The New Rules of Golf Were Designed to Make the Sport Easier to Understand

In what is the largest revision and modernization since 1984, the U.S. Golf Association implemented at least 31 major rules changes as of January 1.

Overall, the new rules were designed to make golf less intimidating and easier to understand as well as make the sport seem a bit more modern and speed it up a bit.

From allowing the flagstick to be left in the hole while putting on the green, to a new “pace of play” recommendation that suggests players make each stroke in no more than 40 seconds to eliminating a penalty if a player accidentally strikes the ball twice, the rules may take some getting used to, according to Southern Nevada Golf Association vice president and longtime rules official Sue May.

“I am very enthused with the new rules, but it will be a process to get players educated because there are some significant changes,” she told The Las Vegas Review-Journal. “Some that are getting attention are players will now be able to ground the club in a penalty area, remove loose impediments in a penalty area, and the time to search for a lost ball has been reduced from five to three minutes.”

As part of the update, the Players Edition rulebook is more intuitive and features simplified topical groupings, more direct language, and a “purpose of rule” description section.

“They don’t change rules just because it’s going to make it difficult,” said World Golf Hall of Famer Vijay Singh. “I think it’s going to be easier. We just have to get used to it. It’s going to take time for us to learn it.”

Here’s a video from Royal and Ancient summing up 20 of the biggest changes to the USGA rule book.