USA -- The United States Golf Association and The R&A, golf's governing bodies, have announced 111 changes to the book “Decisions on the Rules of Golf,” published every two years and effective for all golfers starting Jan. 1, 2006 . The 2006-2007 Decisions book includes 37 new decisions and 66 revised decisions, while eight decisions have been withdrawn.
Each year The R&A and the USGA receive thousands of requests to clarify the Rules for on-course incidents that have occurred at all levels of the game throughout the world. With changes to the Rules of Golf established on a four-year rolling cycle, the ability to publish official interpretations of the Rules in the Decisions book every two years is helpful to the game. The book contains more than 1,200 individual Decisions, which are set out in question-and-answer format.
A noteworthy change is the governing bodies' sanction of the use of distance measuring devices, including GPS -based systems and laser rangefinders. New Decision 14-3/0.5 allows a Committee to permit the use of distance-measuring devices by Local Rule. This applies to devices that measure distance only, not any other conditions that might affect a player's play (e.g., wind or gradient). In the absence of such a Local Rule, the use of a distance-measuring device remains contrary to the Rules.
The latest Decisions book also gives a Committee the ability to help the player who has signed for the correct score, but on another player's score card. Mark Roe and Jesper Parnevik were disqualified from the 2003 British Open in such circumstances. In the future, such an error can be corrected without penalty. Revised Decision 6-6d/4 gives a Committee the authority to strike the wrong name from an otherwise correctly completed score card without a time limit.
Another new Decision (Decision 16-1e/2) helps the player who makes a putting stroke with his feet inadvertently positioned on an extension of the line of putt behind the ball, something often done to avoid standing on another player's line of putt. In this instance, the player will not now be penalized under Rule 16-1e, which has as its true purpose the prevention of “croquet style” putting.
A significant revision to Decision 4-3/1 is also a feature of the 2006-2007 Decisions on the Rules of Golf. A liberalized interpretation of what is considered to be the “normal course of play” will allow the repair or replacement of a damaged club in more circumstances, provided that the club was not abused.
The new edition of Decisions on the Rules of Golf will be available in mid-December and can be purchased for $15.95 (or $12.95 for USGA Members and Regional/State Amateur Golf Associations) by calling the USGA Order Department at (800) 336-4446 or through the USGA Web site at www.usga.org.
