So What's New?

Putting with the flag In

New Rule 13.1c(2) allows repair of almost any damage on the green:

• “Damage on the putting green” will be defined to include all types of damage (such as ball-marks, shoe damage, indentations from a club or flagstick, animal damage, etc). Exceptions to this include aeration holes, natural surface imperfections or natural wear of the hole.
• The player is allowed to repair damage only with his or her hand, foot or other part of the body or a ball-mark repair tool, tee, club or similar item of normal equipment and must not unreasonably delay play.

The prohibition of touching the line of play on the putting green will be eliminated:

• There will no longer be a penalty for merely touching the line of play on the putting green (the term “line of play” will apply everywhere on the course including the putting green, and the term “line of putt” will no longer be used).
• But the player will still be subject to the prohibition on improving his or her line of play on the putting green (see Rule 8.1a, as limited by 8.1b).

New Rule 13.2a means there will no longer be a penalty if a ball played from the putting green hits a flagstick left in the hole.

• Players will not be required to putt with the flagstick in the hole; rather, they will continue to have the choice to have it removed (which includes having someone attend the flagstick and remove it after the ball is played).

Click here to read the reasons for the change.