New rules for 2012 pique interest

There has been a lot of interest in the new rule changes for 2012. This column is dedicated to explaining the changes that seem to happen to the grassroots golfer.

We have a new decision with a new term called for the "Sole Purpose of Caring for the Course." This phrase includes acts defined in etiquette, such as smoothing the ragged edge of a hole, replacing divots or tapping down spike marks, solely for the care of the course, as long as it did not assist play of anyone in the group. I think you will be hearing quite a lot of this new statement.

Under definitions, the act of addressing the ball has changed. This definition has been revised to state that a ball has been addressed when the player has grounded the club immediately in front of or immediately behind the ball. Stance does not enter into the act of addressing the ball any longer. This would also mean that generally a player would never address the ball in a hazard since you may not ground your club in a hazard. A player could address a ball in a hazard if the ball lies on an obstruction or any integral part of the course.

A new exception for "ball moving after address" has been added for 2012. If it is known or virtually certain that the player did not cause the ball to move after addressing it, the player is not penalized under Rule 18-2b for causing his ball to move. If you have now addressed the ball and the wind or any other outside agency other than gravity moves it, there is no penalty to the player and the ball is played as it lies.

The "time of starting" penalty statement has been amended to state that if a player arrives within five minutes after his starting time, the penalty is loss of the first hole in match play or 2 strokes at the first hole in stroke play. The new exception states that the committee may determine that if exceptional circumstances prevented a player from starting on time, there is no penalty. The note under Rule 6-3 has been removed.

A change we all seem to agree with is Decision 33-7/4.5. This is a total rewrite for the situation where prior to the close of competition the committee becomes aware of a breach resulting in an incorrect score card. This decision clarifies that if the competitor could not reasonably have known or discovered the facts resulting in the breach of the rules, the committee would be justified in waiving the disqualification and adding the penalty strokes to the score for the hole. This decision will stop players from getting disqualified because of TV viewers calling in after the fact on a players breach of the rules when the player did not know he had breached a rule.

If a player creates and smooths footprints in bunker prior to making stroke, there is no penalty incurred by the player as long as the smoothing is done for the sole purpose of caring for the course and no actions were taken to breach Rule 13-2 for the next stroke. Go ahead and rake the bunker before making the first stroke as long as it doesn't affect your next stroke.

Sue May is a U.S. Open rules official, a member of the USGA Senior Women's committee and tournament director of the Women's Trans National Championship. Address your rules questions to suemay@cox.net.