CHANGING THE WAY YOU PLAY indoor GOLF

1. SEARCH TIME (RULE 18):

2. BALL MOVING DURING SEARCH (RULE 7):

You are only permitted to search for your ball for 3 minutes. Previously this was 5 min. This should help to significantly speed up pace of play.

2. BALL MOVING DURING SEARCH (RULE 7):

If you accidentally move the ball while searching for it you will NOT incur a penalty. You will be required to replace the ball to its original position to the best of your ability.

3. EMBEDED BALL (RULE 16):

2. BALL MOVING DURING SEARCH (RULE 7):

4. DROPPING A BALL (RULE 14):

If the ground is soft there is a chance for an embedded ball. Previously you would only get free relief in closely mown areas. You can now take relief from all embedded balls in the general area including semi-rough and rough.

4. DROPPING A BALL (RULE 14):

5. BALL HITS PLAYER OR THEIR EQUIPTMENT (RULE 11):

4. DROPPING A BALL (RULE 14):

Up until 1984 you had to drop the ball behind you, over your shoulder. Then it changed to drop from shoulder height. Now you have to drop from knee height.

5. BALL HITS PLAYER OR THEIR EQUIPTMENT (RULE 11):

If the ball hits the player or the players equipment he or she will NOT be incurred a penalty. However, this must have happened accidentally.

6. DOUBLE HIT (RULE 10):

5. BALL HITS PLAYER OR THEIR EQUIPTMENT (RULE 11):

When striking the ball twice with one swing, now you will NOT incur a penalty stroke. This will only count as one stroke.

7. GROUNDING YOUR CLUB IN A BUNKER (RULE 12):

Grounding your club at address or taking a practice swing and contacting the sand is still a penalty. However, you will NOT incur a penalty for touching the sand incidentally. An example of this would be leaning on your club or using your club as a cane to enter the bunker.

8. LOOSE IMPEDIMENTS (RULE 15):

7. GROUNDING YOUR CLUB IN A BUNKER (RULE 12):

Previously you were not allowed to touch leaves, twigs, stones and other loose impediments in a hazard. You can now remove loose impediments anywhere without penalty. Please keep in mind that the ball cannot move while removing these items.

9. PENALTY AREAS (RULE 17):

7. GROUNDING YOUR CLUB IN A BUNKER (RULE 12):

10. REPAIRING DAMAGE TO THE GREEN (RULE 13):

Water hazards are now considered penalty areas. Water hazards are now called RED and YELLOW PENALTY AREAS. You are now allowed to ground your club within the red and yellow markers or even in water if you dare to take on the shot.

10. REPAIRING DAMAGE TO THE GREEN (RULE 13):

11. NO HELP FROM CADDIE TO LINE UP SHOT (RULE 10):

10. REPAIRING DAMAGE TO THE GREEN (RULE 13):

Until now old pitch marks or old hole plugs. Now nearly all damage on the green can be fixed including spike marks. Natural imperfections are part of the game and cannot be fixed or patted down.

11. NO HELP FROM CADDIE TO LINE UP SHOT (RULE 10):

Standing behind the player to help line up shot or putt is no longer permitted.

12. HITTING THE FLAGSTICK (RULE 13):

11. NO HELP FROM CADDIE TO LINE UP SHOT (RULE 10):

Hitting the flagstick is now without penalty. This means you can always leave the flag in the hole.

13. BALL WEDGED BETWEEN HOLE AND FLAGSTICK (RULE 13):

Previously when the ball was wedged between the hole and the flag you needed to remove the flag to allow the ball to fall in the hole. Now the ball has been considered holed if part of the ball is below the lip.

14. CLUB LENGTH DEFINITION:

13. BALL WEDGED BETWEEN HOLE AND FLAGSTICK (RULE 13):

Until now a player could use any club in their bag to determine a club length. Now a club length is defined as the player’s longest club except for their putter.

15. WRONG GREEN (RULE 13):

13. BALL WEDGED BETWEEN HOLE AND FLAGSTICK (RULE 13):

15. WRONG GREEN (RULE 13):

If the ball lands on the wrong green you are not allowed to play it from there as this will most likely damage the green. Previously the player was allowed to take their stance on the wrong green and the nearest point of relief was on the fringe. Now you are not allowed to take your stance on the green meaning that the ball is usually a bit further from the green.