16 Dec Let’s play game little quicker

In a couple of weeks several new rules will be introduced to our game to help with the pace of play — in other words let’s all play a little quicker please. Skeptics will be scratching their heads though of how allowing everything to be tapped down on the greens before you putt will help towards a speedier round, as come Jan 1 pitch, spike, animal and maintenance marks will be able to be levelled out. Putting with the flagstick left in is now not a problem, as there’s no penalty if your ball should hit it.

Also, there will be no penalty if your ball moves accidentally with your foot, ball marker, practice stroke or act of God while it’s resting on the green. Worry not — nothing will happen. Just simply replace your ball back to its original position. You will be able to change your ball when taking ‘free relief’ or penalty drop — and there will also be no penalty if you accidentally move your ball while looking for it.

Simply pick it up and place it back to where you believed to be its original position, whilst making sure you’ve not improved it. Next year don’t worry about stones, leaves, twigs etc that may be bothering you in the sand, as all can be removed. If you don’t fancy a particular bunker shot you can now simply pick it up, and drop it on a straight line that would be going from the hole and over and through of where your ball was in the bunker then continue this straight line back out of the bunker to where you would like to drop. Please note that from 2019 onwards, dropping the ball will be at knee height. The downside of this escape method is the two-shot penalty.

Out of Bounds: Spare a thought for the poor family members asked to attend a gathering and listen to the last words of the oldest member of the family. In his death bed, the angry, miserable and cantankerous old man spoke up, and in his last gasping breath said: “Right before I die I’m going to say I left US$750,00 in the …”