So the 2019 new rules are now in place

1) 3 minutes to search instead of 5
2) No penalty for accidentally moving ball during search
3) ALL embedded balls get a free drop
4) Club length defined by player's longest club excluding the putter
5) Take drop from knee height (and only knee height)
6) Cannot play a ball from the wrong green at all including stance
7) No penalty for hitting someone or equipment accidentally
8) No penalty for double hit
9) No penalty for accidentally hitting sand.
10) Loose impediments can be moved in "penalty" areas (used to be called hazards)
11) You can now drop out of a bunker for a 2-stroke penalty
12) No more water hazards (red or yellow). Just penalty areas.
13) Can ground club in penalty areas (excluding bunkers to test sand, but you can now lean on your club in the sand without penalty)
14) Ball moves on green (wind) must be placed back for next stroke
15) No penalty for ball that moves on green by accidental contact. Ball must be replaced.
16) All unnatural green imperfections can be smoothed out even in the line of the putt.
17) Can't use club on the ground for alignment.
18) Caddies can no longer help with putting alignment.
19) Can leave the flag in during putts.
20) A ball lodged between the flag stick and edge of the cup is considered holed.

One thing missing that many people were expecting was treating divots and repaired divots as ground under repair and therefore getting a free drop. Not the case. Nothing has changed there.


So what's your favorite? What will have the biggest impact iyo?