By now you’ve probably heard, the new Rules of Golf are in effect.
The main changes have been organized into nine different categories: Ball at Rest, Ball in Motion, Taking Relief, Areas of the Course, Equipment, Playing a Ball, When to Play During a Round, Player Behavior and Local Rule.
The following items outline some of the main changes in the Rules of Golf related to the “Equipment” category.
Equipment
Use of Damaged Club During a Round
- New rule: A player may keep using any damaged club, no matter the nature or cause of the damage, even if the player damaged it in anger.
- Old rule: A player may use the damaged club only if it was damaged in the “normal course of play.”
- Full explanation from the USGA.
Adding Clubs to Replace a Club Damaged During Round
- New rule: A player may not replace a damaged club, unless the player was not responsible for the damage.
- Old rule: A player may replace a damaged club if it is “unfit for play” and was damaged in the “normal course of play.”
- Full explanation from the USGA.
Use of Distance Measuring Devices (DMDs)
- New rule: The use of DMDs is allowed, unless a Local Rule has been adopted prohibiting their use.
- Old rule: DMD use is prohibited, unless a Local Rule has been adopted allowing their use.
- Full explanation from the USGA.
For more information on the new Rules of Golf, visit usga.org/rules.
