAVE SAID NOT KNOWING THE RULES IS NOT AN EXCUSE
R&A Video
When Things Happen to Your Ball in Play
•
Ball at Rest Accidentally Moves
There is no longer a penalty.
• Ball in Motion Accidentally Deflected
There is no longer a penalty
• Ball is Struck More than Once
There is no longer a penalty.
• Replacing a Moved or Lifted Ball
You must
replace the ball on its estimated original spot (rather than drop the ball at that spot); and if the estimated spot was on, under or against growing, attached or fixed objects (such as grass), you must
replace the ball on, under or against those objects.
R&A Video
Taking Relief
• Dropping a Ball in a Defined Relief Area
You must
drop from knee height
The dropped ball must
stay in the relief area (previously it could roll one club length outside)
To determine the dropping point you can use your longest club other than a putter even if you don’t use that club to hit the ball
• Lost Ball
A ball is lost
if not found in three
minutes after you start searching
• Embedded Ball
You may take relief if your ball is embedded anywhere
on the course (except certain defined areas (i.e. not just closely mown areas)
• Ball In Use Taking Relief
Substitution of your ball is always allowed when taking Relief
R&A Video
Rules for Specific Areas of the Course
• Putting green
You can put with the flagstick in the hole
You can repair almost all damage on the green
There is no longer a penalty for touching the line of your put or the putting green in general
You must
replace your ball if it moves, even if it is blown by the wind or moves for no clear reason
• Penalty Areas (previously Water Hazards)
You can remove any loose impediments such as leaves, acorns sticks and stones
There is no penalty if you ground your club or touch the ground with your hand
• Bunkers
You can remove any loose impediments such as leaves, acorns sticks and stones
You may now declare a ball unplayable in a bunker and drop outside for a 2 shot penalty
You are only prohibited from touching the ground (1) with your hand or club to test the condition of the bunker (2) with your club in the area right behind/in front of the ball or (3) when making a practice swing the backswing for your stroke
You can drop an unplayable ball outside of the bunker at the penalty of TWO strokes
R&A Video
Equipment and Making a Stroke
• Damaged Clubs
You can keep using a damaged club regardless of how it was damaged
You may not
replace a damaged club unless you were not responsible for causing it
• Damaged Ball
You may replace a ball on a hole if it is cracked or cut but not
if it is “out of shape”
• Distance Measuring Devices
Can be used unless there is a Local Rule prohibiting them (the reverse was previously the case)
• Making a Stokes
Your caddie is not allowed to stand on a line behind you once you take a stance
R&A Video
Promoting Faster Play
s• Play Promptly
You are encouraged to play within 40
seconds
• Playing Out of Turn
You are encouraged to play out of turn if that speeds up the round
• New Alternate form of Stroke Play
This will be a committee decision as to limiting the maximum number of shot recorded on each hole. this is not
being adopted by Orsett G.C.
R&A Video
Conduct
• Playing in the Spirit of the game
There are new provisions to reinforce standards and allow the Committee to disqualify Players
• Code of Conduct
There are new powers given to the Committee to adopt their own code of conduct
• Elimination of announcement of intention to lift ball
You are no longer required to first announce this to another player
• Reasonable Judgement
When you need to estimate or measure a spot, line or location your reasonable judgement will not be second-guessed by later evidence if you did all that could be expected of you