After six months of deliberations and consultation, the R&A and USGA have come up with the new rules governing amateur status and not unexpectedly, the announcement will produce plenty of debate. With a few strokes of the pen, a whole new class of elite amateurs is created who can receive unlimited sponsorship and winning a few quid in the club roll-up may cost you your amateur status!
As the Saturday play came to a close with Europe leading by 5½-2½ sadly all the talk was not about the great play from Team Europe but 'that ruling'. Nelly Korda and Ally Ewing won a vital point in the afternoon fourball matches but were assisted by a decision from the rules official.
Talking ahead of this week's WGC-Workday Championship at The Concession Rahm stated that he believed the green books should not be allowed. Both players and caddies use the books that show maps of the greens along with the various slopes to read greens on tour.
After the delay caused by the COVID pandemic golf's governing bodies have now finally issued their review of driving distances and proposed changes to current equipment standards. In a document distributed to the industry for comment, the key proposals put forward by the R&A and USGA are: Club length – reduction to 46 inches
So we all know where to get our Handicap Index and how to then calculate our handicap for a given course and set of tees. However, did you know that you then need to adjust your handicap further using the Handicap Allowance table to arrive at your playing handicap? A subtle change that will not impact hugely apart from those with much higher handicaps but one that rather came in under the radar.
Poor old Bryson Dechambeau. With the weight of expectation hanging heavy on him not helped by his pre-tournament comments, the big-hitting man from California caught an awful piece of luck. Dechambeau birdied the 2nd hole to move to three under par for the tournament when lady luck deserted him. The rule Bryson was hoping might apply, Rule 16.1 (e) states
Despite all the excellent communication from England Golf and other bodies golfers are still struggling to get their heads around the new World Handicap System. It's not the calculation of the Handicap that seems to be causing the most discussion but the differentiating factor between golf courses known as the 'Slope Rating'. A few key facts are Handicap = Handicap Index x (Slope Rating /113)
England Golf has issued an updated World Handicap System (WHS) educational toolkit for golf clubs across the country ahead of the imminent launch of the new system on 2 November. The release of ‘Toolkit 2.0’ coincides with many golfers in England being able to view their projected Handicap Index via the newly launched England Golf WHS Platform, . Twitter: Instagram: Facebook:
The World Handicap System launches in the UK on 2nd November. There is a lot of information out there distributed by clubs and the likes of England Golf and it is not the easiest to follow.
With its books, videos and training materials, EXPERT GOLF shows again and again that the rules of golf are not that difficult to understand and can even be fun to learn. The “Golf Rules Quick Tips” video series, in particular, teaches selected rules in a light-hearted way. . Informative and entertaining content guaranteed.
We must say that we witnessed it live and did wonder if there may be repercussions for Lexi's movement of the grass by her ball when taking a shot at the 16th hole in the first round of the AIG Women's Open. Social media was ablaze with scores of outraged golf fans but the R&A did not agree with them. Move, bend or break any:
Trial by television was with us again at the Bay Hill Classic on Thursday. No Patrick Reed this time but rather the squeaky-clean Justin Rose. Rose had a tricky chip from the back of the 11th which he ran some 10 feet past the pin but did he move the ball at address?
