Here are some interesting or lesser-known golf rules that you might not have been aware of in 2024:
1. Accidentally Hitting the Ball Twice
If you accidentally hit the ball twice during a single stroke (often called a “double-hit”), there’s no longer a penalty. The stroke counts as one, but no extra strokes are added.
2. Dropping the Ball from Knee Height
When taking a drop, you must drop the ball from knee height rather than shoulder height. This change was implemented to increase consistency and fairness in drops.
3. Touching the Sand in a Bunker
You can touch the sand in a bunker with your hand or club for a variety of reasons, such as leaning on a club or removing loose impediments. However, you still can’t test the condition of the sand or ground your club directly behind or in front of the ball.
4. Unplayable Ball in a Bunker
You now have the option to declare a ball unplayable in a bunker and take a two-stroke penalty to drop the ball outside the bunker, keeping the spot where the ball lay directly between the hole and the drop location.
5. Repairing Damage on the Green
You can repair almost any damage on the putting green, including spike marks and other forms of damage, even if they weren’t made by the player themselves.
6. Ball Moved During Search
If you accidentally move your ball while searching for it, there’s no penalty, and you must simply replace the ball in its original spot.
7. Ball Hits You or Your Equipment
If your ball accidentally hits you, your partner, your caddie, or your equipment, there’s no penalty. The ball is played as it lies.
8. No Penalty for a Ball Played Out of Turn in Match Play
In match play, if a player plays out of turn, there is no penalty, but the opponent can require the player to cancel the stroke and play again in the proper order.
9. Flagstick Left in the Hole
You can choose to leave the flagstick in the hole while putting. If your ball hits the flagstick and goes in, it still counts as holed.
10. Penalty for Moving an Object in Penalty Area
You can now move loose impediments and ground your club in penalty areas (formerly known as water hazards). This rule change allows you to take practice swings and ground your club as you would on the fairway.
11. Search Time Reduced to Three Minutes
The time allowed to search for a lost ball has been reduced from five minutes to three minutes. If you can’t find your ball within this time, it’s deemed lost.
12. Dropping Zones for Penalty Relief
In some circumstances, courses have designated dropping zones for penalty relief. These are optional, but if a player uses them, the ball must be dropped within that zone, and it counts as taking a penalty drop.
These rules, many of which were updated or clarified in recent years, aim to make the game more fair, streamlined, and enjoyable for players at all levels.