Finally, today some of the most significant and revolutionary changes in the history of our sport come into effect. It is time to review the new 2019 Golf Rules , in order to use them properly in the tournaments of the new season of Gambito Golf .
After a long process of study and consultation of six years, the R&A and the USGA have endeavored to improve the understanding of the rules with a more modern and clear style of language, and that represents the most important transformation of all the modifications that are They have implemented in the past. The objective has been to make rules less complicated, fairer, less intimidating when welcoming new players, and above all, in order to optimize the pace and accelerate the game.
After the holiday January 1, 2019, today on January 2 we can consider that the new is definitely set in motion Rules of Golf 2019. A now they are already effective, of which here we present the 20 most important changes. The RFEG Rules Committee has summarized in a card the essential changes that all players must know.
MAIN CHANGES IN THE GOLF RULES 2019
- Dropa from knee height (NOT from shoulder)
- Measure the area to drop with the longest stick in your bag (except with the putter)
- Drops into the relief area and plays from the relief area.
- When you drop in line backwards, your ball cannot be played closer to the hole than the reference point you have chosen.
- Search time - 3 minutes (not 5 minutes)
- If you accidentally move your ball when you are looking for it, replace it without penalty.
- There is no penalty for a double hit: it only counts as one hit.
- There is no penalty if your ball hits you or your team accidentally after a hit.
- There is no penalty if your ball hits the flagpole when you have chosen to leave it in the hole.
- Nail marks and other damage caused by shoes on the green can be repaired.
- Ball accidentally moved on the green, there is no penalty and is replaced.
- The ball marked, raised and replaced on the green if it is moved by the wind to another position: the ball is replaced at the original resting point.
- Penalty areas replace water hazards, and you can move loose impediments, support your stick and execute practice strokes in penalty areas without penalty, just as you can do them in the fairway (street) or rough.
- You cannot take relief from a penalty area unless you are 95% sure that your ball is in the penalty area.
- In bunkers you can move loose impediments.
- In bunkers you cannot touch the sand with your stick in the area that is directly in front or just behind your ball, during your backswing (climbing the stick) or when doing practice swing.
- Relief is allowed without penalty if your ball is embedded in the fairway (street) or rough (but 'embedded' means that part of your ball is below ground level)
- Unplayable ball in bunker: additional option to drop out of the bunker with 2 penalty strokes
- You cannot have your caddy or your partner behind you once you start adopting your stance.
- Rhythm of the game: it is recommended that you do not take more than 40 seconds to make a stroke (and normally you should be able to play faster than that) and “Ready Golf - Ready to Play” is recommended in Stroke Play.
