PURCHASE, N.Y. (March 27, 2012) - The Rules of Golf are updated regularly, but extra attention is always paid to the quadrennial changes, which follow numerous meetings between the USGA and the R&A. Significant changes to the 2012-15 Rules of Golf were the main focus of participants at a lively and well-attended MGA/Met PGA Rules Workshop on Tuesday, March 27 at Brae Burn Country Club.

Thomas Pagel, Senior Director of Rules of Golf & Amateur Status at the USGA, was the guest speaker at the event and detailed some of the major penalty reductions modified to the 2012-15 Rules of Golf. Most notably, exceptions made to Rule 18-2b (ball moving after address) and Rule 13-4 (ball in a hazard). 

"Those were probably the most exciting changes that took place for 2012," Pagel said. "Those received the most attention. The second we released them in November, all the media outlets wanted to talk about those two changes."

Pagel said the exemption made in Rule 18-2b is as follows: If it is known or virtually certain that a player did not cause their ball to move after addressing it, Rule 18-2b does not apply. The most recent example of how this revision could have benefited a player in competition would be Webb Simpson. Last May at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, Simpson was in contention for his first PGA Tour victory on the back nine on Sunday. He addressed a putt on the 15th green that appeared only a foot or two in length, but a gust of wind caused it to move, thus incurring a one-stroke penalty. 

The same happened to Padraig Harrington at the 2009 Masters. A gust of wind also caused his ball to move on the green after he had addressed it. He then called a one-stroke penalty on himself. 

The penalty reduction under Rule 13-4, as Pagel stated, now allows a player to smooth sand or soil when in a hazard, provided this is for the sole purpose of caring for the course and nothing is done to breach of 13-2 with respect to their next stroke.

Pagel also noted changes to Rule 20-7 (playing from the wrong place), which eliminate all cumulative penalties.  He said that the USGA Rules Committee has been working to simplify all revised decisions. 

"It's a process that never stops," he added.