March 31, 2012
TaylorMade DEMO Day Saturday, April 7th from 9:00-3:00.

Here is a list of changes made by the USGA to the 2012-2013 Rules of Golf:
Definitions
Addressing the Ball
The Definition is amended so that a player has addressed the ball simply by
grounding his club immediately in front of or behind the ball, regardless of whether
or not he has taken his stance. Therefore, the Rules generally no longer provide
for a player addressing the ball in a hazard. (See also related change to Rule 18-2b)

Rules
Rule 1-2. Exerting Influence on Movement of Ball or Altering
Physical Conditions
The Rule is amended to establish more clearly that, if a player intentionally
takes an action to influence the movement of a ball or to alter physical
conditions affecting the playing of a hole in a way that is not permitted by
the Rules, Rule 1-2 applies only when the action is not already covered
in another Rule. For example, a player improving the lie of his ball is in
breach of Rule 13-2 and therefore that Rule would apply, whereas a player
intentionally improving the lie of a fellow-competitor's ball is not a situation
covered by Rule 13-2 and, therefore, is governed by Rule 1-2.

Rule 6-3a. Time of Starting
Rule 6-3a is amended to provide that the penalty for starting late, but within five
minutes of the starting time, is reduced from disqualification to loss of the first
hole in match play or two strokes at the first hole in stroke play. Previously this
penalty reduction could be introduced as a condition of competition.

Rule 12-1. Seeing Ball; Searching for Ball
Rule 12-1 is reformatted for clarity. In addition, it is amended to (i) permit a
player to search for his ball anywhere on the course when it may be
covered by sand and to clarify that there is no penalty if the ball is moved in these circumstances, and (ii) apply a penalty of one stroke under Rule
18-2a if a player moves his ball in a hazard when searching for it when it is
believed to be covered by loose impediments.

Rule 13-4. Ball in Hazard; Prohibited Actions
Exception 2 to Rule 13-4 is amended to permit a player to smooth sand
or soil in a hazard at any time, including before playing from that hazard,
provided it is for the sole purpose of caring for the course and Rule 13-2 is
not breached.

Rule 18-2b. Ball Moving After Address
A new Exception is added that exonerates the player from penalty if his ball
moves after it has been addressed when it is known or virtually certain that he
did not cause the ball to move. For example, if it is a gust of wind that moves
the ball after it has been addressed, there is no penalty and the ball is played
from its new position.
(This is the most significant change and we will see an end to situations like the one witnessed during the final round of last year's Open Championship when Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy was penalised when his ball was moved on the seventh green by the wind after he had addressed it.)

Rule 19-1. Ball in Motion Deflected or Stopped; By Outside Agency
The note is expanded to prescribe the various outcomes when a ball in
motion has been deliberately deflected or stopped by an outside agency.

Rule 20-7c. Playing from Wrong Place; Stroke Play
Note 3 is amended so that if a player is to be penalized for playing from a
wrong place, in most cases the penalty will be limited to two strokes, even if
another Rule has been breached prior to his making the stroke.

Appendix IV
A new Appendix is added to prescribe general regulations for the design
of devices and other equipment, such as tees, gloves and distance
measuring devices.