How the 2023 Golf Rules changes affect your game

How the 2023 Golf Rules Changes affect your game

The R&A and USGA announce an update to the Rules of Golf, which will come into effect on 1 January 2023.

The new rule updates are part of the R&A's regular four-year review process of modernisation. In 2023, they will include relaxed penalties in certain situations, and modified language to make the rules clearer to understand. Also, they will feature modified Rules for players with disabilities.

Key 2023 Golf Rules changes include:

Modifications for Players with Disabilities: The modifications to the Rules for players with disabilities are in effect for all players who fall under the categories covered in Rule 25.
Handicap Usage in Stroke Play: Players are no longer required to show their handicap on their scorecard in stroke play. The Committee will be responsible for calculating the player’s handicap strokes. They will use that to calculate the player’s net score.
Club Damaged During Round: The Rule now allows a player to replace a club that is damaged during a round. This is provided that the player did not damage it through abuse.

The "Rickie Fowler Rule": Ball Moved by Natural Forces: A new Exception provides that a ball at rest must be replaced if it moves to another area of the course or comes to rest out of bounds after being dropped, placed or replaced.
This is casually referred to as the Rickie Fowler rule, following an incident in 2019. At the WM Phoenix Open, Fowler's chip on the 11th ran through the green and into the water. Fowler took a penalty drop onto a steep bank (placing it after two initial efforts rolled into the water). As he walked up to the green to plan his next shot, his ball rolled down the bank and back into the water. He took penalty relief again and went on to record a triple bogey. This new "exception" helps to alleviate this type of bad luck.

Simplified Back-on-the-Line Relief

This relief procedure, often used for penalty area and unplayable ball relief, is now simplified. The ball is now dropped on the line, and may roll up to one club-length in any direction. EVEN IF IT ROLLS CLOSER TO THE HOLE. (Previously, a drop could be taken anywhere within one club length, but if the ball rolled forward, it would have to be re-dropped.) Now, a re-drop is not required. This change represents a return to the easy-to-apply, pre-2019 process.

Video: Penalty Area Relief

Video: Unplayable Ball

Hard Copy Rulebooks to be discontinued

Hard copies of the rules will no longer be distributed to club members. In future, access to the Rules will be via R&A-approved websites and apps. Golf Australia is currently working with the R&A to upgrade the GA Handicap App to include 2023 R&A Rules content. The work on the GA Handicap App is projected to be completed in February 2023.

Until then, to access to the 2023 Rules, golfers are encouraged to use the new R&A Rules of Golf app:

Golf Rules Resources

For more information:

Or, for more Golf Rules and Fundamentals articles, click here

2023 Golf Open Day Schedules now live

SGA announces the upcoming 2023 Golf Open Days schedules for the NSW, Vic, SA and Qld seasons.

With some amazing courses on offer, including plenty of "Australian Top-100 Clubs", the 2023 season is sure to excite golfers from across the country.

Social Golf Australia's 18-hole golf events, golf tournaments and golf days across Australia are open to everyone. You do not need to be a member to play. All golfers (at all levels of play) are welcome.

So click the link below, or view the schedule on our Golf Genius Portal here, and join us for some exciting golf days, with a really good vibe.

View 2023 Golf Open Day Schedules here

Gift Ideas: SGA Golf Gift Cards

Gift Ideas: SGA Golf Gift Cards (online)

$50 Gift Card

Looking for a great and quick gift idea for that golfer in your life? SGA Online Golf Gift Cards are fast, easy and flexible.

SGA Golf Gift Cards are electronic/online vouchers that can be redeemed for any product or service that Social Golf Australia offers, whether it's an annual handicap, golf trip, Major Event or Open Golf Day.

They are all sold, processed and delivered online, so it's a fast, simple and flexible way to get your gift sorted.

So whether you're looking for a gift for a birthday, Father's/Mother's Day, Christmas or you want to say "Thanks", an SGA Online Gift Card is a perfect gift for any golfer.

Choose from a variety of options and prices (or name your own price and we can customise a card for you)

How to order:

Click Here to order a gift card

Note - if you have any questions, ot you prefer to contact us directly to customise a card, you can fill out the form below, and we will contact you asap to arrange electronic delivery of your Gift Card; OR Ring our General Manager, Mick David: 0402 488 253

2022 Victorian SGA Tour Championship a massive hit

2022 Victorian SGA Tour Championship a massive hit

End of year event a smash at the stunning Victoria Golf Club

SGA's final event of the 2022 Victorian Season was a massive hit, with 77 golfers teeing off at the magnificent Victoria Golf Club, for the 2022 2022 Victorian SGA Tour Championship.

The event, which featured over $5k in prizes over two separate competitions (Open Event and Tour Event), proved to be an exciting conclusion to an action-packed season.

Despite early winds and occasional rain throughout the afternoon, our golfers enjoyed playing on a course that had just recently hosted Australia's top professional golfers (men and women) at the Australian Open. Playing a course the calibre of Victoria, in near-tournament conditions, was a real treat, and there were smiles all around.

Overall, it was a challenging and enjoyable golf day. The course staff were friendly and helpful, and our golfers had a great time. Thanks to the course and staff for hosting us and making it a memorable day.

The Open Day event, played as individual stableford, was won by Edward Klusik, on a solid 34 points. He pipped Paul Corcoran by a single point (33) and Lewis Read/Matthew Adlard on 32.

The Tour Championship Flight, which was open to the top 25 golfers in the season-long Order of Merit, was a tightly-fought competition. In the end, Chris Morgan's remarkable 39 stableford points was enough to grab the top spot, and claim the trophy for the 2022 Vic Tour Championship. Second place went to Drew Hallam (38) and third went to Neill Bell (37).

Chris' name is now etched in the SGA Tour Honourboards. Congratulations.

Novelty prizes: NTP 4th hole: Joel Evans, 7th: Chris Fernandez, 14th: Pete Calverley, 16th: Byron Holder, LD: Male: Lewis Read, Female: Rita Petrovs.

(SEE FULL LEADERBOARD AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE).

2022 Honourboard Champions

The event also saw the awarding of trophies and prizes for our season-long SGA Honourboard/trophy events.

SGA Matchplay: Phil Peacock

4BBB Championship: Yvonne Grant

Club Championship: Peter Langford

Order of Merit: Dean Connell

Golfer of the Year: Drew Hallam

Each of these players will all have their names added to the prestigious SGA Honourboards.

JOIN THESE PLAYERS ON THE HONOURBOARDS

To find out how you can become part of the SGA Tour, and play for trophies, prizes and glory in an exciting season-long Event Tour series, check out our SGA Tour page. Play the country's top courses, meet great people, and have heaps of fun!

2022 Victorian SGA Tour Championship Photos

2022_TourChampsVic_043409869.PORTRAIT_web

2022_TourChampsVic_060218986.PORTRAIT_web

2022_TourChampsVic_060316177.PORTRAIT_web

2022 Victorian SGA Tour Championship - Final Scores

Individual Stableford

See below for Final scores (or click here to see scores on our Golf Genius Portal)

The Tour Championship Flight

Pos.	Player	Stableford Points
1	Chris Morgan	39
2	Drew Hallam	38
3	Neill Bell	37
4	Geoffrey Steer	36
5	Shaun Condron	34
6	Shayne Svenson	34
7	Rob Robinson	33
8	Bill Anastasopoulos	31
9	Niall Burke	31
10	Andrew Grant	31
11	Darren Nelson	29
12	Yvonne Yip	29
13	Gavan Doran	29
14	Cameron Thompson	28
15	James Bourke	28
16	Peter Calverley	28
17	Graham Ball	27
18	Dean Mitchell	27
19	Dean Connell	25
20	Mark Verleg	24
21	Yvonne Grant	22
22	Frank Elisaia	22
23	Peter Langford	19
24	Ian Steer	18
25	Graham Sherlock	10

Daily Event Flight

Pos.	Player	Stableford Points
1	Edward Klusik	34
2	Paul Corcoran	33
3	Lewis Read	32
4	Matthew Adlard	32
5	Ashley Blyth	31
6	Christopher Fernandez	31
7	Robert Gamble	31
8	Mark Kennedy	29
9	Don Hackett	29
10	Paul Hargreaves	28
11	Brian Kennedy	28
12	Peter Kennedy	28
13	Michael Corcoran	28
14	Dean Jennings	27
15	Tavis Magriplis	27
16	Por Van	27
17	Greg McCubbin	27
18	Joshua Cooper	27
19	Rita Petrovs	27
20	Cameron Green	27
21	Byron Holder	26
22	James Meredith	26
23	Robert Stock	26
24	Glenn Pellegrin	26
25	Sam Fieldes	25
26	Rafael Pasquet	25
27	Troy Leo	24
28	Mark Lynch	24
29	Dean Thatcher	24
30	James McKinnon	24
31	Gavin Menezes	24
32	Hai Ho	23
33	Felix Cooray	23
34	Lukas Winward	22
35	Terry McAleenan	22
36	Geoff Bower	22
37	Robert Tadros	22
38	Darren Hall	21
39	Gus Geuna	20
40	Joel Evans	20
41	Andrew Ransom	20
42	Joel Smith	20
43	Phoebe Burfield	19
44	Simon Beamish	19
45	Peter Sproules	19
46	Sandro Penzo	15
47	Luke Coulson	15
48	Colin Edwards	10
49	Leon Smyth	8
50	Scott Lacey	8
51	David Hampton	5
NS	John Brugman	-

Special Thanks

Thanks to the team, staff and members of Victoria Golf Club for hosting us on your wonderful course.

Thanks to our amazing partners/sponsors: Srixon-Cleveland, Garmin, Heathcote Winery, TCN Gift Cards and Drummond Golf.

Most importantly, thanks to ALL of our golfers for joining us! We hope to see you all at an event in 2023.

2022 Victorian SGA Tour Championship Sponsors

Win one of two Cleveland Golf Bags

Win One of TWO Cleveland Golf Bags

Enter to win one of two Cleveland Golf bags, courtesy of Social Golf Australia and Srixon-Cleveland Australia. These Cart-size bags are the real deal, with heaps of storage pockets to keep all your miscellaneous gadgets, balls, tees and everything else tidy and sorted.

And be sure to tell a mate so that they can enter too! If they win, they will be your best mate for life (well, probably!)

To ENTER:

This giveaway is now closed. The winners are Alan Holloway (SA) and Annette Connell (Vic)

ENTRY DETAILS:

Competition ends November 18, 2022 at 5:00pm. Two winners will be drawn at random from the list of all entries. Limit ONE entry per person (multiple entries will force disqualification). Competition open ONLY to residents of Australia. All other SGA Terms and Conditions apply.

MORE: UPCOMING EVENTS FROM SGA

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Australian Golf, BMW Australia sign partnership agreement

Australian Golf and BMW Australia Sign Historic Partnership Agreement

Golf Australia, the PGA of Australia and the WPGA Tour of Australasia have signed BMW Australia in a multi-year deal as the first joint major partner of Australian Golf.

As part of the commitments outlined in the Australian Golf Strategy, the bodies are working together more closely than ever before to collaborate and enable year-round partnerships in golf across Brand, Digital, Tournaments, Broadcast and Community Programs.

The multi-year deal with BMW is the first partnership to span the breadth of the Australian Golf ecosystem and will see BMW become the official car partner of the ISPS Handa PGA Tour of Australasia, WPGA Tour of Australasia, Fortinet Australian PGA Championship, ISPS HANDA Australian Open, WPGA Championship and several Webex Players Series & State Open Tournaments. BMW will also have access to a range of year-round benefits across Australian Golf including digital, broadcast and brand alignment.

WPGA Tour of Australasia CEO Karen Lunn emphasised the importance of the partnership for sending a strong message both in Australia and across the globe.

“The partnership between Australian Golf and BMW Australia sends a strong message across not just in Australia but all over the world. As a collective, Australian Golf is taking innovative and bold steps forward and gathering support from like-minded organisations such as BMW Australia is a significant endorsement of our approach to changing perceptions and growing the game for everyone,” said Lunn.

PGA of Australia CEO Gavin Kirkman emphasised this sentiment and said the partnership was reflective of shared values.

“By working together under the banner of Australian Golf we are able to harness the enormous potential of our sport and align with a partner such as BMW Australia across our tour and organisations. Together, with the support of our partners like BMW Australia, we’re building an exciting and sustainable future for our game for everyone, from those who play to those of us who work in the industry whether they be volunteers, PGA professionals, club managers or staff,” said Kirkman.

Golf Australia CEO James Sutherland highlighted the significance of the partnership and its alignment to the Australian Golf Strategy.

“The partnership between our three organisations under the banner of Australian Golf and BMW Australia is a history making moment for our sport,” said Sutherland.

“The Australian Golf Strategy clearly outlines our collective intention to work together to create a robust and sustainable future for golf in Australia. The strong sense of direction provided by the strategy opened to door to realising a partnership like the one we are announcing today.”

Wolfgang Buechel, CEO of BMW Group Australia, said the new partnership marked a significant step in the company’s commitment to golf both in Australia and on a global level.
“I am delighted that with this new partnership we can add Australia as a headline act in our global golf partnership portfolio alongside our activities in Europe, the USA and Asia,” Mr Buechel said.

“Working with trusted partners in Golf Australia, the PGA of Australia and the WPGA Tour of Australasia will see us create opportunities for players of all levels – from those who enjoy a casual round on the weekend to those who compete at the highest level – while also supporting the many people who work in the industry.”

SGA Implements Model Local Rule E-5 to all SGA events.

SGA Implements Model Local Rule E-5 to all events (to speed up play)

RULE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE SGA GOLF COMMITTEE:

There has been a bit of on-course discussion lately concerning what your options are when a ball is deemed lost or out of bounds.

Effective immediately, SGA will implement a new Local Rule at our events (Model Local Rule E-5, per R&A’s 2019 Rules of Golf), which allows “Alternative to Stroke and Distance for Lost Ball or Ball out of bounds”.

Essentially, the New Rule allows you take a drop at a "Reference point" (which can actually be IN THE FAIRWAY), under a Two-stroke Penalty.

Scenario:

A golfer (let's say SGA General Manager Mick David) whacks a drive from the tee box into the thick cabbage. (Potentially OOB, or Lost).

Mick’s Options:

A) PLAY A PROVISIONAL (i.e. STROKE AND DISTANCE): On the tee, Mick could immediately announce he is now playing a "Provisional", thus re-teeing (under penalty of one stroke). He is now hitting his THIRD shot from the tee (i.e. The first stroke was lost, the second stroke is the penalty stroke, and the third stroke is his new/provisional). Assuming his provisional finds the fairway (never a sure thing), he is now lying 3 with his provisional, and (if he fails to find his original ball after a 3-minute search), will thus be playing his 4^th shot from the fairway.

B) IMPLEMENT THE NEW (2019) MODEL LOCAL RULE E-5: Instead of playing a provisional, Mick could simply walk/drive/hobble to where he hit his shot and begin searching for his ball. If he and his playing partners cannot find it within the R&A’s 3-minute timeline, then he can take a drop, incurring a two-stroke penalty.

THIS DROP CAN BE TAKEN FROM TWO PLACES (SEE PHOTO BELOW): A “Ball Reference Point” (i.e. A line from the hole to where the ball likely came to rest, or crossed the OOB boundary), OR A “Fairway Reference Point” (A line from the hole to a spot on the fairway near the lost area).

In both cases, he is dropping within two club-lengths, no nearer the hole. Mick is now hitting his 4^th shot. (i.e. Same result as if he had hit a provisional, above).

Note that this rule applies to any shot, NOT just off the tee. (i.e. Approaches, fairway shots, skulled bunker shots that fly the green and become lost, etc)

WHY WE MADE THIS DECISION:

It is allowed in the Rules of Golf
To speed up play dramatically
To allow for slightly more fun/enjoyment at our events

Note: Essentially, the end result of Option B is the same (or sometimes BETTER) than playing a provisional. If, for example, Mick had chosen option A (Provisional), and his provisional ball ALSO went OOB/Lost (highly likely in Mick’s case), then he would need to re-tee AGAIN (This time, playing his 5^th shot off the tee), or Using Option B on his provisional (thus hitting 6 from the fairway.).

(THIS WOULD LEAD TO OPTION C: Walk off the course in disgust, and hit the 19^th hole or the nearest pub.)

For more information on the rule, see:

https://www.golf.org.au/rulesquickguide/

SGA Partners with GolfSpace indoor golf centre

SGA Partners with GolfSpace, Australia's new ground-breaking Indoor Golf Complex.

SGA is excited to announce that we've partnered with GolfSpace, Australia’s new ground-breaking indoor golfing experience for players of all abilities.

Located at 29-31 O’Riordan St, Alexandria, GolfSpace is the perfect space for a group class, one-on-one PGA coaching session, to work on your game, or enjoy a round of golf with your friends or business colleagues. Enjoy the ultimate indoor golf experience using the latest TrackMan 4 technology in one of 12 architect-designed simulator bays. GolfSpace also features Australia’s only PuttView putting system, and a world-first indoor wedge calibration zone.

This new partnership allows all SGA Member access to a special offer of $60 per hour for a first-time visit. This promotion includes booking of up to 4 people per bay.

In addition, SGA will be awarding GolfSpace Vouchers as prizes in some of our upcoming events.

TO GET THE SPECIAL SGA & GOLFSPACE OFFER:

Simply click on the link below to access the offer and book your sessions. You will need to first sign in or create an account, and you will then get access to the special SGA/GolfSpace offer.

www.golfspace.com.au/sga/

Social Golf Australia partners with Drummond Golf

SGA Partners with Drummond Golf

Australia’s Largest Golf Club partners with Australia's Biggest Golf Retailer in $10k prize agreement

AUSTRALIA’S Largest Golf Club, Social Golf Australia, today announces a partnership agreement with Australia’s Biggest Golf Retailer, Drummond Golf.

The agreement will see $10,000 of Drummond Golf Gift Cards be awarded as prizes at many of SGA’s Open Golf Days across Australia. Additionally, they will be awarded during SGA’s Major Golf Events and Tournaments throughout the year.

The announcement marks Drummond Golf’s return to the SGA partner list, with the companies having partnered at various times over the last 18 years.

A STRONG RELATIONSHIP

“We are proud to partner with Drummond Golf once again,” explains Matthew Pitt, Founder and Managing Director of Social Golf Australia. “We have maintained a strong relationship with the team at Drummond Golf and been inspired by their commitment to supporting and growing the game. Our values around delivering high-quality customer service whilst having fun and enjoying golf have always been closely aligned. We've greatly appreciated Drummond Golf’s support of SGA events over the years, including Charity Golf days and Open Golf events. So it is exciting for us to welcome them as a major partner in 2022.”

“We have over 15,000 golfers in our community around Australia. They are people passionate about the game. Also, they love using the latest and greatest golf gear which is precisely what Drummond Golf provides. Thus, this partnership is an ideal match for both of us. Our golfers will be thrilled with this announcement, and we are delighted to be awarding vouchers for use at Drummond Golf in our event prize pools.” Pitt adds.

Ravi Abeyaratne, Marketing Director of Drummond Golf, echoed Pitt’s sentiments.

“It is our pleasure to help support a respected and thriving business like Social Golf Australia,” Abeyaratne says. “The team at SGA have always aimed to deliver high-value events and services at the industry’s very competitive prices. This matches our goals at Drummond Golf. We both share a commitment to providing high quality service, expert knowledge, convenience and competitive pricing. This is essential for us to put a partnership in place. We've watched SGA grow over the years to become the largest golf club in the country, and we are delighted to welcome SGA golfers at any of our 48 stores nationwide.”

SIMILAR BUSINESS PATHS

SGA and Drummond Golf have very similar histories, with both businesses considered trailblazers in the Australian Golf Industry. Further, both started in the Bendigo region in central Victoria. Drummond Golf, which was founded by Ray Drummond in 1974, began as a single-store retail business in Bendigo before expanding to its current network of 48 stores across Australia. Similarly, SGA started as small, family-run business from a home office in the nearby country town of Heathcote. It was founded by Sally and Matthew Pitt in 2004. Through providing friendly, honest and reliable customer service, SGA has grown into Australia’s Largest Golf Club, offering the country’s best value golf handicaps, as well as golf trips, tours, tournaments and events.

---ENDS---

MORE INFORMATION:

ABOUT SOCIAL GOLF AUSTRALIA

Social Golf Australia is the largest golfing community in Australia. They have a range of industry partners (Including Srixon & Cleveland Golf, Garmin, The Card Network, Mantra Hotels, Drummond Golf and others) that support SGA offering great value golf services. They currently offer official golf handicaps (over 10,000 issued since 2004). In additon, they host over 120 events a year in six states and run six annual major tournaments (from 3-7 days long). Further, the team offers feature events and golf tours. The business focusses on fostering a friendly and welcoming golfing community based on the values of honesty, integrity, loyalty and trust. Their approach is to offer golfers value, flexibility and choice.

socialgolfaustralia.com.au

ABOUT DRUMMOND GOLF

As Australia's Biggest golf retailer, Drummond Golf has been providing the largest range of the world's leading golf brands at competitive prices to golfers of all levels and ages for over 40 years. From a small store in Bendigo in 1974, today Drummond Golf has 48 stores nationwide.

All stores are owner operated and this guarantees quality service, expert knowledge, convenience and competitive pricing. Drummond Golf is the leader in technology assisted club fitting programs. This includes MiMatch, golf's most advanced fitting system and the GC2 Launch Monitor.

https://www.drummondgolf.com.au

CONTACT

Richard Fellner
Media Manager, SGA
e: media@sgatour.com.au
m: 0407 000 440

Mick David
General Manager, SGA
e: mick@sgatour.com.au
m: 0402 488 253

Matthew Pitt
Founder, Managing Director, SGA
e: matt@sgatour.com.au
m: 0425 742 501

Presidents Cup to return to Melbourne in 2028 and 2040

Presidents Cup to return to Melbourne in 2028 and 2040

The Presidents Cup (Photo by Con Chronis/Getty Images for Visit Victoria)

The PGA TOUR has announced a long-term commitment to staging the Presidents Cup in Melbourne, Victoria, with the biennial global team competition set to return to the iconic Sandbelt in 2028 and 2040. The 2028 Presidents Cup will mark the event’s fourth visit to Melbourne, matching Gainesville (Virginia, USA) for most Cups contested in one city.

The venue for the 2028 Presidents Cup will be announced at a later date. The Presidents Cup was staged at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club in its three previous trips to Melbourne (1998, 2011, 2019), with the International Team defeating the U.S. Team in 1998 under the leadership of the late Peter Thomson, while the U.S. Team claimed the Cup in 2011 and 2019.

“Since the Presidents Cup was first staged in Melbourne in 1998, Australia and its passionate fanbase have played a leading role in the growth of the Presidents Cup,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “As the event continues to visit new corners of the globe, we remain committed to a presence in Melbourne and the Sandbelt region, a place our players and fans around the world hold in high regard. Our partnership with State of Victoria and Visit Victoria has been a winning combination, and we’re thrilled with the support we’ve received from Premier Andrews in securing the 2028 and 2040 dates.”

Australia was the Presidents Cup’s first international destination, and has since visited South Africa (2003), Canada (2007) and Korea (2015) in addition to twice returning to Australia.

A COUP FOR MELBOURNE

“Securing two more Presidents Cups is a real coup for Melbourne, promoting our city to the world and providing a boost for tourism and jobs,” said Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Martin Pakula.

The Presidents Cup was last played in 2019 at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club, which saw the U.S. Team mount a thrilling comeback on the final day to claim victory over a renewed International Team in Australia. The event will return in 2022 at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, September 20-25, following a one-year delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’re delighted that the Presidents Cup will be back in 2028 and 2040, cementing Melbourne’s position as a global events destination and the major events capital of Australia,” said Visit Victoria CEO Brendan McClements.

At the 2019 event, the PGA TOUR and First Tee announced the creation of the First Tee Australia, which marked the sixth international location for the youth development program. The chapter is managed by PGA of Australia and engages with five local community groups to reach underserved teenagers. As of November 2021, First Tee Australia services approximately 1,100 students at four locations in Melbourne and Tasmania with plans to expand throughout the country in the future.

For more information about the Presidents Cup, please visit PresidentsCup.com

Bucket-List trip: Play the same iconic Sandbelt courses that host the top Pros

The SGA Sandbelt Classic (exclusive to SGA) is our "bucket-list" golf experience, where you can tee it up on the same courses that have hosted the world's top professionals and most iconic events.

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