Whenever the Rules of Golf are changed there is much speculation on how the changes will impact the game. In 2008 a number of changes were made which were discussed and explained in great detail going into the season. Now that the season is almost over, how did these changes impact the playing of our favorite pastime?
Of all of the changes, the one that was given the most attention involved the wrong ball rule. Prior to 2008 a player was exempt from penalty if he played a wrong ball from a hazard. This exception was eliminated in 2008 so that a golfer is always subject to penalty for playing a wrong ball no matter where such a ball is played. To accommodate for this change, the rules were also amended to allow a player to lift his ball for identification anywhere on the course as well. The rationale behind the change was to simplify the rules by making them more consistent””after all, it is the many exceptions to the rules that make them so complicated. Those opposed to the change expressed concern that a player can now get his “mitts” on the ball anywhere on the golf course””posing a threat to the “play it as it lies” philosophy that has governed the Rules (and more importantly, the spirit of the game) for centuries. While it may be too soon to say, after a full year under these new rules the sky has not fallen. Time will tell, but based on 2008, it appears that this change did not reshape the landscape of golf.
Another change for 2008 involved a removed flagstick””a rule I used to call golf’s version of the “Good Samaritan Law.” Under the old rules if a player tried to help a fellow competitor by moving a removed flagstick (one that had already been removed from the hole and placed on the ground) while another ball was in motion, he was subject to penalty under Rule 1-2 for exerting influence on the ball. In 2008 the rule-makers (perhaps inspired by the real Good Samaritan Law) decided that such a well-intentioned player should not be penalized and changed the rules accordingly. Again, it may be too early to say, but this change does not appear to have shaken up the world of golf or caused a huge swing in the outcome of any major golf championship.
Probably the most significant change in 2008 was a terminology change involving lost balls. Prior to 2008 the language of the Rules focused on “reasonable evidence.” In 2008 this went out the window and was replaced by a new phrase “known or virtually certain.” This was a change that made many people nervous as they felt it was written for the benefit of those interpreting the rules as opposed to those trying to play by them. In my opinion, this proved to be the most significant and best change to the Rules in 2008 as it did help the well intentioned golfer to “get it right.” Under the new language, a player must “know” or be “virtually certain” that his ball is lost in a certain condition (i.e. water hazard) in order to treat it as such. The best evidence to me that this change has worked was the response I received while conducting Rules seminars this past spring. When I asked such well-intentioned golfers (anyone who attends a CGA Rules Seminar is clearly well-intentioned) how they would treat a ball if the terrain around a water hazard was full of high grass and other “bad country” I got the answer the USGA and R&A have always been seeking”””the ball is lost.” Exactly! This was always the outcome the rule-makers were seeking and now we have the language to support it.
All in all, the 2008 season proves once again that the Rules of Golf are pretty darn good and that the periodic “tweaks” by the USGA and R&A are mostly much ado about nothing.
