Major rule changes in the game of golf will become effective January 20, 2013.

This is only a preview as the complete rule book (expect 2012 pages) is being rewritten as we speak.

Here are a few of the changes:
Golfers with handicaps:

• Below 10 will have their green fees increased by 35%.
• Between 11 and 18 will see no increase in green fees.
• Above 18 will get a $20 check each time they play.

The term “gimmie” will be changed to “entitlement” and will be used as follows:

• Handicaps below 10, no entitlements.
• Handicaps from 11 to 17, entitlements for putter length putts.
• Handicaps above 18, if your ball is on the green, no need to putt, just pick it up.

No private club can accept any more white male members until the club has a membership percentage equal to the general ethnic percentage of the US. Non-white or non-male members will not be charged a membership fee until such time as the club achieves equality.

All members at a private club must take golf lessons from an approved USGA professional. If a member cannot afford to pay for such lessons then the club will provide those lessons free of charge. The cost of the lessons will then be offset by additional dues from the more affluent members of the club. If golfers want additional practice then they may want to look into purchasing golfing software (find it here) to help them with their current skills.

Tee boxes will be changed to the following:

1. female non-whites will the closest to the green and no more than 150 yards from the edge of the green.
2. male non-whites will be the 2nd closest to the green and no more than 200 yards from the edge of the green.
3. female whites will be in the same location as current but not closer than the above two tee boxes.
4. white males will be located at the furthest location currently developed (commonly known as the ‘tips”) and no closer than the above 3.

In addition, a Player will be limited to a maximum of one birdie or six pars in any given 18-hole round. Any excess must be given to those fellow players who have not yet scored a birdie or par. Only after all players have received a birdie or par from the player actually making the birdie or par, can that player begin to count his pars and birdies again .

A hole-in-one shall be evenly distributed to all members of the foursome – the success of one player shall be the success of all players.

At any time, the person that has the worst score in the foursome can place their ball at the same place as the person with best score in the foursome without penalty.

The current USGA handicap system will be used for the above purposes, but the term “net score” will be available only for scoring those players with handicaps of 18 and above. This is intended to “re-distribute” the success of winning by making sure that in all competitions every Player above an 18 handicap will post only “net score” against every other player’s “gross score”.

These new Rules are intended to CHANGE the game of golf.

Golf must be about Fairness. It should have nothing to do with ability, hard work, practice, and responsibility.

This is the “Right Thing To Do.”

So, please remember; if you shot a round of golf under par, you didn’t shoot it yourself. Someone else built that course, and someone else cut the grass so that you could play on it. Someone else built the clubs and the cart.

You need to share with everyone and anyone who made you a successful golfer.