• Rule 24-2b. Immovable Obstruction; Relief: Amended for clarity and to permit a player to take relief from an immovable obstruction in a bunker by dropping outside the bunker under penalty of one stroke.
• Rule 24-3. Ball Lost in Obstruction: New Rule created to deal with a ball lost in a movable obstruction and a ball lost in an immovable obstruction (previously covered in Rule 24-2c).
• Rule 25-1c. Ball Lost in Abnormal Ground Conditions: Amended to clarify the reference point for taking relief when a ball is lost in an abnormal ground condition (corresponding amendment made in new Rule 24-3b).
• Rule 25-3b. Wrong Putting Green; Relief: Amended for clarity.
• Rule 26-2a. Ball Played Within Water Hazard: Amended and expanded for clarity.
• Rule 28. Ball Unplayable: Options b and c reversed in order to provide consistency with the construction of Rule 26-1.
• Rule 34-1a. Claims and Penalties; Match Play: Amended by omitting the points already covered in Rule 2-5.
• Rule 34-3. Committee's Decision: Reference to "Secretary" amended to "duly authorized representative of the Committee."
Appendix I
• Table of Contents for Appendix I: Added for ease of reference. Preferred Lies: Specimen Local Rule amended for clarity and to provide that the position of the ball must be marked when lifted to prefer the lie. The USGA will also now interpret this Local Rule.
• Immovable Obstructions Close to Putting Green: Previous Local Rule for fixed sprinkler heads amended to allow for inclusion of any immovable obstructions within two club-lengths of the putting green.
Appendix II
• Club Length: Clause 1c amended to include a new 48 inch limit. Putters are excepted.
• Clubhead: Clause 4b amended to include new dimensional limits and a new maximum head size for woods of 470 cc (460 cc maximum plus a 10 cc tolerance).
Rules of Amateur Status
• Rule 3-2. Prize Limits
• Rule 3-3. Testimonial Awards
Maximum allowable retail value of prize or testimonial award increased to $750 from $500.
