15 Principal Changes Principal Changes Introduced in the 2023 Rules of Golf Specific Rules Rule 1.3c(4) Applying Penalties to Multiple Breaches of the Rules The Rule has been amended so that determining whether breaches are related or unrelated is no longer part of its application, meaning that there will be fewer instances where multiple penalties will be applied. Rule 3.3b(4) Player Not Responsible for Showing Handicap on Scorecard or Adding Up Scores The Rule has been amended so that a player is no longer required to show their handicap on their scorecard. The Committee is responsible for calculating the player’s handicap strokes for the competition and using that to calculate the player’s net score. Rule 4.1a(2) Use, Repair or Replacement of Club Damaged During Round The Rule has been amended to allow a player to replace a damaged club, provided the club has not been damaged through abuse. Rule 6.3b(3) Substitution of Another Ball While Playing a Hole The penalty for playing an incorrectly substituted ball has been reduced from the general penalty to one penalty stroke. Rule 9.3 Ball Moved by Natural Forces New Exception 2 provides that a ball must be replaced if it moves to another area of the course after being dropped, placed or replaced. This also applies if the ball comes to rest out of bounds. Rule 10.2b Other Help Rule 10.2b has been rewritten for clarity and to incorporate the key principles of the Clarifications issued in April 2019 to support the 2019 Rule. Rules 10.2b(1) and (2) have been amended to provide that neither the caddie nor any other person is allowed to set an object down to help the player with the line of play or other directional information (such as when the player cannot see the flagstick), and the player cannot avoid penalty by having the object removed before the stroke is made.
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