New Golf Rules as from January 2019

 

Search time—Reduced from five minutes to three minutes.

 

Ball moved during search—Replace with no penalty.

 

Embedded ball—Free relief anywhere through the green.

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Measuring a drop—Use longest club (except putter).

 

Dropping—Drop from knee height rather than from shoulder height.

 

Taking stance on the wrong green is no longer allowed.

 

Ball unintentionally hits player or equipment—No penalty.

 

Double hit—No penalty; now counts as only one shot.

 

Touching sand in bunker incidentally is permitted.

 

Loose impediments can be removed anywhere including hazards.

 

Dropping a ball outside of a bunker—two penalty strokes.

 

Water hazards—Now called “Penalty Areas.”

 

Touching ground in penalty area—No penalty.

 

Ball moves on green after being marked—Replace without penalty.

 

Ball accidentally moved on putting green—Replace without penalty.

 

All damage to green can now be repaired.

 

Positioning a club for alignment is not permitted.

 

Caddie assisting with alignment is now not permitted.

 

Putting with flag stick in the hole is now permitted.

 

Ball wedged against the flag stick and the side of the hole is deemed as holed.