The Golf Rule Changes...
So why did the USGA and R&A (golf world golf governing bodies) decide that a change to the rules was needed in 2019 and 2023? Apart from being somewhat outdated, the golf rules were often difficult to understand and did not encourage fast rounds. The 2019/2023 golf rules address these issues.
In general the rules have been relaxed and are designed to speed up play. There are a lot of changes and we designed a fun quiz to test your knowledge of the new golf rules. BEWARE, however, this is not an easy quiz - very few will get 100% or perhaps even a passing grade!
For easy reading, we have summarized the major changes and the golf rules in the table below. If you want to read the full version of the new golf rules you can download them here: The Rules of Golf.
Golf Rules Quiz
Take our golf rules quiz to see how well you know your rules!
Note - it will help a lot if you read the new golf rules summary below before taking this quiz, it is not easy!
Key Golf Rules Summary
Ball at Rest Situations | Rule |
|---|---|
You accidentally move your ball during a search for it. | No penalty. |
You accidentally move your ball or marker on the green. | No penalty. |
How to decide if the player caused their ball to move. | Must be known or virtually certain (at least 95% certainty). |
How to replace a ball (not on the putting green) when it moves and its exact original spot isn’t known. | Replace the ball on its estimated spot; if that spot was on, under or against attached natural objects, replace the ball on that spot on, under or against those objects. |
Marking and lifting a ball to identify it, check for damage or see if conditions allow relief (e.g. if embedded). | Player no longer has to announce what they are doing and provide an opportunity for other player(s) to observe. |
Ball in Motion | Rule |
|---|---|
Ball accidentally hits the player, their caddie, their equipment, the flagstick, another person etc. | No penalty. |
Accidental double hit. | No penalty. |
Taking Relief / Dropping | Rule |
|---|---|
Where to drop from a penalty area (hazards are now called penalty areas). | Ball has to be dropped in a defined "relief area" that is measured using any club in the players bag other than the putter. |
How to drop the ball. | Drop from knee height (ball cannot hit the player or their clothing). |
Time allowed to search for a lost ball. | 3 minutes. |
Changing balls. | Allowed to change balls anytime relief is taken. |
Relief from embedded ball. | Relief available anywhere in the "general area" (new term for "through the green"), unless local rules state otherwise. |
On the putting green | Rule |
|---|---|
Replacing the ball if moved inadvertently or by nature, after being lifted, cleaned and replaced. | Ball has to be replaced in the original spot. |
Repairing damage on the putting green. | Spikes marks, animal damage etc. can be fixed (cannot fix natural imperfections such as bumps or hollows). |
Touching the line of the putt on the green. | Allowed as long as it does not improve the conditions. |
Penalty Areas & Bunkers | Rule |
|---|---|
Increase in areas that can be marked as penalty areas allowing a drop with 1 stroke penalty. | Any area such as rock beds, desert, thick bushes etc. can be marked as a penalty area. Also, water hazards can be marked red instead of yellow regardless of specific hole conditions. |
Removing loose impediments, grounding the club or touching the ground in penalty areas. | Allowed. |
Player touches bunker sand with club or hand. | Allowed if not testing the conditions. Not allowed to touch sand immediately in front or behind ball, while taking a practice swing, or on the backswing. |
Taking relief from a bunker. | Allowed to take relief on line behind the bunker, subject to a 2 stroke penalty. |
Damaged Clubs | Rule |
|---|---|
Use of a damaged club during play. | Allowed, no matter the cause of the damage. |
Replacing a damaged club during a round. | Allowed if the player was not responsible for the damage. |
Advice / Help from Caddie | Rule |
|---|---|
Caddie standing behind player to help with alignment. | Not allowed to stand on/close to extended line of play while player is taking stance. |
Caddie marks, picks up and replaces ball on green. | Allowed and caddie does not need specific authorization from player. |
The 2019 rules golf also provide Committees the ability to disqualify players for a serious breach of etiquette or impose stroke penalty or loss of hole for lesser breaches. Previously the Committee only had the ability to disqualify players for a serious breach.
