Which do you like and which do you not?

Rule Change No. 2: Limited or Extended Relief for Embedded Ball

In simple terms: If a player’s ball comes to rest in another player’s pitch mark, he may take free relief; previously, players were granted relief only if their balls settled in their own pitch marks.

— GOLF.com (@GOLF_com) January 7, 2026

Rule Change No. 4: Immovable Obstructions Close to Putting Green

In simple terms: Players may be granted “extra relief” from the apron or fringe if an immovable obstruction — not just sprinkler heads — is in their line of play.

— GOLF.com (@GOLF_com) January 7, 2026

Rule Change No. 6: Preferred Lies Modification

In simple terms: The relief area for preferred lies has been reduced from a club-length (about 46 inches) to scorecard length (about 11 inches).

— GOLF.com (@GOLF_com) January 7, 2026

Yeah I'd have to read more about their thoughts on that.

I like Rule 6 as well. It's not a major deal but these guys shouldn't be 3 feet away from where their ball landed just for things like lift clean and place.

RogerFurlong said:

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Rule no 3 is interesting. I don't get how that makes any sense. If it's ob it's ob.

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The way I read it is this, On hole 18, the PGA deems hole 17 as OB, so players cannot play up 17 as an easier shot. However, after the tee shot, if you are in the middle of the fairway on 18 and flare one into 17 fairway, its not OB?


Is that what they are trying to discuss?

TXAGGIES said:

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RogerFurlong said:

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Rule no 3 is interesting. I don't get how that makes any sense. If it's ob it's ob.

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The way I read it is this, On hole 18, the PGA deems hole 17 as OB, so players cannot play up 17 as an easier shot. However, after the tee shot, if you are in the middle of the fairway on 18 and flare one into 17 fairway, its not OB?


Is that what they are trying to discuss?

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I didn't know they couldn't play it up the wrong fairway.

Depends on the local rule.

The rule for the scorecard is a much needed improvement. The full club length is a ton for lift clean and place, which the tour plays a ton. Eliminates them being able to drastically improve their angle or situation.

The Milkman said:

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The rule for the scorecard is a much needed improvement. The full club length is a ton for lift clean and place, which the tour plays a ton. Eliminates them being able to drastically improve their angle or situation.

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I have always had the saying spirit of the shot... Never thought it was fair in a drop scenario to change areas. Sand stay in sand, rough stay in rough, fringe stay on fringe...

This would have cost somebody a major a year or so ago... He went from 4 foot weeds to fairway...

Playing under preferred lies (lift clean and place) doesn't apply in areas other than the fairway or closely mown areas like green surrounds though.

The Milkman said:

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Playing under preferred lies (lift clean and place) doesn't apply in areas other than the fairway or closely mown areas like green surrounds though.

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Well unfortunately you are correct. I glanced at it. Well dang. I would be in favor of a drop rule that says, area cannot materially change... IE< if your in the rough you stay in the rough etc... when dropping.

Not fair at all guy wins a major when he it into 4 foot weeds, with probably zero chance of even getting out, and just because there happens to be a sprinkler control box in his way he gets a drop with no weeds, and then proceeds to make birdy.

What could number 4 be referring to? What else other than a sprinkler head would be in the fringe or apron and be considered an immovable obstruction?

DargelSkout said:

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What could number 4 be referring to? What else other than a sprinkler head would be in the fringe or apron and be considered an immovable obstruction?

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There are drains around greens all the time and some irrigation systems may have other buried items besides sprinklers near by (water valves, etc). It happens.

JCA1 said:

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DargelSkout said:

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What could number 4 be referring to? What else other than a sprinkler head would be in the fringe or apron and be considered an immovable obstruction?

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There are drains around greens all the time and some irrigation systems may have other buried items besides sprinklers near by (water valves, etc). It happens.

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Good point, I didn't think about drains.

DargelSkout said:

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What could number 4 be referring to? What else other than a sprinkler head would be in the fringe or apron and be considered an immovable obstruction?

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Television crap?

I thought about that, but those aren't on the fringe or apron.

DargelSkout said:

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I thought about that, but those aren't on the fringe or apron.

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they are all around the green, mic stands, mic holders etc. I would think they would easily be moved though

I thought television mics and cords were all movable obstructions

On #2...now do unrepaired fairway divots

Pahdz said:

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On #2...now do unrepaired fairway divots

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Don't think they'll ever do that. But if they did, I wouldn't tie it to being in a divot because there would be constant fights over what's a divot. Just say if you're in the fairway, you have the option to move the ball up to 6 inches in any direction so long as it's no closer to the hole. But, again, that'll never happen.

It's perhaps one of the dumbest rule in all of sport, right up there with fumbles into the end zone that go out if bounds being a turnover.

Every tour player would be getting rules officials multiple times per round for that. Would be excruciating.

They are movable, but the hole that is left when the microphone is taken out of the ground isn't, but is now considered an immovable obstruction so they can get relief on the line of play if they'd like to putt it.

Ending up on an old divot is unlucky, but that's golf. Golf is full of lucky and unlucky breaks every round. Pros have a lot of advantages that your average golfer doesn't have like large gallery's to look for balls and backstops behind the green, so I'm not feeling sorry for any of them that have to play a shot from an old divot.

TXAGGIES said:

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DargelSkout said:

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What could number 4 be referring to? What else other than a sprinkler head would be in the fringe or apron and be considered an immovable obstruction?

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Television crap?

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some Courses have air movers around greens