Some of the new rules of golf
for 2019 from the USGA
No penalty for accidentally moving your ball during search.
No penalty for accidentally moving your ball or ball-marker on the putting green.
When the original location of your ball is not known, replace it on its estimated spot.
No penalty if your ball in motion is accidentally deflected by you, your equipment, or your caddie.
Your relief area for dropping a ball is a fixed size of either one or two club-lengths using the longest club in your bag, other than your putter.
Your ball must be let go from knee height and fall through the air without touching any part of your body or equipment.
A fixed distance of the longest club in your bag, other than your putter, is used for measuring.
Your ball is lost if not found in three minutes (rather than the previous five minutes).
You may always substitute a ball when taking relief.
In taking lateral relief, drop within two club-lengths of where your ball entered the penalty area. The size of a club-length is always measured using the longest club in your bag, other than your putter.
One of your options for relief from either a red or yellow penalty area is called back-on-the-line relief.
After your ball has been lifted and replaced, if it then moves, always replace it on its original spot even if it was blown by the wind or moved for no clear reason.
Repair of almost any damage is allowed on the putting green (including spike marks and animal damage).
No penalty for touching your line of play on the putting green so long as doing so does not improve the conditions for your stroke.
No penalty if your ball played from the putting green (or anywhere else) hits the unattended flagstick in the hole.
No penalty for moving loose impediments, touching the ground, or grounding your club in a penalty area.
Relief from a red penalty area no longer allowed on the opposite side from where the ball last entered the penalty area.
Relaxed Rules relating to loose impediments and touching the ground in a bunker.
Relief allowed outside a bunker for an unplayable ball for two penalty strokes.
You are not allowed to replace a damaged club during a round if you were responsible for the damage.
The use of DMDs is allowed unless a Local Rule has been adopted prohibiting their use.
It is recommended that you play “ready golf” and make each stroke in no more than 40 seconds.
A new “Maximum Score” form of stroke play is recognized, where your score for a hole is capped at a max score.
When you have good reason to mark and lift your ball, you are no longer required to first announce your intention.
A player’s reasonable judgment will not be second-guessed based on later evidence.
A new Local Rule provides an alternative to stroke-and-distance relief for a ball that is lost outside a penalty area or out of bounds.
Copyright - 2019 - Mid Washington Senior Golf Association