An end to anchored putting and a change on the punishment for signing for the wrong scorecard are among a number of alterations made to the latest edition of the rules of golf, which will come in to operation from January.
The rules, reviewed every four years by the Royal & Ancient Golf (R&A) and the U.S. Golf Association (USGA), have also been altered to take into account the use of equipment to aid play as well as the guidelines on when a ball moves.
The biggest change had been originally announced back in May 2013, with a two-stroke penalty handed to any player who anchors their club either directly or with an 'anchor point' against the body.
Although anchoring, predominantly with a long putter, has helped a number of players to major victory in recent years, the technique will now be banned.
Also prohibited from January will be the use of artificial devices and equipment, with a player disqualified for a second breach of the rule, while penalty strokes will be applied instead of disqualification is a player marks for a lower score than they actually made.
At present, players are disqualified even if a rule violation is discovered after they have signed their scorecards, but there is now an exception to Rule 6-6d that says a player will not be disqualified for an incorrect scorecard if he was not aware of the rules violation when he signed for it.
Other changes include an amateur golfer being allowed to donate any winnings in an event where prize money is offered to a recognised charity.
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