PRINCIPAL CHANGES INTRODUCED IN THE 2000 CODE

Pace of Play
A new second paragraph has been added to emphasise the importance of playing a provisional ball if the original ball may be lost or out of bounds in order to save time.

Repair Divots, Ball Marks and Damage by Spikes
Amended to refer to the repair of divots because replacing divots is not always the best method of repair in many areas of the world.

DEFINITIONS

Abnormal Ground Conditions
A new Definition to accompany the re-write of Rule 25.

Burrowing Animal
A new Definition to reflect the current interpretation that a 'burrowing animal' is an animal that makes a hole for habitation or shelter.

Ground Under Repair
Amended to state that a ball off the ground but in a bush or tree rooted in ground under repair is in ground under repair.

Honour
The word "entitled" has caused some confusion. Therefore, the Definition has been amended to clarify that the player who has the 'honour' is to play first and does not have the right to defer to another player.

Lateral Water Hazard
A Note has been added to clarify that a Committee has the authority to define a body of water which meets the Definition of a Lateral Water Hazard as a Water Hazard.

Nearest Point of Relief
A new Definition to reflect the recommended procedure for determining the nearest point of relief from an 'immovable obstruction', an 'abnormal ground condition' and a 'wrong putting green'.

Obstructions
Expanded to reflect the current interpretation of when an obstruction is considered to be 'movable' rather than immovable.

Out of Bounds
The phrase, 'ground on which play is prohibited' is considered insufficient because a Committee may declare an area to be 'Ground Under Repair; Play Prohibited' or there might be an environmentally-sensitive area on the course, from which play is prohibited for environmental reasons. Therefore, the Definition has been amended to refer to the boundaries of the course. Also, a phrase has been added clarifying that objects defining out of bounds are fixed.

Rule
Amended to clarify that the term Rule or Rules includes the Rules of Golf, Local Rules and the information contained in Appendices I, II and III.

Wrong Putting Green
A new Definition, reflecting the current interpretation, to accompany the re-write of Rule 25-3.

RULES

Rule 3-3. Doubt as to Procedure
A Note has been added to clarify that penalty strokes incurred solely by playing the ball ruled not to count and strokes subsequently taken with that ball, do not count in the competitor's score.

Rule 4. Clubs
The current Rules on clubs are contained in Rule 4 and Appendix II and difficulties have arisen from having to refer to two different parts of the Rules. Therefore, the specifications on clubs have been re-positioned in Appendix II and Rule 4 restructured accordingly.

Also, the preamble has been amended to state that manufacturers should submit a club for a ruling as to its conformity.

Rule 4-1g. Damage
A new Rule (Rule 4-3) to consolidate all references to a damaged club (previously Rules 4-1g, 4-2 and 4-4a) and to clarify the player's options when a club is damaged.

Rule 6-1. Conditions of Competition
Amended to confirm that the player is responsible for knowing the Rules.

Rule 6-2b. Handicap - Stroke Play
The reference to being disqualified "from that round of the handicap competition" is considered inaccurate and the phrase "that round of" has been deleted.

Rule 6-7. Undue Delay; Slow Play
The penalty statement has been expanded to include reference to Bogey, Par and Stableford competitions.

Rule 6-8. Discontinuance of Play
The current permission to lift and clean a ball when discontinuing play is considered overly generous. Rule 6-8c has been amended to state that a player may lift his ball without penalty only if the Committee has suspended play or there is a good reason to lift it.

Also, a new Rule (Rule 6-8d) has been added clarifying the procedure when play is resumed.

Rule 7-1b. Practice - Before or Between Rounds
Amended to prohibit testing the surface of a putting green on the course between rounds of a stroke play competition played over consecutive days. Rule 8-1. Advice Amended for clarity.

Rule 10-1a and 10-2a. Order of Play
The first sentences of these Rules are considered unnecessary in view of the Definition of 'Honour'.

Rule 10-3. Order of Play - Provisional Ball or Second Ball from Teeing Ground
Amended to clarify that a provisional or second ball from the teeing ground must be played after the player's opponent or fellow-competitor has played his first stroke. Otherwise, Rules 10-1c and 10-2a apply.

Rule 11-4b. Playing from Outside the Teeing Ground
The final paragraph has been amended for clarity.

Rule 12-1. Searching for Ball; Seeing Ball
Amended to clarify that a player may attempt to find his ball in a hazard by probing, raking etc. if it is believed to be in the hazard, i.e. the player does not have to know that the ball is in the hazard.

Also, the penultimate paragraph has been amended to clarify that if a ball lying in an 'abnormal ground condition' is moved during search, it must be replaced unless the player decides to proceed under Rule 25-1. Even if the player replaces the ball, he may still proceed under Rule 25-1 if that Rule is still applicable.

Rule 13-2. Improving Lie, Area of Intended Swing or Line of Play
The Rule has been expanded to cover the improvement of the area of the player's intended stance and the prohibited actions are to include removing dew, frost or water.

Also, the Rule has been amended to clarify that the creation or elimination of irregularities of surface, except as provided in the Rules, constitutes a breach of the Rule.

Rule 13-4. Ball in Hazard
Exception 1 has been amended to clarify that a player is also exempt from penalty when placing or replacing a ball under any Rule.

Rule 14-2. Assistance
Amended to state that a player must not allow his caddie, partner or partner's caddie to stand on or close to an extension of the "line of play" or "line of putt" behind the ball while he is making a stroke anywhere on the course. Previously, this prohibition was limited to the putting green under Rule 16-1, which has been restructured accordingly.

Rule 14-3c(iii). Artificial Devices and Unusual Equipment
The permission to apply tape or gauze to a grip during a stipulated round, other than for repair, has been withdrawn to eliminate the conflict between this Rule and Rule 4-2 which prohibits changing the playing characteristics of a club during the stipulated round.

Rule 16-1c. The Putting Green
Repair of Hole Plugs, Ball Marks and Other Damage Expanded to include the movement of a ball-marker.

Rule 16-1f. The Putting Green - Position of Caddie or Partner
This Rule has been deleted and in future Rule 14-2 will apply in all such cases.

Rule 16-1g. The Putting Green - Playing Stroke While Another Ball in Motion
Re-numbered as Rule 16-1f in view of the deletion of that Rule.

Rule 20-2c. Dropping and Re-Dropping
Amended to clarify that a dropped ball must be re-dropped if it rolls and comes to rest in one of the situations listed in the Rule. Also, a Note has been added to clarify that a ball when dropped or re-dropped comes to rest but thereafter moves, the ball must be played as it lies, unless otherwise provided.

Clause (vii) has been amended to include reference to the 'nearest point of relief' and the point of maximum available relief. Therefore, a dropped ball must be re-dropped if it rolls and comes to rest nearer the hole than these points (see also Rules 24-2b, 25-1 and 25-3). This means that the same reference point will be used for both dropping and re-dropping. Also, clause (vii) has been restructured to include current clause (viii) which is to be deleted.

Rule 20-3d. Balls Fails to Come to Rest on Spot
Amended for clarity.

Rule 24-2b. Immovable Obstruction
Amended to incorporate the new Definition of Nearest Point of Relief. Also, the prohibition against crossing over, through or under the obstruction in determining the 'nearest point of relief' has been eliminated, except that a Committee may re-introduce such a prohibition by Local Rule when the nature of a particular obstruction would warrant it (e.g. a protective screen or fence). This prohibition has caused a number of difficulties in recent years, especially with obstructions such as staked trees.

Rule 24-2c. Immovable Obstruction - Ball Lost
The present Rule has been difficult to interpret and, therefore, it has been amended to state that if a ball is lost in an immovable obstruction, the ball is deemed to lie at the spot where it last entered the obstruction and Rule 24-2b applied in relation to a ball so positioned. Accordingly, if the ball last entered the obstruction in a water hazard, the player's only option is to proceed under Rule 26-1, irrespective of which part of the course it may be lost in.

Rule 25-1b. Abnormal Ground Conditions
In recognition of the complexities of the current Rule, it has been amended to incorporate the new Definitions of Abnormal Ground Conditions, Burrowing Animal and Nearest Point of Relief. The consolidation of the current relief procedures has been made possible by denying relief from ground under repair in a water hazard.

Also, the relief procedure in a bunker has been amended so that if complete relief is available, the player may lift the ball and drop it within one club-length of the 'nearest point of relief'. It will be only if complete relief is not possible that the player will drop the ball at the nearest point of maximum available relief (i.e. without a one club-length dropping area).

Rule 25-1c. Abnormal Ground Conditions - Ball Lost
Amended for clarity and consistency with Rule 24-2c.

Rule 25-3. Wrong Putting Green
Amended to incorporate the new Definitions of Wrong Putting Green and Nearest Point of Relief.

Rule 27-1. Ball Lost or Out of Bounds
In recognition of difficulties that have arisen in applying the Rule, the preamble has been amended and repositioned in the form of two new Exceptions to Rule 27-1.

Rule 27-2. Provisional Ball
Amended for clarity.

Rule 32-1. Bogey, Par and Stableford Competitions
A Note has been added to Rules 32-1a and 32-1b to clarify the penalty for a breach of Rule 6-7 (Undue Delay; Slow Play). The penalty will affect the overall result or points total to ensure that a penalty is incurred irrespective of the player's performance on the hole in question.

Rule 33-2d. The Course - Course Unplayable
The reference to resumption of play has been deleted and in future new Rule 6-8d will clarify the procedure.

Rule 33-8 Local Rules
Amended for clarity and to emphasise that a Rule of Golf cannot be waived by Local Rule.

APPENDIX I - Local Rules and Conditions of Competition
Substantially amended to create an Appendix which is the same in the R&A's and the USGA's Rules books. The principal changes are the inclusion of sections on, and recommended wordings of Local Rules for, Environmentally-Sensitive Areas and Temporary Obstructions. Also, there is an expanded section on Preferred Lies and new sections on How to Decide Ties and Draws for Match Play.

APPENDIX II Design of Clubs
Substantially amended and restructured to incorporate the specifications currently contained in Rule 4. Other principal changes include:

• the adjustability clause has been amended for clarity.
• a new clause, reflecting the current interpretation, has been added clarifying the minimum separation between two grips on a putter.
• the clause concerning 'spring-like' effect refers to a 'test on file'

APPENDIX III The Ball
Re-numbered for consistency with Appendix II.

Also, the specifications in the Rules on Initial Velocity and Overall Distance Standard have been deleted. However, in effect, neither the Rules nor their interpretation have been changed as the specifications have been re-positioned in the appropriate test protocols kept on file.