New rules 2019

[User101]

I'm sure this has probably been discussed before but seeing as I'm new I thought I'd start one.

I'm paraphrasing on these a bit, so allow for my interpretation.

1. No penalty for accidentally moving the ball on the green...seems a good move.

2. Putting with flag in and repairing spike marks....wowsers, finally golf moves into the 21st century, should've been the case decades ago.

3. Touching the sand with your hand or club.....away from the ball, again another sensible ruling.

4. Reduced time for searching for a ball from 5 to 3 minutes....ouch, that'll hurt a few scores, mine included.

5. Dropping a ball just above the ground....this one I'm finding a bit weird, like do they mean not actually placing but just above the ground as in centimetres ??

Also ready golf, again another sensible move forward...

Discuss ??

 

[rulefan]

A bit late to discuss now I'm afraid. The R&A and USGA have closed the window for responding directly to them so nothing said here now will have any effect.

However, it does seem that one or two proposals have encountered objections.

Leaving flag in - studies have shown that it increases the probability of a ball from on the green having a better outcome by hitting the flag than missing, improving scores by other than putting skill. (Not necessarily being holed but finishing closer the hole).

Dropping - the 20" and 80" distances have caused comments and it is suggested that placing may be the method.

 

[drdel]

I agree with you.

I'd also allow a free-for-all on handheld technology / mobile phone apps. It would eventually normalise as you still need to hit the darn thing, despite (potentially) knowing all the slopes, distances, wind speed etc.

 

[User101]

I'm not fully up to speed with the DMD's but are they still banning slope use come 2019 ?

 

[rulefan]

Yes.

If they went any further down that road you will be having robots playing the strokes for you.

 

[User101]

A bit late to discuss now I'm afraid. The R&A and USGA have closed the window for responding directly to them so nothing said here now will have any effect.

Yes I appreciate that I was only starting the topic for thoughts on it, not that we're going to change any of it.

 

[bobmac]

Repairing spike marks.........and they want to speed up play?

 

[User101]

Spike marks have been a terrible ruling since noak set off.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

A bit late to discuss now I'm afraid. The R&A and USGA have closed the window for responding directly to them so nothing said here now will have any effect.

However, it does seem that one or two proposals have encountered objections.

Leaving flag in - studies have shown that it increases the probability of a ball from on the green having a better outcome by hitting the flag than missing, improving scores by other than putting skill. (Not necessarily being holed but finishing closer the hole).

Dropping - the 20" and 80" distances have caused comments and it is suggested that placing may be the method.

Do the rules specify a maximum diameter for the flag stick...?

Can I take the flag stick out of the hole and replace it with one of my own...?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Do the rules specify a maximum diameter for the flag stick...?

Can I take the flag stick out of the hole and replace it with one of my own...?

Seriously ?!

Who on earth carries around their own flag

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I agree with you.

I'd also allow a free-for-all on handheld technology / mobile phone apps. It would eventually normalise as you still need to hit the darn thing, despite (potentially) knowing all the slopes, distances, wind speed etc.

100% dead against this, takes us down the route of technology telling us what to do - thereby removing human doubt; and human doubt and uncertainty (and mastery of them) are key aspects of playing golf.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Seriously ?!

Who on earth carries around their own flag

Nobody. But if I can leave the flag in the hole and can replace the flag with one I carry some might find an advantage to doing so.

So hypothesising. You carry a flag that has a pronged bottom that has flanges that fit against the side of the hole and that are angled to deflect a ball that might lip out into the hole...

yes I know...but open the door...

 

[*TQ*]

100% dead against this, takes us down the route of technology telling us what to do - thereby removing human doubt; and human doubt and uncertainty (and mastery of them) are key aspects of playing golf.

Agreed, I'd rather see a full ban on any and all DMDs.

 

[User101]

😂😂😂

 

[User101]

The allowing of dmd's was my biggest surprise on my return to the game, was really shocked by it but the geny is out the bottle now.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

There is nothing wrong with people using DMDs - it doesn’t take any skill out of the game and it helps with the pace of play when used correctly and sensibly.

 

[chrisd]

We've been there loads of times - before DMD's everyone paced out distances, that took longer than looking at a watch or blipping with a Bushnell. Big time saver and a huge step forward imo

 

[Digger]

Agreed, I'd rather see a full ban on any and all DMDs.

What about the poor guy/girl who only has vision in one eye, meaning they have no lateral depth perception, so can't judge distance to the green, never mind the flag. I know there are course planners available, but these are not always available at all courses.

 

[jim8flog]

Paraphrasing is a bit of understatement.

When you read the proposed new rules in depth including reading the proposed new rules book there are nearly 100 changes to the rules some of which have not been mentioned by the governing bodies

eg You can now be penalised for starting your round earlier than the allocated start time.

 

[jim8flog]

I'm not fully up to speed with the DMD's but are they still banning slope use come 2019 ?

The principle change with DMDs is that they are now allowed by default. So a club has to specifically ban them rather than specifically allow them. I have seen nothing that changes what type of DMD is allowed/not allowed.