One of the more significant changes to the Rules of Golf that became effective January 1st of this year is a revision to one of the exceptions to Rule 13-4 that allows 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.
Like many changes to the Rules there is likely to be much confusion on this change. I have already heard conversations on this subject that suggest that some golfers have interpreted this to mean they can now “rake away” without restriction. It is important to understand the complete intent and consequence of this change and not “rake yourself into a corner.” Let’s take a closer look …
First of all, the intent of this change is not to liberalize the Rules and to give golfers cart blanch to rake however, whenever and wherever they want. The principal of playing the ball as it lies and the course as it is found has not been dismissed. The purpose of this change is to protect the well-intended Good Samaritan who is simply trying to tidy up the course and most likely save some time. How many times have you hit your ball into a large bunker and had to wait until you have played a stroke to do any raking? This change will allow a golfer to “rake his way” to his ball which might save significant time if it allows the golfer to exit the bunker in a different location rather than retracing his steps. This change will also protect the player who simply lifts a rake, tidies up the area from which he lifted the rake and then proceeds to play his next stroke. This casual courtesy is okay since the golfer’s intent was simply to care for the course. PLEASE DON’T STOP READING HERE!
So when and where do you need to be careful? The new exception to Rule 13-4 states that the player cannot do anything that might improve the lie of his ball, his area of intended stance or swing, or line of play. Going back to the previous examples, the Good Samaritan who “rakes his way” to his ball must be careful that the raking he is doing prior to playing his stroke is not on his line of play. Similarly, the player who tidies up the area where he lifts a rake better be careful if this area is close to where his ball lies and would result in an improvement to his stance, lie of ball or area of intended swing.
