Golf Rule Changes for 2008 Set By USGA and R&A

Well, it's that time of year golfers. The golf rule changes for the upcoming year have been announced. Like we always do, we will summarize the major changes here. Thank you for all the rules questions that we have received this year. More and more golfers appear to be learning or attempting to learn the rules of golf. Good for you!

Here is a summary of the major changes for 2008:

1. A golfer will be allowed to lift a ball for identification in a bunker or water hazard. However there now will be a two-stroke penalty for playing the wrong golf ball from a hazard. You will incur loss of the hole in match play.

2. Rule 24-1 was amended to allow a flagstick, whether attended or not, to be moved when a golf ball is in motion.

3. Rule 16-1e was changed to say that no penalty is incurred if standing astride or on the Line of Putt if the act was inadvertant or to avoid standing on another golfer's line of putt.

So there was not that much changed this year. Several definitions and clarifications were done, but I won't bore you with the details.

I just encourage all golfers to know and apply the rules of golf. It is one of the things that makes golf great and also makes it unique: that the participant calls their own penalties. So make sure that no one in your foursome has to call you on something that you don't call on yourself. Know the rules and enjoy the game of golf to the max!!

The Golf Nut


Comments

THanks for the update on the rules. I look forward to your future work.

Posted by: ModularHomeFinder at November 27, 2007 04:03 PM

Of course I agree that it is important to know the rules but I suspect most people don't learn them by reading the rule book. It's written for quiz geeks. Golf is a journey where you learn technique and rules as you go along. Some people will give you duff advice on both along the way. I've been playing for over 30 years and I'm still learning.

Posted by: Ian at January 6, 2008 12:59 PM

I read where a creek (moving water) could carry
your ball out of bounds. I also read you could
hit the ball out of the creek as long as you do not delay to let the ball move into a more favorable position. The rule says if you can not
play the ball as it is in the hazard you go to point where it first crossed the hazard line and
proceed under ball in water hazard rule. Our
assistant pro says you have to go to where the
ball stopped in the hazard, create a line with
pin at that point and proceed under ball in water
hazard rule. Our course, Georgetown CC,
Georgetown Tx, has several holes with a very
shallow creek in play. Please let me know which
procedure is correct or maybe they are both correct depending on the situation. Thank you for
your help.

Richard

PS I found the rule of ball moving in water out of bounds
in the decisions of golf 2000-01. This all came
up when I tried to explain why you can not hit a
provisional ball if you are in a water hazard. It
does seem everytime you delve into the rules or
decisions it creates more questions. I guess that
is also fun!

Posted by: richard custer at March 31, 2008 04:30 PM
Post a comment









Remember personal info?


Note: All comments are submitted to the site editors for approval before being published.






Assigned to category: Golf Rules and Etiquette
« Professional Golf Enters The World Of Drug Testing | Main | Golf Ball Moved On Green By Wind »