New Decisions And Revisions To The Decisions On The Rules Of Golf

by Frank Guastella | Playing By The Rules, Uncategorized

The USGA and R & A have announced the new decisions and revisions on the Rules of Golf that will become effective on January 1, 2014. One of those new decisions is sure to create a little buzz in the golfing world. The new decisions and revisions are:

*New Decision 14-3/18: Players will be allowed to access weather reports on their cell phones during a round. The USGA and R & A felt a need for players to protect their own safety.

*New Decision 18/4: Provides that, where enhanced technological evidence (e.g. HDTV, digital recording or online visual media, etc) shows that a ball has left its position and come to rest in another location, the ball will not be deemed to have moved if that movement was not reasonably discernible to the naked eye at the time. This new decision now takes the “call in viewer” of a rules infraction out of the equation. No other sport allows fans to impact the outcome of an event and now neither does golf. I have been waiting for such a decision for a long time and I fully support it. How do you feel about it?

*Revised Decision 27-2a/1.5 Meaning of “Goes Forward to Search”: Players will be allowed to walk forward approximately 50 yards to determine the ball’s location without forfeiting their right to play a provisional ball. The distance was never defined in the original decision.

*Revised Decision 25-2/0.5: Illustrations were added to help clarify the circumstances in which the ball is (and is not) considered to be embedded in the ground.

What are your thoughts on the new decisions and revisions to the Rules of Golf. Please give us your feedback on Mike Fay Golf, Mike Fay Golf Facebook page, Mike Fay Golf on Twitter, or Mike Fay Golf on Google+. Hope you are “Playing By The Rules”.

Frank Guastella, PGA Rules Official Michigan Section PGA
Staff Writer, Mike Fay Golf
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