There are some rules changes coming on January 1. Assistant Professional and in-house rules guru Les Duer covers two of the new rules changes for you. We’ll have the new rules books in the pro shop soon.

Q: A player’s ball lies in a bunker and a rake has been left in another part of the bunker. Prior to making his stroke in the bunker, the player retrieves the rake. Having lifted the rake, the player smoothes the footprints that he has just created, and some others in the process. What is the ruling?

A: Until January 1st 2012, the penalty for smoothing footprints in a bunker where the player’s ball lies is 2 strokes. It is a violation of rule 13-4 and the player is deemed to have tested the ground conditions.

Effective with the new rules on 1/1/12, the answer is slightly different. If the smoothing of the footprints is only to provide care to the course, there is no penalty. If the smoothing improves the condition of the lie of the ball, clearly, that would be a penalty and again two strokes.

Q: I addressed my ball on the putting green on a very windy day. The ball moved and it was clearly by the wind. What penalty applies and what do I do?

A: Currently, the rules deem than you caused the ball to move because it moved after you addressed the ball. You must replace the ball and add one penalty stroke. Effective with the new rules, you would play the ball where it ends up and there would be no penalty.

Please note that the definition of addressing the ball will change with the new rules as well. Taking your stance will no longer be part of the definition. You will have “addressed” the ball when you ground your club whether you have taken your stance or not.