RULES & HANDICAPPING


By Ed Gowan


New local rules options prove player-friendly H


ave you started using the new Rules of Golf for 2019? Has the course you play adopted any new local rules?


These are a few of the more


interesting and helpful options. First, my favorite for everyday play,


an option to “stroke and distance”: For a two-stroke penalty, the player can play the next stroke from a point equidistant from the hole as where the original ball was lost or went out of bounds. That is essentially the same as a “good provisional” under the old rules with the same result as stroke and distance would have created. Look at the two diagrams below,


one for a ball lost before reaching the green and the second for one beyond the green. Notice the player picks two reference points: the original’s location and an equidistant point on the fairway. The next stroke can be played from anywhere between the two points and not nearer the hole — see area inside the two dotted lines! On a par 3 where


there is no fairway, the shortest teeing ground becomes the reference point. This is a great option for most courses. Second favorite, how about having


a “maximum score” per hole for an event? That’s a new option for stroke play…just set a limit for each hole, such as 8, net double bogey, etc. Others to consider: • Instead of out-of-bounds markings close to play, just declare those areas “no play zones” as either penalty areas (one-stroke relief) or ground under repair (free relief).


• Flooded bunkers can now be declared to be “in the general area” with free relief.


• Team members playing together can now give each other advice.


• A player can play on the course between stroke-play rounds, like member guest players having evening “emergency nines.”


•Wet areas could be “lift, clean and replace the ball.”


These new options are made to


improve pace of play and eliminate unnecessary penalties when the player really gained no significant advantage. Try these out yourself and see if they make your games or your favorite course more enjoyable! n


GOLF’S NEW RULES: STROKE AND DISTANCE


A new Local Rule will provide an alternative to stroke-and-distance relief for a ball that is lost outside a penalty area or out of bounds. This new Local Rule will be available beginning January 1, 2019.


BALL OUT OF BOUNDS


2 club- lengths


C LOST BALL 2 club-lengths A B A C B


2 club- lengths


If the Local Rule is in effect, you can still take stroke-and-distance relief, but you will now have the following additional option that comes with a penalty of two strokes:


A


DETERMINE SPOT where your ball went out of bounds (left diagram) or is likely to be lost (right diagram).


B


FIND NEAREST FAIRWAY EDGE no closer to the hole.


C


DROP YOUR BALL IN SHADED AREA as defined on one side by a line from the hole through point A and on the other side by a line from the hole through point B, and not nearer the hole. The relief area is extended on both sides by two club-lengths.


38 | AZ GOLF Insider | PREVIEW 2019 © 2018 R&A Rules Limited and the United States Golf Association. All rights reserved


This Local Rule is not intended for higher levels of play, such as professional or elite amateur level competitions.


www.azgolf.org


Out of bounds


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