R&A and USGA announce new Local Rule

[pogle]

http://www.randa.org/News/2016/12/New-Local-Rule-for-Golf

R&A and USGA have announced the availability of a new local rule from 1 Jan 2017. Under the new local rule a ball or ball marker accidentally moved by the player on the putting green doesn't incur a penalty and the ball is to be replaced.

All R&A and USGA championships will adopt the new local rule.

 

[Imurg]

Haven't seen a comment or post that doesn't think this is a great idea.
Common sense prevails

 

[fundy]

why confuse the issue by making it a local rule that has to be adopted by the course/comp etc, just make it a rule of golf!

 

[rulie]

why confuse the issue by making it a local rule that has to be adopted by the course/comp etc, just make it a rule of golf!

From the Q&A:

Why not wait and change the Rule as part of the next Rules cycle?
As part of the Rules Modernisation initiative being pursued by The R&A and USGA, we plan to preview a comprehensive set of proposed changes in 2017. Given the significant ongoing issues that have arisen with the application of Rule 18-2 over the last several years, we concluded that this particular change should be available to all committees now, through the adoption of a Local Rule.

 

[USER1999]

Most pro events will invoke this rule straight away, and most golf clubs will ignore it. Further bifurcation then. A bit like the relief from a plugged lie local rule for exceptional ground conditions, which exist for every tour event, all year round.

 

[rulefan]

Why would clubs ignore it?

 

[hovis]

this happened to a friend a while ago and he was sure it wasn't a penalty anyway. he pushed his marker down with his putter and it stuck to the head. was this a penalty then?

 

[Region3]

this happened to a friend a while ago and he was sure it wasn't a penalty anyway. he pushed his marker down with his putter and it stuck to the head. was this a penalty then?

He was right, no penalty.

 

[fundy]

Why would clubs ignore it?

its not that they will ignore it per se but that they wont realise that need to bring in a local rule i expect

 

[USER1999]

Why would clubs ignore it?

Because its easy to do so, and people are inherrently lazy.

 

[rulefan]

this happened to a friend a while ago and he was sure it wasn't a penalty anyway. he pushed his marker down with his putter and it stuck to the head. was this a penalty then?

It wasn't then and won't be in the future.

20-1/6
Ball-Marker Moved Accidentally by Player in Process of Marking Position of BallQ.A player marked the position of his ball with a coin, lifted the ball and pressed down the coin with the sole of his putter. He walked to the edge of the green and then noticed that the coin had stuck to the sole of the putter. What is the ruling?


A.In this case, the movement of the ball-marker was directly attributable to the specific act of marking the position of the ball.

Accordingly, no penalty is incurred and the ball or the ball-marker must be replaced. If the spot where the ball or the ball-marker lay is not known, it must be placed as near as possible to where it lay but not nearer the hole (Rule 20-3

 

[Crow]

The following comment made me laugh.

"Now that the USGA won't penalize you for your ball accidentally moving an inch, they can go back to ignoring that it goes 400 yards."

 

[rulefan]

its not that they will ignore it per se but that they wont realise that need to bring in a local rule i expect

A quick texts to my county colleagues agreed that we would circulate all clubs before the end of the year. Job done by all alive club secs.

 

[guest100718]

The following comment made me laugh.

"Now that the USGA won't penalize you for your ball accidentally moving an inch, they can go back to ignoring that it goes 400 yards."

I don't get it.

 

[pogle]

I don't get it.

I suspect it's a dig because the USGA and R&A refuse to change the characteristics of the ball to rein back some of the distance that professionals (and forummers) are hitting the ball.

 

[louise_a]

What is classed as accidental?

Last season after measuring my ball on a "nearest the pin" hole, I picked up my ball without marking it, would that be classed as accidental?

 

[rulefan]

What is classed as accidental?

Last season after measuring my ball on a "nearest the pin" hole, I picked up my ball without marking it, would that be classed as accidental?

No.

12) What are some examples of actions that are not considered accidental?

The Local Rule does not apply to any intentional lifting or moving of the ball. Examples include striking or moving the ball in anger, lifting the ball without marking it, etc.

 

[bladeplayer]

To me , ball on marker - marker on ball should always have been act of marking , good decision

If your careless enough to kick ur ball or hit it with ur putter you should be penalised

only my opinion of course

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I can see some merit in working this (and other changes if there are more to come) as local rules ahead of accepting them as officials rules when the next launch comes out

 

[Crow]

I can see some merit in working this (and other changes if there are more to come) as local rules ahead of accepting them as officials rules when the next launch comes out

What would that be then?