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New 2019 rules

I guess it would be risky taking a provisional given that the 2 shot penalty would put you on the fairway

You wouldn't drop in the fairway unless you lost it in the fairway though. You would drop OOB 2 clubs lengths from the boundary and if lost elsewhere on the course where you believe lost ball to be. (so trees/rough etc)
 
Absolutely! Three off the tee with a chance that you'll put it in the same damn place or play three from the fairway? Hmmmmmmm, I'll take the fairway thanks very much !!!

4 from the fairway.

Cabby, that was my thinking too. It is a two shot penalty so your next shot is your 4th.

I can see the benefit of this. There are a few blind shots at my course. You know pretty much where the ball is going but obviously you can't see a bad bounce or where it will end up. If you hit a shot 180-200yds, I know I'm a forum wuss, and then can't find it I'd rather take the 2 shot penalty than hold the whole course up walking back to a spot I may not even be able to pinpoint. It's an extra punishment, to stop the gamble with minimum punishment I presume, but one with some good logic behind it.
 
You wouldn't drop in the fairway unless you lost it in the fairway though. You would drop OOB 2 clubs lengths from the boundary and if lost elsewhere on the course where you believe lost ball to be. (so trees/rough etc)

Why so? The explanation specifically includes the "nearest fairway area" and makes no mention of 2 club lengths from where the ball is lost or has gone OOB. The video explanation seems to indicate that the relief area would extend to 2 club lengths from the edge of the fairway, but no mention of the measurement in the explanation. I'd like to see the actual wording of the LR.

A new Local Rule will now be available in January 2019, permitting committees to allow golfers the option to drop the ball in the vicinity of where the ball is lost or out of bounds (including the nearest fairway area), under a two-stroke penalty.

 
You wouldn't drop in the fairway unless you lost it in the fairway though. You would drop OOB 2 clubs lengths from the boundary and if lost elsewhere on the course where you believe lost ball to be. (so trees/rough etc)

Best watching the video, it's very clear you can drop it on the fairway.
 
I've watched the video and read through all posts to date, and if I think about my regular 4 ball this will certainly save us time. On our 4th there is overgrown trees and bushes both sides of a narrow fairway, compounded by OOB beyond the trees to the right. On a bad day, 3 of us may be lost or OOB. It's a par 5. Enacting the local rule has those affected playing 4 from the fairway. 3 from the tee could result (easily at this whole) in 5 from the tee. In stroke, this 4th hole leads to issues.

However, if I think about our par 3, 3rd: 185 uphill with OOB right full length of the hole from tee to back of green. If I go OOB here, but I've carried the length of the green, I can play 4 from the side of the green (and not even from the couple of yards of rough, but from the fairway (or fringe?) walking away with a 5 potentially. For mid to high h/cappers, 4 is a good result here (average hole analysis has it at 4.14). 3 from the tee is generally hit out to the left to ensure you don't go OOB; pitch to the green and 2 putt. In this instance, there's a definite advantage as far as I can see.
 
Anyone think like me that changing the rules will get a lot more publicity and, therefore, more widespread knowledge and a better chance that the players who haven't bothered to learn the rules will get to know these changes very quickly.
 
As the local rule for OOB/Lost ball is just that (a local rule) why does it need to wait until 1st Jan?

Why couldn't it be brought in straight away like other local rules have in the past

what others have said + the R&A have said that the current Rules must be used for all golf until the end of 2018.
 
Anyone think like me that changing the rules will get a lot more publicity and, therefore, more widespread knowledge and a better chance that the players who haven't bothered to learn the rules will get to know these changes very quickly.

I wouldn't bank on it......
 
Ye it's a bit vague but what do you suggest ? If you knew exactly where you lost it it wouldn't be lost would it.
True but if u ever watch a group searching in the rough for a ball ther can be a massive area bn searched . Just think it is open to abuse and friend groups may b kinder in deciding wher a ball was than a drawn group ..
Im against this new LR anyhow (not that that counts for much ha ha )
 
True but if u ever watch a group searching in the rough for a ball ther can be a massive area bn searched . Just think it is open to abuse and friend groups may b kinder in deciding wher a ball was than a drawn group ..
Im against this new LR anyhow (not that that counts for much ha ha )


When searching most concentrate on a particular area, it's usually only when it's not found in that area do groups spread out further. The game is all about integrity and playing to the rules, no matter how friendly your group is, you'd hardly allow a 30 yard gain for someone, you'd agree the area.
 
When searching most concentrate on a particular area, it's usually only when it's not found in that area do groups spread out further. The game is all about integrity and playing to the rules, no matter how friendly your group is, you'd hardly allow a 30 yard gain for someone, you'd agree the area.

Again true ..
A course near me has big tree in mid of fairway at 240 ish .
If ur ball clatters into tree and nobody sees wher it goes, b4 ud have no choice but to play provo or walk back . Wher u drop now ?
Apologies Not trying to b a pain . Just see it bn abused ..
 
What I find a bit strange is that some of the changes are explained using the "speeding up play" reason for doing it. The changes are being made by those that oversea the rules in the profesion game yet have done little to really speed up play there.
 
What I find a bit strange is that some of the changes are explained using the "speeding up play" reason for doing it. The changes are being made by those that oversea the rules in the profesion game yet have done little to really speed up play there.

The R&A and USGA are the rule makers and will consult with the professional tours. However, the only professional events that the R&A and USGA oversee are their respective Open Champs. The vast majority of professional golf is run by the tours and it is the tours' responsibility to speed up play. The European Tour are doing bits and pieces. The US PGATour don't seem to be overly concerned with pace of play at all.
 
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