Important Rule Changes for 2008: 21/03/08

January 2008 brought some changes to the Rules, and it is important that all players are aware of these.


New Rule Changes:
Rule 15-3. You will now be penalised for playing the wrong ball in a hazard. (2 shots in stroke play, loss of hole in match play). To compensate for this you are now allowed to identify your ball in a hazard (Rule 12-2).

Rule 19-2. The penalty for hitting yourself, your partner, caddie or equipment with your ball has been reduced from two shots to one shot in both match play and stroke play.

Rule 20-3a. This has been amended to reduce the penalty for having the wrong person place or replace a ball to one stroke.

Rule 24-1. This now allows the flagstick, whether attended, removed or held up, to be moved when a ball is in motion.

The new rule books should be available from the your Golf Club, free of charge. Carry one in your golf bag at all times. It is your responsibility to know the rules.

Do you have any interesting rules that you know and think we would be interested in hearing about? Email us at info@huddersfieldgolf.co.uk and let us know.

Not a Lot of People Know That: 05/06/07

Like all clubs, Crosland Heath is a regular host to heated discussion on the Rules of Golf. In this regular article I shall share some of these discussion points, highlighting the common misconceptions and the correct rulings. You never know, at some future date it might save you a shot or two.

The Missing Link
Whilst enjoying a few well earned drinks after a round of golf last week, we watched with interest as a ball dribbled down the slope and stopped just inches short of the Out of Bounds fence. This is a chain link fence which separates the 18th fairway from the practice putting green. Imagine our surprise when we saw the owner of the ball arrive, weigh up his shot, take a few practice swings, and then unhook the chain so that he could get a full swing.

Was he within the rules?

He certainly was not. The moment he unhooked the chain he incurred a penalty (Match Play – Loss of hole, Stroke Play – 2 strokes). He had breached Rule 13-2, which prohibits improving the position or lie of his ball or the area of his intended stance or swing by moving or bending anything fixed (including objects defining out of bounds). Even if he had replaced the chain before he took his shot, the penalty is still applied.

How many people have done this and not been aware that they were infringing the rules? At least you never will now.

Do you have any interesting rules that you know and think we would be interested in hearing about? Email us at info@huddersfieldgolf.co.uk and let us know.