Club News
20 Must Know Rules of Golf Changes for 2019
- Drop from knee height (NOT shoulder height)
- Measure the area to drop in with the longest club in your bag (except a putter)
- Drop in and play from the relief area
- When dropping back-on-the-line, your ball cannot be played from nearer the hole than your chosen reference point
- Time to search – 3 minutes (NOT 5 minutes)
- If you accidentally move your ball when searching for it, replace it without penalty
- No penalty for a double hit – it only counts as one stroke
- No penalty if your ball hits you or your equipment accidentally after a stroke
- No penalty if your ball strikes the flagstick when you have chosen to leave it in the hole
- Spike mark and other shoe damage on the putting green can be repaired
- Ball accidentally moved on putting green – no penalty and replace
- Ball marked, lifted and replaced on putting green is moved by wind to another position –replace ball on the original spot
- Penalty areas replace water hazards, and you can move loose impediments, ground your club and take practice swings in penalty areas without penalty, just as you can on the fairway or in the rough
- You can’t take relief from a penalty area unless you are at least 95% certain your ball is in the penalty area
- In bunkers you can move loose impediments
- In bunkers you cannot touch the sand with your club in the area right in front of or right behind your ball, during your backswing or in taking practice swings
- Free relief is allowed if your ball is embedded on the fairway or in the rough (but “embedded” means that part of your ball is below the level of the ground)
- Unplayable ball in bunker – extra option to drop outside the bunker for 2 penalty strokes
- You cannot have your caddie or your partner standing behind you once you begin taking your stance
- Pace of Play – it is recommended that you take no longer than 40 seconds to make a stroke (and usually you should be able to play more quickly than that) and Ready Golf in stroke play is encouraged
Why Do We Always Aerate When The Greens Are Perfect?
Many golf courses throughout the Mid-Atlantic region consider mid-August an indicator that aeration is upon us. Depending on location, desired turf species and golf calendar, core and solid-tine aeration may already be taking place.
One question we often receive is: “Why does our superintendent aerate when course conditions and weather are perfect?” This question is very perceptive, and explains why aeration is performed when the weather and course are best. Weather plays a large role in turf recovery. Thus, performing aeration when the weather favors turf growth leads to quicker recovery. Additionally, aeration is stressful on plants. Performing aeration on healthy, “perfect” turf is critical. If aeration is conducted on already stressed turf, the result could be disastrous.
The range of ideal weather varies depending on the desired turf species. In other words, if your course is promoting bentgrass, mid-August to early September is a good time to aerate. The warm days and cool nights of early fall favor bentgrass growth, placing the competitive advantage on bentgrass over Poa annua. Conversely, if the desired turf is Poa annua, core aeration can be performed later in the fall. There is less chance for stress on Poa annua in late summer and early fall. Unfortunately, the golf schedule often dictates aeration timing more than the weather which could compromise proper aeration timing.
Another question we often receive is: “Why is so much sand applied?” Superintendents realize aeration is never popular. However, the benefits of aeration far outweigh the potential problems if nothing is done. Superintendents also understand that playability is a concern. Following aeration, especially on greens, filling each of the aeration holes with sand will promote quicker recovery and improve ball roll. There is no denying that surface disruption occurs during aeration and that greens will play differently following aeration. However, effects on playability as a result of aeration can be minimized if aeration channels are completely filled with sand. Ultimately, applying enough topdressing sand to fill aeration holes will result in a smoother post-aeration surface that recovers quicker than a surface with open aeration holes.
Aeration is performed every year to improve turf health and playing conditions. Core and deep-tine aeration are critical for the health of highly maintained grass. Keep in mind that every time you comment on the exceptional conditions during the golf season, a large part of maintaining those conditions is routine core aeration. Do not lose sight of the long-term goal because of the short-term inconvenience.
Source Elliott Dowling edowling@usga.org
Information on the USGA’s Course Consulting Service
