The governing bodies of golf worldwide have been working on modernising the rules of golf for a number of years. This task is now finalised and the revised rules of golf will come into operation from January 1 2019. All blind golf events played in Australia from that date will be played under the new rules and it is essential that all blind and vision impaired golfers and their caddies become familiar with the changes .
It was hoped to organise seminars or similar to explain the new rules but the truth is that there are not enough of us in one place at one time to make this practical!
There is a huge amount of information available on the internet.
But the best and most reliable source of information is Golf Australia’s website
Use the link under to access the available information
(2019 Rules of Golf ).
https://www.golf.org.au/newrules
This will take you directly to all the information available including “Modified Rules of Golf For Players with Disabilities” which some other websites ignore . There are excellent one minute videos on each major change available -or if you prefer the written word you will find the R&A Power Point on new Rules helpful.
In relation to the modified rules there is one very important change that you should be aware of.
From January 1 , a golfer and/or his/her caddy will not be able to lay a club on the ground to assist in alignment . If this is done each time there will be a 2 stroke penalty! The other major modifications being that a caddy/guide/aide can stand in the line of play and that a blind golfer can still ground his/her club in a bunker still stand -despite some guides to the new rules saying that both are breaches of the rules. This is so for sighted golf but not for blind golf
The new rules may take a bit of getting used to-for example if you forget the new rule and drop the ball from shoulder height just pick the ball up and drop again from knee height
The BGV Victorian Open will be the first major event played under the new rules -I would expect the Rules Official at that event to fully apply the new rules
BGA Board
