The Dragan Knows
2008
Rule Changes
If you are
anything like me and don’t have a clue about 99.736% of the rules of golf, the
few new changes in the rules won’t make a wee bit of difference in the number
of strokes taken per round. But just
in case one of those shots happens to be an ace, your amateur status will be in
tact if you happen to win a million dollars or a brand new car.
Exception under the Rules of Amateur Status 3-2 now states – “A prize
for hole-in-one made while playing golf may exceed the above prize limit”.
FYI - The prize limit is $750 in a competition.
But more than likely you will have to fork-over $750 to cover
everyone’s drink if it happens on a big tournament day.
On the realistic
side if your shot ends up in a bigger hole (sand bunker) plugged (assuming that
one actually has sand in it), or in a water/lateral water hazard, you are
allowed to lift a ball to identify it (Rule 12-2).
Make sure that you announce your intention to your marker what you are
about to do, so that he/she can observe your fumblin’ and stumblin’, while
you mark the position, clean it to the extent necessary to identify it and
replace it. Otherwise there is hell
to pay depending if it is match play or stroke play.
And for those of
you who can afford the $500 gadgets (or ½ priced deals off Ebay) to measure the
distance between the two points in a straight line (it won’t help you if you
slice it or hook it 50 feet) share the number with us once in a while!
You won’t be penalized as the new definition of advice has changed to
exclude the information on distance as advice.
But unlike my “golf friends” I play with, please give me the number
that factors in my golf ability (actual yardage * ∏ [pi]), especially on
the 7th and 10th hole as I am always short.
If you found
this information fun and would like to entertain yourself some more, please
visit the site below for all the new 2008 rules changes on www.usga.org.
http://www.usga.org/news/2007/october/2007_79.html
Hope everyone
had great holidays and all the best in 2008.
May you invoke the Rule of Amateur Status 3-2 multiple times.
Dragan Jagnjic
Rules Chairman