Page 56 - The Golf Guide, Summer 2017

Shanks & 3–Putts

USGA–R&A Changes the Rules!

Mike Ahrnsbrak — Golf Guide Senior Writer
PGA Professional, Lexington Golf & Country Club
So it looks like the USGA and R&A are serious about simplifying the rules,
shredding the old book, and reducing the number of rules. I would like to see them
redefine the penalty imposed for signing a wrong scorecard, also known as the Lexi
Thompson rule. Lexi was penalized four shots at the LPGA’s ANA Inspiration Golf
Classic, a major, and lost in a playoff. A viewer on tv called in after Lexi’s round
on Saturday and noticed that she had marked her ball but didn’t put it back in the
exact same spot. The rules officials reviewed the videotape and assessed her two
two-shot penalties: one for improperly marking and not replacing her ball, and
one for signing an incorrect scorecard. The impact armchair rules officials should
have on our sport can be debated as a separate matter. But penalizing a player
for signing an incorrect scorecard when the penalty was not assessed until after
the round is complete is asinine. When she completed her round and signed her
scorecard, her score was correct. Time to get that one right.
There are 30 proposed changes under review and comment that will take effect in
2019. A recap of some of the proposed changes with colorful commentary follows.
• Ball moved on the putting green: No penalty for accidentally moving your
ball or ball marker. Also known as the Dustin Johnson Rule
• Deciding why a ball moved: A new standard to determine if you caused
your ball to move. Also known as the USGA stupid decision rule
• A player’s reasonable judgement will not be second guessed based on later
evidence. Also known as the “we think you cheated, but we can’t say you
cheated, but the preponderance of evidence shows that you caused the ball
to move, and you knew it – cheater”
• Ball can now be dropped from any distance above the ground, instead of
shoulder height. I really like this one – should help speed up the game too!
• Ball now must come to rest within the fixed 20/80-inch areas, instead
of additional distance given outside drop area. Look for 20 and 80 inch
alignment poles in every bag.
• Time allotted for ball search shortened to three minutes from five. Will
really speed up the game!
• Use of distance measuring devices now allowed, unless a local rule has
been adopted to prohibit. Look for the first ever laser rangefinder with
measuring tape and stopwatch features coming soon to a Golf Channel
infomercial!
• Ball played hitting unattended flagstick in hole no longer a penalty.
• You can now repair almost any damage to the putting surface including
spike marks and animal damage. Ye gads man. What are spikes?
I’m glad to see golf’s governing bodies changing the rules. Taking away ambiguity,
simplifying the rules, and speeding up play are all good things. I applaud them for
being forward thinking, something the USGA and R&A have seldom been accused
of doing. Now, why does it take almost two years to implement?
Happy Golfing everyone!

54 GOLFGUIDEINC.COM