As the National Sport Organization and governing body of golf in Canada, Golf Canada, in conjunction with the R&A and the United States Golf Association, announce the new revisions to the 2012-2013 edition of the “Decisions on the Rules of Golf”.
The recent changes will come into effect January 1, 2014.
Golf Canada is proud to be the sole association sitting with R&A Rules Limited and the USGA on the Joint Rules Committee, which carries out the quadrennial review of the Rules of Golf, and revises the “Decisions on the Rules of Golf” every two years. Golf’s governing bodies are committed to ensure the rules are constantly evolving and relevant to today’s game.
The “2014-2015 Decisions on the Rules of Golf” contains more than 1,200 entries addressing specific situations under the Rules of Golf. A total of 87 changes have been made to the 2012-2013 Decisions book: three (3) new Decisions, 59 revised Decisions, one (1) re-numbered Decision and 24 Decisions withdrawn.
Notable changes to the 2014-2015 Decisions on the Rules of Golf include:
- New Decision 14-3/18 confirms that players can access reports on weather conditions on a smartphone during a round without breaching the Rules. Importantly, this new Decision also clarifies that players are permitted to access information on the threat of an impending storm in order to protect their own safety.
- New Decision 18/4 provides that, where enhanced technological evidence (e.g. HDTV, digital recording or online visual media, etc.) shows that a ball has left its position and come to rest in another location, the ball will not be deemed to have moved if that movement was not reasonably discernible to the naked eye at the time. The R&A and the USGA have issued a Joint Statement Regarding the Use of Video and Visual Evidence to further explain the governing bodies’ position on the use of this technology.
- Revised Decision 25-2/0.5 helps to clarify when a golf ball is considered to be embedded in the ground through the use of illustrations.
- Revised Decision 27-2a/1.5 allows a player to go forward up to approximately 50 yards without forfeiting his or her right to go back and play a provisional ball.
The full text of the revisions to “Decisions on the Rules of Golf” can be found at www.RandA.org and www.usga.org.
Printed copies of the “2014-2015 Decisions on the Rules of Golf” are available on Golf Canada’s e-store for pre-order and will be shipped January 1st, 2014. Pre-order here.