Golf’s new rules explained | Biggest changes in a generation

• Reduce time allowed to search for a lost ball from five to three minutes.
• Remove any penalty for accidentally moving ball on the green
• Allow club committees to set a maximum score for a hole (such as double par or triple bogey) to allow a player to pick up and move to the next hole.
• Relax protocols for taking free or penalty drops, with the ball dropped from only an inch above the ground, rather than shoulder height. Changed to ball dropped from knee height.
• Recommend no player takes more than 40 seconds to hit a shot.
• Use fixed distances (20 or 80 inches) rather than club lengths to measure areas where a ball should be dropped. Reverted to using club lengths as everyone has club available (can be longest club).
• Allow putting on the green with the flagstick left in the hole.
• Allow players to repair spike marks and animal damage on greens.
• Allow use of distance measuring devices. Ban caddies helping players’ alignment.
• Encourage players in strokeplay to implement “ready golf” rather than waiting until their turn.
• No penalty for a double hit.
• A 2 shot penalty if you take a drop outside the bunker.
• You can access the official 2019 Rules of Golf Rules.golf ( https://news.randa.org/49MT-7LSD-H8FRT-4Q9Z4-0/c.aspx).