Rule Changes For 2019
Below are the R&A main changes to the rules that have been changed this year and are now in play:
1. Drop from knee height (NOT shoulder height)
2. Measure the area to drop in with the longest club in your bag (except a putter)
3. Drop-in and play from the relief area
4. When dropping back-on-the-line, your ball cannot be played from nearer the hole than your chosen reference point
5. Time to search – 3 minutes (NOT 5 minutes)
6. If you accidentally move your ball when searching for it, replace it without penalty
7. No penalty for a double hit – it only counts as one stroke
8. No penalty if your ball hits you or your equipment accidentally after a stroke
9. No penalty if your ball strikes the flagstick when you have chosen to leave it in the hole
10. Spike mark and other shoe damage on the putting green can be repaired
11. Ball accidentally moved on putting green – no penalty and replace
12. Ball marked, lifted and replaced on putting green is moved by wind to another position –replace ball on the original spot
13. Penalty areas replace water hazards, and you can move loose impediments, ground your club and take practise swings in penalty areas without penalty, just as you can on the fairway or in the rough
14. You can’t take relief from a penalty area unless you are at least 95% certain your ball is in the penalty area
15. In bunkers, you can move loose impediments
16. In bunkers, you cannot touch the sand with your club in the area right in front of or right behind your ball, during your backswing or in taking practise swings
17. Free relief is allowed if your ball is embedded on the fairway or in the rough (but “embedded” means that part of your ball is below the level of the ground)
18. Unplayable ball in bunker – extra option to drop outside the bunker for 2 penalty strokes
19. You cannot have your caddie or your partner standing behind you once you begin taking your stance
20. The Pace of Play - it is recommended that you take no longer than 40 seconds to make a stroke (and usually you should be able to play more quickly than that) and Ready Golf in stroke play is encouraged | 
