The R & A and the USGA have released the Rules of Golf for the years 2008-2011 which will take effect January 1, 2008. Every four years the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews and the United States Golf Association amend the code and this go around includes many changes but nothing earth shattering.

It seems that the changes for this cycle are not quite as sweeping as they were four years ago. Some penalties have been reduced and more clarification has been added this year. Well face it, if you’ve been amending the Rules for a couple of hundred years you’d think they’d be close to right by now!

One of the big changes for 2008 and beyond is that a player will be able to lift his ball for identification anywhere on the course; including bunkers and water hazards. Along with that privilege comes the penalty for playing a wrong ball anywhere on the course. Previously there was no penalty for playing a wrong ball from a hazard.

Also, the penalty for your own ball striking you, your partner, either of your caddies or any of your side’s equipment will only be a one stroke penalty in both match and stroke play. You may recall Jeff Maggert having his ball hit him after it deflected off a bunker face while he was leading the Masters in 2003. He incurred a two stroke penalty and made triple bogey on the third hole and fell from the leader board.

The penalty for just carrying a non-conforming club has been softened as well to a loss of hole or two strokes for each hole you carry it with a maximum of two holes deducted or four penalty strokes tacked on; similar to carrying too many clubs. Previously that would have gotten you a trip to the parking lot. However, if you go ahead and actually use one of those non-conforming clubs to make a stroke you’ll still be on your way home with a quick exit and a disqualification penalty.

Here’s one I like a lot. If a flagstick has been removed and is lying on the putting green when I hit my putt too strongly, you may pick up the flagstick and let my ball roll harmlessly on by to wherever it was heading without incurring a penalty. Previously that would have cost you the hole in match play or gotten you a two stroke penalty in stroke play.

The FSGA will conduct twelve one-day Rules of Golf Seminars around the state to cover these changes as well as the other Rules.

Click here to sign up for a Rules of Golf Seminar.