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2008 DALLAS – FORT WORTH AREA QUALIFYING SCHEDULE

2008 CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

New rules for 2008

Under new rules that take effect in 2008, golfers will now be allowed to lift their golf balls in bunkers or water hazards for identification purposes.

However, there will now be a two-stroke penalty in stroke play or the loss of hole in match play for playing a wrong ball. There had been an exception in the past and players were not penalized for playing the wrong ball.

A new exception to touching the ground in a bunker or hazard will now include marking the position, retrieving, lifting, placing or replacing of the ball for the purpose of identifying it.

There is still no penalty for making a stroke at a wrong ball that is moving in a water hazard. Any strokes made do not count, but the player must correct his mistake by playing the correct ball or proceeding under the rules.

These changes to Rules 12-2 and 15-3 had been under consideration for several years and were among the amendments agreed upon by the United States Golf Association and the Royal & Ancient Golf Club.

James Bunch, Chairman of the USGA's Rules of Golf Committee, indicated the reasons for the changes were:

“First, there are already several Rules, such as Rules 5-3 (Ball Unfit for Play) and 22-2 (Ball Interfering with Play), that allow or require a player to lift his ball from a hazard, so the idea of lifting and then replacing a ball lying in a hazard is nothing new.

“Second, this provision will eliminate many difficult and unfortunate situations that occurred under the present version of Rule 12-1. For example, there is the case of a player who finds a ball in a hazard that may be his, and he then hits it out of bounds, without ever really knowing whether it was his ball.

“Third, there is the general principle that the elimination of one large exception from the rules will only lead to a more consistent and understandable code.”

In another notable change, the penalty for the accidental deflection of a ball by a player, his partner or either of their caddies or equipment under Rule 19-2 will be reduced to one stroke in both match play and stroke play. In the past as Jeff Maggert found out at the 2003 Masters, the penalty was two strokes. It was loss of hole in match play.

Among the other changes that the USGA hopes will make the rules easier to be understood:

The penalty for carrying, but not using, a non-conforming club will be changed from disqualification to a two-stroke penalty per hole, with a maximum penalty of four strokes for the round in stroke play. In match play, the penalty will be loss of hole with a maximum of two holes per round.

The double penalty for incorrectly substituting a ball when lifting a ball without authority or making a stroke from a wrong place has been eliminated.

The penalty for having the wrong person place or replace a ball—only player or partner can do so—will be reduced from two strokes to one stroke.

As previously authorized by decision only, there will be no penalty if a player inadvertently takes a stance on or astride the line of putt or extension of that line behind the ball to avoid standing on another player's line of putt.

The term “reasonable evidence” has been replaced by “known or virtually certain” when determining whether a ball that has not been found may be treated as lost in an obstruction, an abnormal ground condition or a water hazard.

A flagstick, whether attended, removed or held up, may now be moved when a ball is in motion.

For intervention to be granted for a temporary immovable obstruction, it must be on the player's line of play.

A player will be deemed to have committed a serious breach of exerting influence on a ball if the committee considers that his act has allowed him or another player to gain a significant advantage or has placed another player at a significant disadvantage.

The exchange of information about distance will not be considered advice. Previously, this had been allowed under a decision.

A player's ball now may be considered lost if he puts another ball into play under penalty of stroke and distance.

An exception has been added under artificial devices, unusual equipment and unusual use of equipment that allows a player with a legitimate medical reason to use such equipment or devices as long as the committee does not feel it gives that player an advantage over other players.