Playing a Ball
2019 Golf Rule Changes
Become comfortable with the rule changes to help you this season.
Topic 6 | Playing a Ball
Rule – Caddie standing behind a player to help line the player up
A caddie is not allowed to stand on a line behind you while you are taking your stance and until your stroke is made.
2019 Rule: Under Rule 10.2b(4):
- The current prohibition will be extended so that, once the player begins taking a stance for the stroke, and until the stroke is made, the player’s caddie must not deliberately stand on or close to an extension of the line of play behind the ball for any reason.
- There will be no penalty if the caddie accidentally stands on or close to an extension of the line of play behind the ball, rather than in trying to help in lining up.
Reasons for Change:
Although a player may get advice from a caddie on the shot to be played, the line of play and similar matters, the ability to line up one’s feet and body accurately to a target line is a fundamental skill of the game for which the player alone should be responsible.
- Allowing a caddie to stand behind a player taking a stance so as to direct the player how to line up undermines the player’s need to use his or her own alignment skills and judgment.
We believe that an appropriate line is drawn between allowing advice from a caddie and prohibiting the caddie from being involved in directing the player in the act of taking a stance to play the ball.
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Rule – Caddie lifting ball on the putting green
Your caddie may lift and replace your ball on the putting green without your specific authorization to do so.
2019 Rule: Under Rule 14.1b:
- The player’s caddie will be allowed to mark and lift the player’s ball on the putting green any time the player is allowed to do so, without needing authorization.
- The caddie will continue to be allowed to replace the player’s ball only if the caddie was the one who had lifted or moved the ball.
Reasons for Change:
There is no compelling reason to prohibit a caddie from performing these purely mechanical acts when the player’s ball is on the putting green.
In many places, it is common practice for caddies to mark, lift, clean and replace the player’s ball when it first comes to rest on the putting green without authorization from the player, even though this is not permitted under the current Rules.
Giving the caddie this authority is consistent with the limited role of a caddie.
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Rule – Ball accidentally struck more than once during a stroke
If your club accidentally strikes your ball more than once during a stroke, there will be no penalty and your ball will be played as it lies.
2019 Rule: Under Rule 10.1a, if the player’s club accidentally hits the ball more than once during a single stroke:
- There will be no penalty and the ball will be played as it lies.
Reasons for Change:
Where a double hit occurs as part of a single stroke and was not the intention of the player, it was felt unfair and unnecessary for the player to be penalized.
Just as there is no penalty if a player’s ball accidentally deflects off his or her body, equipment or caddie, there is no need for a penalty when a player accidentally strikes his or her own ball in making a stroke.
- Accidental deflections are, by definition, an accident.
- The outcome in such cases is random and unpredictable, and it results in a disadvantage for the player as often as it results in an advantage.