USGA New Rules Of Golf In Effect At Rumson Member Golf Day
Rumson Country Club was the backdrop for a sold-out Member Golf Day that included a visit from USGA observers on June 27 as NJSGA members were asked to play under the New Rules of Golf that will be implemented in 2019.
USGA representatives Joe Foley and Matt Ross were on hand to take feedback from the 112 golfers at Rumson.
“It’s nice to hear the from the golfers. Everybody has an opinion,” said Foley, USGA Manager, Rules Outreach and Programming.
The newly proposed USGA rules, to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2019, are a number of player-friendly rules.
“The changes will give the golfers more rights on the golf course,” Foley said “The reason we came here was because we’re in the middle of the feedback period, which ends on August 30. This is the first, but we are doing events like this throughout the country. We wish to continue to engage in conversations with golfers about what they like and what they don’t like.
“Today provides a casual way to play with the new rules, such as leaving the flagstick in with no penalty, repairing damage on the putting green and removing loose impediments from the bunker, or accidentally touching the sand with a club.’’
Said NJSGA Director of Handicapping and Member Benefit Services Rich Kennedy: “This forward progress is good for the game, as far as we’re concerned. We’re happy the USGA is here to observe a NJSGA Member Golf Day.”
For only the fifth time in the history of the game the governing bodies announced a major change to the Rules of Golf. On March 1, the USGA and R&A unveiled a modernization project that will make the rules easier to read, understand and apply.
The project is five years in the making. A joint committee of USGA and R&A officials considered everything in the attempt to bring simplicity to a complex set of rules. The objectives included making the rules easier to understand and apply; balance consistency, simplicity and fairness; and reinforce the game’s longstanding principles and character.
“We’re very happy the NJSGA has agreed to provide the forum at Rumson. We want people to be excited about this. It’s definitely the first time the USGA is partnering with a State or Regional Golf Association to do an event like this. This is a good chance to collaborate together.," Foley said.
Golfer Rob Pastor of Trump National in Colts Neck likes the idea of the New Rules.
“The USGA is trying to find ways to speed up the game and make the golfers go with the new rules. It’s better for everybody. The less oyu have to worry about, the better it is for the golfers,” Pastor said.
During the Member Golf Day at Rumson, golfers played as two-person teams, counting stroke-play net with Stableford scoring.
“We’ll be taking all of those thoughts down and sharing them with our committee. Feedback from NJSGA members will go to people in those committees and we’ll talk about what changes need to be made. New Jersey golfers will have a direct channel to the process itself,” Foley said. “We’ll be back to observe at other NJSGA Member Golf Days.”
A look at the New Rules of Golf that were in effect at Rumson:
Putting Green
Leaving the flagstick in the hole. No penalty if your ball hits the unattended flagstick in the hole, including when you play your ball from the putting green. If your ball deflects off the flagstick and is not holed, you must play it as it lies.
Repairing damage. You may repair all damage on the putting green (including spike marks and other shoe damage) other than natural imperfections or aeration holes.
Touching your line of putt. No penalty for merely touching your line of putt, but you must not improve your line of putt beyond the allowed repair.
Your ball or ball-marker moves. No penalty if you (or your opponent in match play) accidentally move your ball or ball-marker on the putting green. You must replace your ball or ball-marker on the original spot (which, if you don’t know it, you must estimate).
Your ball moves for any reason after you had lifted and replaced it. If your ball on the putting green is moved by anyone or anything (including by the wind) after you already had lifted and replaced it, you must replace your ball on its original spot.
Bunkers
Moving loose impediments. When your ball is in a bunker, you may move loose impediments in the bunker.
Touching the sand. When your ball is in a bunker, no penalty for touching the sand in the bunker with your hand, club or other object, except:
You must not deliberately touch the sand with your hand or a club, rake or other object to test the bunker’s condition, and
You must not touch the sand with your club right behind or in front of your ball, in making your backswing for your stroke or in making a practice swing.
Water Hazards (to be known as Penalty Areas)
Moving loose impediments and touching the ground. When your ball is in a water hazard, you may move loose impediments and touch the water or the ground in the water hazard with your hand or club (such as in grounding your club or taking practice swings).
