Under the proposed rules, 'water hazards' would be superseded by the expanded concepts of 'penalty areas.'
Club-lengths would no longer be used to measure for any purpose.
The ball must drop in and stay in the defined relief area.
Players will be allowed and encouraged to play 'ready golf' in stroke play.
Thomas Pagel, USGA, and Grant Moir, R&A, introduce the proposed new rules of golf.
A player would be allowed to touch or move loose impediments and touch the ground with hand or club.
Under the proposed rule, the ball would always be placed on a spot rather than being dropped.
Under the proposed rule, when taking relief the player would always be allowed the choice to substitute a ball or to use the original ball
A player would be allowed to touch loose impediments and touch the ground with hand or club in a penalty area.
Lateral relief is one of the options when dropping from a red penalty area.