One of the more controversial rule changes: putting with the flagstick in (pexels.com) It’s 2019 and for most of us in the golf world, that means the anticipation is over and it’s time to get familiar with the modernized rules of golf. Some of these rule changes are very well accepted and long overdue, while others are controversial and will take some time to get used to. I’ve put together a list of the most Important rules changes that both caddies and players should be aware of. For the most part, the USGA seems to be focused on speeding up the pace of play, which will hopefully put an end to those five and a half-hour rounds that we’ve all had to endure. Here are the major golf rule changes to keep at   top of mind in 2019. 5 Major Golf Rule Changes Every Golfer Should Know: 1. The New Procedure for Dropping a Ball The new procedure for dropping a ball in a relief area is to simply drop the ball from knee height . This is one rule that has been changed before...

Rory McIlroy (Left) and Tiger Woods (right) exercising golf etiquette after a round.     Golf is often referred to as a gentleman’s game. With that, golfers are expected to behave a certain way when they are on the course. This is where a very important part of the game comes into play, golf etiquette. Golf etiquette is the customary code of polite behavior that ensure that not only you, but the people playing in the group behind you, may have an enjoyable experience on the course. There are a few main concepts that factor into great golf etiquette: punctuality, pace of play, course maintenance, behavior on the green, and sportsmanship. Punctuality     There is almost nothing worse than delaying your tee time. Punctuality as it relates to golf doesn’t mean showing up at your tee time, it means showing up at least 15 minutes before your time to tee off. This is out of courtesy to your fellow golfers. Let’s face it, no one wants to be held up on the tee bo...

The rules of modern golf, the way we see it being played today, date back to the mid 18th century. In fact, the oldest known document containing a list of  golf rules is said to have been written in 1744. The document was titled "The Articles and Laws in Playing at Golf" and written for the Company of Gentleman Golfers, more recently known as The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers. The rules were said to have been written for a tournament that took place in Leith called the Edinburgh Silver Cup. The document lists thirteen rules and since it's the oldest surviving list of rules, it is often referred to as The Original Rules of Golf . Let's revisit the origins of the rules of golf and see how they relate to the rules today. Get up-to-speed with the  new rules of golf  for 2019 The  13 Original Rules You must tee your ball within a club's length of the hole . This rules is still in use today but has been modified a bit. According to the USGA, the te...