Rules and Rants

Golf’s governing bodies announce Rules of Golf revisions for 2016

Oakville, Ont. – As golf’s governing body in Canada, Golf Canada, in conjunction with the R&A and the United States Golf Association (USGA), announce the new revisions to the Rules of Golf for 2016.

In accordance with the Joint Rules Committee’s four-year review cycle of the Rules of Golf, the new changes came into effect January 1, 2016.

Along with the R&A and USGA, Golf Canada holds a unique position as the only other governing body that sits on the Joint Rules Committee which carries out the quadrennial review of the Rules of Golf. Golf’s governing bodies are committed to ensure the rules are constantly evolving and relevant to today’s game.

Among the most significant of the changes in the 2016 edition of the Rules are the following:

“As the game evolves, the rules need to stay current and every aspect of the game was reviewed during this exhaustive four-year review cycle by the Joint Rules Committee,” said Adam Helmer, Golf Canada’s Director of Rules, Competitions, and Amateur Status. “The ultimate goal when developing a single set of rules for all golfers around the world is to make the game more equitable under all playing conditions, and the feeling is that the 2016 Rules of Golf accomplished that goal.”

The 2016 publication has been designed, published and presented jointly by golf’s governing bodies. The book is reproduced in 36 official languages and distributed to millions of golfers around the world.

Golf Canada has the exclusive right to govern, publish and distribute the Rules of Golf throughout Canada. As the National Sport Federation, Golf Canada will also produce a French edition of the Rules of Golf.

The Rules of Amateur Status also underwent revisions in conjunction with the changes to the Rules of Golf.

Notable changes to the 2016 Rules of Amateur Status include:

For the full text of the 2016 Rules of Amateur Status, please click here.


Golf Canada will publish English and French copies of the 2016 Rules of Golf, available January 1, 2016. The companion publication to the Rules of Golf, Decisions on the Rules of Golf will also be available January 1, 2016.

You can order a printed copy of the 2016 version of the Rules of Golf on Golf Canada’s e-store.

More information about the Rules of Golf and Golf Canada’s Rules Education Program, please click here.