Hi everyone,  

So the dear old R&A together with the USGA have come up with proposals for some 'common sense' rule changes. Most of you will be aware that these would not come into force until 2019 and, as I said, they are only proposals which, and here's the good part, you are all welcome to have your say on! If you visit the R & A's site at www.randa.org you can review the proposals and then you are invited to provide comment which will be looked at by officials. I can just see ac ertain few of you diving for your laptops and iPads as we speak!

However, there's nothing to stop us discussing them now. I am for the most part very in favour of most of them and I am certain that those of you (and there's lots of you) who worry about slow play will be ecstatic.

I should add at this point, and it is blowing my own trumpet so please forgive me, that when I did my rules exam for my PGA qualification it was very apparent that lots of people have trouble not just with the rules but also with getting around and understanding the book of rules, which is something the R&A have pointed out as well. Our exam was just twenty questions where we were given certain situations and asked to find the ruling, with the use of the book of rules. After twenty minutes I had finished and looked around wondering if I'd lost a sheet of further questions but the examiner confirmed I had finished. The next person out was after 40 minutes and half the room did not finish at all! I knew I had answered every question perfectly and true enough I got distinction for this exam. Please be clear this does not mean I know all the rules - it means I am very good at identifying where to look in the book given a situation but clearly many people have lots of trouble with this. Therefore, any changes that make it more understandable and quicker to use must be a good thing.

Significant highlights include: the encouragement of 'ready golf' and the reduction from five minutes to three for looking for a lost ball. You will be able to leave the pin in when on the green without penalty and an unplayable ball in a bunker will be droppable outside the bunker for a two shot penalty (stop cheering all of you!). There will be no penalty if your ball is accidentally moved when you're on the green, even if you drop a marker on it, and you will be able to drop a ball from just one inch above the ground rather than from shoulder height.

These are just a few and there are lots of others. I particularly like the flag being left in on the green. We are all aware that you have to have the flag attended and removed if you are putting on the green, but have you ever thought about why? By implication - if the player two inches behind me, who missed the green has all options to him, why am I penalised by hitting the green? He can have the flag attended, taken out or left in but I can't? (Yes, you can have it attended all you rules gurus who think you can't - just watch Phil Michelson asking Bones to attend the flag when he's attempting to hole a 70 yard wedge!!) When you think about it that's a bit odd, so I agree that I should also have the option to leave it in. What's more the club amateur who is waiting for his playing partner to rake a bunker can now take his putt so speeding up play. Good change.

There will be no penalty for repairing spike marks or any other damage on the green. About time! If I can repair a pitch mark then why on earth can I not repair a spike mark made by someone else? Good change.

However, I am worried by a few proposals. They have been very clear that they want to uphold the values of the game and 'player integrity' but one of the reasons I love the game, and the rules as they are, is that there are no grey areas. These new proposals will demand that players are honest as many changes will rule out the need for others to check on things (players will be trusted, even in major competitions as to where their balls crossed hazard lines and they needn't announce that they are moving their ball to check its identity).

In this left wing world we live in this follows suit I suppose. We must trust everyone and never question. Is it any surprise that all of a sudden, after a hundred years, the R&A wants to be trusting in everyone? Of course I'm being a little extreme, we are after all only talking about a game, and goodness knows there are other games that need sorting out more than ours. But just let me highlight one proposed change that worries me - you will be able to touch the ground or water in a hazard, and to remove loose impediments without penalty. That includes sand! However, you must not touch the sand as you move your club away so as to clear the path to the ball, as we know at the moment. Wow that's open to abuse! So if there's a small stick or something right behind my ball I could use my fingers to clear it out of the way without penalty - but wouldn't that clearly also involve changing and improving my lie?

This is why I don't like grey areas and there are a few that will pop up in these proposals but that is why they are just that. I would encourage you all to visit their site and have a look if you haven't already. Some are really good to see but some are a little 'loose' and dubious. You decide and feel free to comment both to me if you'd like and to them - they actually want you to.

You can let me know your thoughts by:

- Clicking here and getting in touch or...
- Clicking here to take part in my survey


 

Sunday saw our new Captain, John Boyson drive in on a day which almost brought every weather condition imagineable. We had driving cold rain with high winds in the morning which unfortunately cut short John's shotgun stableford, then the sun came out in all its glory just in time for him to drive in. Thankfully snow didn't turn up but I'm sure even that wouldn't have dampened John's first day.

Unfortunately, and very sadly, Eric Thatcher passed away the night before after a long battle with illness. From my own experience I believe I would find it very hard to find anyone who had St. Augustines Golf Club more in his heart and what he did for the club, in particular in helping to make the yearly Pro-Am as successful as it has become, will be remembered by many. I have no doubt that all of your thoughts are with his family.

 

As I said last week the offers keep coming in the shop. I am, as we speak, trying to clear lots of clothing items so I really am open to offers if there is something that you like in the shop. I have new crested clothing arriving shortly so you can take advantage at the moment and grab a bargain. 

Plus I have: 
- Grip deals and... 
- Bag trade-ins - just to mention a few

I'm pleased to hear quite a few of you took my email to heart last week as I'm helping some of you with your club gapping and my diary is pretty full every week with lessons. 

Remember you can still have a 15 minute FREE lesson if you haven't had one with me before. Just come in and see me.