Sweeping changes could be coming to a golf course near you.
The U.S. Golf Association — which governs the rules of golf for the U.S. and Mexico — and the R&A — which governs the rest of the world — announced changes Wednesday morning that would simplify and reduce the number of main rules and definitions from 34 to 24. The governing bodies will allow for a six-month comment period with a proposed implementation date of Jan. 1, 2019.
Among the changes:
--A player will not receive a penalty if the ball (or ball marker) accidentally moves on the putting green or in search of a ball.
--Players can leave the flagstick in the hole while putting.
--Players may repair spike marks or other damage on the green with no penalty.
--Caddies will no longer be able to line up a player. This will be a big change on the LPGA tour, where many players have their caddies line them up before stepping away just before the player makes a swing.
--Players who have trouble in bunkers could get relief. If you want, you can remove your ball from a bunker (and place it in the fairway or rough behind the bunker, depending on where the bunker is) and accept a two-stroke penalty.
--A new procedure for how to drop a ball in a relief area.
--Time searching for a lost ball would go from five minutes to three.
--There's a proposal calling for players to take no more than 40 seconds to play their shot.
Golfers are encouraged to review the proposed changes and submit comment via www.usga.org/rules or www.randa.org. Both organizations will accept information through Aug. 31.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...36/?siteID=je6NUbpObpQ-clLjgkjMHq8JaZgEedjckw
