2019 Rules Changes

	RULE:		New in 2019:		(Old Rule:)
	Ball accidentally moved during search		Put the ball back in the estimated original spot, no penalty		1 stroke penalty
	Ball accidentally moved on the putting green		Put the ball back in the estimated original spot, no penalty		1 stroke penalty (with exceptions)
	Replacing ball when original spot not known		Put the ball back in the estimated original spot, even if on, under, or against natural objects		Drop as near to estimated spot as possible
	Ball in motion accidentally deflected by you, caddie, or equipment		No penalty, play ball as it lies		1 stroke penalty
	Accidentally hit the ball more than once during a stroke		No penalty		1 stroke penalty
	How to drop a ball		Straight down from player’s knee height		At arm’s length from player’s shoulder height
	How to measure size of relief area		Measure 1 or 2 club-lengths using longest club, other than putter		Measure 1 or 2 club-lengths using any club
	Time allowed for ball search		3 minutes		5 minutes
	Substituting ball when taking relief		Will always be allowed to substitute a ball		Only allowed under certain conditions, like if ball is unrecoverable
	Where a dropped ball must come to rest		Must come to rest in relief area; if doesn’t after 2 tries, place the ball where first touched ground on 2nd try		Must play where it comes to rest, even if not in relief area, with 9 exceptions
	Relief for embedded ball		No penalty for ball embedded anywhere in the “general area”, except sand, unless Local Rule restricts to fairway height or less		Relief allowed only in areas cut to fairway height or less (except sand), unless Local Rule allows relief anywhere
	Ball moves on putting green		Ball must be replaced on original spot, even if moved by wind		Ball replaced only if moved by a player, caddie, animal
	Repairing damage on green		May repair almost any damage, even from spike marks and animals, except for natural imperfections		May repair only ball-marks or old hole plugs
	Touching line of play		No penalty for merely touching green		Prohibited, with exceptions,loss of hole/2-stroke penalty
	Unattended flagstick		No penalty, option to remove		Loss of hole/2-stroke penalty if ball hits flagstick
	Touching sand in bunker		No penalty to move debris or touch sand; except can’t touch sand with club around ball, test sand, make practice swing, or in backswing of stroke.		Loss of hole/2-stroke penalty (with exceptions)
	Unplayable ball in bunker		May take relief outside bunker back on the line from the hole, 2 penalty strokes		No relief option (other than from previous stroke)
	Penalty area definition expanded		Red and yellow marked “penalty areas” now cover water, and also desert, jungle, lava rock, thick woods, etc		Committee can only mark an area of water as “water hazard”
	Expanded use of red-marked penalty area		Committees now able to mark all penalty areas as red so that lateral relief always allowed (but can still use yellow when appropriate)		All water hazards marked yellow (with exceptions)
	Touching ground in penalty area		No penalty to move debris, touch ground/water with hand or club		Loss of hole/2-stroke penalty (with exceptions)
	Opposite side relief for red penalty areas		Not allowed, unless Local Rule		Always allowed
	Use of damaged club		Can continue to be used, even if it was damaged in anger		Only if it was damaged in “normal course of play”
	Replacing damaged club		Can’t replace a damaged club if you are responsible for the damage		Club you damaged was out of play and not replaced
	Distance-measuring devices		Allowed, unless a Local Rule prohibits their use		Prohibited, unless a Local Rule allows
	Caddie helping player		Not allowed to stand behind player to help with alignment once stance is taken		Allowed to stand behind player during stance, but not when making the stroke
	Caddie lifting ball		May lift and replace ball on green, even without your permission		1 stroke penalty, if done without player’s permission
	Encouraging Pace of Play		Player should make stroke in no more than 40 seconds		No recommendations given
	Playing out of turn		Allowed if done safely and responsibly, “ready golf” is encouraged		Allowed, but rule not clear
	“Maximum score” alternative in stroke play		Score maximum set by Committee - may be fixed, related to par, or related to the player’s handicap		Must hole out at every hole or disqualified
	Standards of conduct		Players expected to play in the spirit of the game; can be disqualified for serious misconduct		Etiquette section published, wasn’t part of the Rules
	Code of player conduct		Committee can set own standards for conduct, and can set penalties or disqualification		Could disqualify for serious breach of etiquette, but lesser penalties not allowed
	Intent to lift a ball		With good reason, can mark and lift ball to identify and examine; no need to first announce intention		Must announce intent and give opportunity to observe
	Substitution for damaged ball		Only allowed if cut or cracked		Allowed if cut, cracked, or “out of shape”
	Player’s reasonable judgment		When determining a spot, point, line, area, or other location, reasonable judgment is accepted, even if later shown to be wrong from video		Player penalized if wrong estimate made
	New Local Rule: Alternative to stroke-and-distance relief		If in effect, alternative for ball lost outside of penalty area or out of bounds; 2 stroke penalty (click diagram for details)		Stroke-and-distance relief, play from previous spot; 1 stroke penalty