On Grand Strand Golf: Rules of Golf changes in 2016 benefit amateurs

The United States Golf Association and R&A have revised some rules for the 2016 Rules of Golf that became effective Jan. 1, and the changes generally make it easier on players, giving them more of a break in the event of certain rules violations and circumstances.

They allow a player to avoid disqualification in some instances when signing an incorrect scorecard, eliminate a penalty for a ball moving when it’s not the result of a player’s actions, and allow a player to avoid disqualification for a first offense usage of an impermissible artificial device such as a training aid or GPS rangefinder with slope factored into the measurement.

The much-discussed ban on anchoring Rule 14-1b (Anchoring the Club) as announced in 2013 also took effect on Jan. 1. The penalty is loss of a hole in match play or two strokes in stroke play.

The new rule book is the culmination of the normal four-year review cycle and is a collaborative work by The R&A and the USGA that applies worldwide to all golfers.

The USGA is responsible for administering the Rules of Golf and Rules of Amateur Status in the United States and its territories and Mexico. The R&A governs golf nearly worldwide in 138 countries.

The ultimate penalty in golf is disqualification, and that severe fate has been administered to players who signed for a score that was lower than what they actually shot under Rule 6-6d (Wrong Score for Hole).

A player will no longer be disqualified for returning a lower score for a hole than actually taken as a result of failing to include penalty strokes that the player was not aware of when he/she signed the scorecard. The penalty strokes for the rules violation will be added and the additional penalty is now two strokes for signing an incorrect scorecard.

Lew Gach, a Golf Academy of America rules instructor and co-chairman of the Myrtle Beach World Amateur Handicap Championship rules committee, believes Rule 6-6d will help several World Am players and likely result in more rules breaches being brought to the attention of rules officials.

“Rule 6-6 will be a big deal for the World Am because that has always been one of the major reasons for rules violations,” Gach said. “Now when they just have to add that penalty plus an additional two strokes for breach of Rule 6-6 they won’t be automatically disqualified.”

A player signing for a score that is higher on a hole than what he/she actually shot still has to accept the higher score. Roberto de Vicenzo famously missed out on a playoff with Bob Goalby in the 1968 Masters by signing for “4” on the 17th hole rather than a “3” and a final-round 66 rather than a 65.

Rule 18-2b, Ball Moving After Address, has been withdrawn. Under Rule 18-2b, a player whose ball moved after address was automatically presumed to have caused the ball to move.

After instances on the PGA and other tours in which players were penalized when it was clear they played no part in the ball movement, Exception to Rule 18-2b was introduced in 2012 to cover situations where it was known or virtually certain that the player had not caused the ball to move. Now the rule has been completely withdrawn, exonerating a player from a penalty if his ball moves due to a natural force such as wind. If a player causes a ball to move, the penalty is one stroke.

The penalty for a player’s first breach of Rule 14-3 (Artificial Devices, Unusual Equipment and Abnormal Use of Equipment) during the round has been reduced from disqualification to loss of a hole in match play or two strokes in stroke play. The penalty for any subsequent breach of Rule 14-3 will continue to be disqualification.

So the new rules give golfers more opportunities to continue playing in an event or match following a rules breach.

The USGA has also tried to make life easier for amateur golfers with a couple primary changes to rules governing amateur status.

Amateurs can play for prizes not exceeding $750 in value but have been previously unable to play for prize money. New Rule 3-1b enables them to play for prize money or its equivalent if it is donated to a recognized charity, provided the organizers gain approval of the governing body in advance of the event.

The R&A and USGA cited the growing number of charitable golf exhibitions benefiting worthwhile causes and disaster relief agencies as a consideration for the new rule.

Rule 4-4 clarifies that amateurs may receive reasonable expenses, not exceeding actual expenses incurred, for non-competition golf-related activities. So they can receive travel and lodging expenses to tournaments, not including tournament entry fees.

Redding growing game

Grand Strand instructor Brad Redding has been selected for the second consecutive year to the Golf Range Association of America’s Top 50 Growth of the Game Teaching Professionals who have shown their dedication to growing the game throughout the year.

Redding, who operates the Brad Redding Golf Academy at the International Club of Myrtle Beach, regularly writes articles for GRAA and films videos to help other instructors grow the game and grow their businesses. The videos titled “Bring More Business to your Lesson Tee,” have over 30,000 views.

Redding is also a Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher in America, PGA Master Professional in Instruction, a seven-time PGA Section Teacher of the Year, and one of the top teachers in South Carolina according to a Golf Digest survey of teaching pros.

Wells Fargo selling tickets

Tickets for the PGA Tour’s 14th annual Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte from May 5-8 are on sale.

Grounds ticket prices start with a $30 Practice Pack, which consist of three individual daily tickets for Monday through Wednesday. A $165 seven-day Weekly Ticket Book offers a $95 savings from individual daily purchases. First-round tickets are $50 and tickets for the final three rounds are $60 each day. A ticket that is good any day is $70. Children ages 12 and under are free with a ticketed adult.

Patrons can purchase tickets and research hospitality options at www.WellsFargoChampionship.com or by calling 800-945-0777.

Tickets are also on sale for the PGA Tour’s RBC Heritage in Hilton Head Island from April 14-17 at www.rbcheritage.com or 843-671-2448. The tournament offers free tickets to active military and their dependents, who will all have access to the Patriots Outpost hospitality area on the course.

This story was originally published January 4, 2016 at 4:49 PM with the headline "On Grand Strand Golf: Rules of Golf changes in 2016 benefit amateurs."