Official Guide to the Rules of Golf to be launched

Following seven years of consultations, on 1st January 2019 the governing bodies of the Rules of golf will implement the most comprehensive Rules changes seen in the game for 37 years. And on the 1st of November, Hamlyn Publishing will be launching 'The Offical Guide to the Rules of Golf R&A.'

In a bid to make the Rules more accessible and straightforward, The R&A and USGA have reworded every rule and made alterations that will affect the way every golfer in the world plays the game.

The Rules will be reduced from 34 to 24 and some of the changes will create ripples throughout the world of sport. They include:

Reduction of ‘ball moved’ penalties

Relaxed putting green rules

Relaxed bunker rules

A bigger reliance on a player’s ‘reasonable judgement’

Reduced search times

The abandonment of the ‘furthest from the hole plays first’ etiquette in favour of ‘ready golf’

Relaxed procedure for dropping the ball

The book will also include modified rules for players with disabilities and guidelines for committees.

This is the Rules book that every serious golfer will need, and will be available from the 1st of November for £22, so you'll have plenty of time to read yourself into the new rules for 2019.

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