Back Nine With Paul Romano; 2019 Rules of Golf, Part 3

2019 brings many new changes to the “Rules of Golf” as detailed in the USGA’s link, Golf’s New Rules: Major Changes. The link reviews and explains (with video’s) thirty-six recent modifications. The week we wrap up our conversation with Paul Romano, USGA Rules Officials, getting his thoughts and interpretations a number of our “new” Rules of Golf.

The new embedded rule allows for the removal of an embedded ball with the exception of a sand trap.  Why was the sand trap excluded?

A few points here:

First – I believe you are asking about FREE relief under Rule 16.3b for an Embedded Ball in the General Area*. Note that free relief under Rule 16.3b is not allowed in any area other than the General Area because the Rules have relief options for the other specific areas of the Course including Bunkers. Also note that the player is not allowed to take free relief under Rule 16.3b when the ball is embedded in sand in a part of the General Area that is not cut to fairway height or less.

Second – You can get relief from a ball Embedded in sand in a Bunker.  It is just NOT FREE relief. The player can take a 1 stroke penalty for a ball unplayable in a Bunker provided he drops the ball in the Bunker. See Rule 19.3a

Third – under the kinder and gentler USGA for an additional stroke (2 strokes total) you can take relief from an embedded ball in the Bunker and drop it outside the Bunker and play from there – the Tip O’Neill Rule so the player does not have to make 10 tries to get out of the Bunker. See 19.3b

*There are five defined areas on the golf course…Penalty Areas, Bunkers, Teeing Ground, Green and all other areas which are referred to General Areas.

You are now able to replace a “lifted” ball in the middle of the hole as compared to the end of the hole.  This feels very strange to me.

We should be careful here and make sure we use the correct terms and I think you will be less disturbed by this new Rule, which was added to prevent the player from getting caught in a “got you” situation that under the old rules resulted in a penalty when no real advantage was obtained.

Any time you take relief under any rule you are now allowed to “substitute” a ball. Under the old rules there were many exceptions that disallowed substitution. For example, you could substitute if you took penalty relief for a ball in a water hazard even if you could easily recover it, but you could not substitute a ball if you took relief from an abnormal ground condition or cart path, unless the ball was not immediately recoverable (note the more exceptions – the more the need for a Rules Mystic). Gone are the days of determining when to drop “a ball” rather than dropping “the ball.” Now it is simple, if you are taking relief, regardless of the reason, then you can substitute the ball without penalty.

Note however, under those Rules that require you to “replace” your ball, you may not substitute the ball. So, if you lift or move a ball under a Rule that requires you to replace it in the same spot you may NOT substitute the ball. For example, if you kick your ball while searching there is no penalty, but you must replace that ball – no substitute. If you lift your ball because it interferes with or helps another player, you must replace that ball.

Also note a new definition. There is no longer a defined term called “abnormal ground condition.” Now the term is “Abnormal Course Condition.”

Ready golf.  Will this be a reality on the PGA Tour (i.e. 2017 British Open, Matt Kuchar waiting in the middle of the fairway while Jordan Spieth sorted through his options)?

In a situation where a player is waiting for a ruling, I expect that players will play their shot rather than wait, but they often do this now. I do not think you will see faster players play “ready golf” as a normal course of procedure on the Pro Tour. I think that they will follow the general protocol and generally play in the order determined by who is farther from the hole.

The Rules now specifically provide that a shot should be played within 40 seconds so there is a mechanism for objectively enforcing pace of play see Rule 5.6b(1). Note that Rule 5.6b(1) states “should” not “must.” Accordingly, I doubt you will see this enforced at the professional level – it is entertainment and they play for too much money (i.e. Rules Mystics will be purged if we interfere with the money changers).

If you were the benevolent dictator of our Golf Rules, what is one rule you would change?

The one change I would make is not out of benevolence, it would be out of pure self-interest, because I think the Rules are fine as written and as I have said before all rules for any game are arbitrary so enforcing them in a consistent manner is the only thing that is important. If, however, I were allowed to make one change I would like to permit one more club for a total of fifteen, because I am now at the age where the guys in my Dad’s group are starting to make more sense to me – I need another utility club in the bag because I am now hitting all my long irons the same distance (and not very far).

Paul, thank you for your entertaining and informative contribution of Bad Golf Guy;  we look forward to hearing from you in the future.

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 The back nine can only get better!