New Rules for 2014

At the end of each season we always review one of my favorite things in golf: rules. While we basically play by the "Rules of Golf" as determined by the USGA and R&A, there are a couple of exceptions.  Yesterday Faz suggested we adopt a few more changes to help eliminate some dicey situations.

Starting in 2014 (and today in all exhibition matches):

- Embedded balls will get free relief "through the green." This is actually a rule adopted by the PGA Tour... but not recognized by the governing bodies of golf (yet). In all levels of golf, you always get a free drop from an embedded ball in the fairway, green, tee box or any other "closely mown area." But only on certain golf tours (and certain courses) do you get a free drop from a ball embedded anywhere not in a hazard (ie: the rough). Next season we'll allow you to take a free drop if your ball is embedded, unless it's in a bunker or other marked hazard.

- Move your ball out of a footprint in a bunker. I'm not sure how often this happens... but if you find your ball in a footprint, just move it out to a smooth spot. Or rake it and replace your ball. However, you can't do this if your ball is plugged in the bunker.

- Remove any rocks near your ball in a bunker. There's no need to scuff up your club... just make sure your lie remains unchanged.

- Balls in a fairway divot can get free relief. I honestly think in the next 10 years the PGA Tour will adopt this rule anyway. You shouldn't be penalized for finding a fairway.

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We now have three seasons in the books and I think the points system is decent. Four people were in the running at the last tournament, so I don't think we need any changes to the payout and cut schedule.