Caring for the course -- including divot repair and wisping away displaced sand -- helps maintain proper etiquette.

With a new year comes change  – and the sport of golf is no exception. There are a few tweaks to the rules in 2012 that golfers who like playing by the rules will want to pay attention to – and if you consider yourself strong in golf etiquette, you’ll want to keep updated as well. The following are a few of the latest updates to the game of golf, courtesy of the Las Vegas Review Journal:

“Sole purpose of caring for the course”

First, there is a new term making its way across the country’s golf courses: “Sole purpose of caring for the course.” Actions that are for the “sole purpose of caring for the course” are considered good etiquette and include everything from smoothing out a hole’s rough edges to replacing divots. While most people associate etiquette with being socially polite, true etiquette can also refer to actions you take while no one else is watching. Caring for the course certainly falls under this category.

“Addressing the ball”

Next, the act of “addressing the ball” has seen a few tweaks. If you’re not familiar with what “addressing the ball” means, here’s a quick rundown: a player has addressed a ball when he has grounded his club immediately before or behind the ball. When you’re addressing the ball, you’re essentially locking yourself in for a shot.

What are the changes in “addressing the ball?” For one, your stance is no longer a factor. You don’t have to look like you’re going in for a shot to address the ball in 2012, which means you need to be wary of where you place your club while waiting for others to take their shot.

This affects hazard shots, since you can now address a ball without getting into a formal stance. A player who has hit the ball into a hazard can still address the ball in odd places simply by grounding the club immediately in front of or behind the ball.

In addition, if you have addressed the ball and the ball moves – through no fault of yours – you are no longer assessed a penalty stroke. If the wind or gravity moves the ball while the player is addressing the ball, it will not count as an extra shot.

Arrival time

A new exception to the penalty rules pertaining to when a golfer arrives after his schedule tee-off has also been added. Usually, no extenuating circumstances would have any effect on how the player is penalized. But now certain circumstances such as a family emergency could mean that a player is not penalized for arriving outside of his tee-off timing window.

Many of these rules simply apply to official PGA play, but it’s important to follow official rules in ordinary matches in order to keep the scores consistent. Enforcing these rules is also important for proper etiquette, because it will demonstrate your dedication to keeping the game both honest and fair – even at your own expense.

Kick off the New Year with a head start: the next generation in golf course etiquette is on its way!

Perhaps more than any other time of year, the holidays are an ideal time to give back to the community. Golf is no exception; and this year, you can give each and every one of your club members the same pristine putting green and uniform playing surface they find during the first round of the day  – all day, every day, with one simple, ingenious tool.

The WISP is a universal solution to sand on the putting surface that will elevate overall course etiquette, improve playability and enhance the course aesthetics you work hard to maintain on a daily basis. Not only that, it will reduce wear and tear on bed knives & reels, making superintendents’ work more efficient while allowing everyday players to contribute to the process.

Introduce the WISP at your course for the New Year: after trying it out, your members will see just how effective the WISP really is – and they will use it, time and time again.

Enjoy sand-free greens for the holidays and all year around with the WISP from Ediquete LLC.

If you’ve been following golf recently, there’s a good chance that you’ve noticed just how many good international players there are. Players like Rory McIlroy of Ireland and Ian Poulter of England have added to the global golf following despite dominance by the United States in years past with golfers like Tiger Woods and David Duval.

The United States re-captured some of that glory recently, as the Boston Globe reports. Matt Kuchar and Gary Woodland were the American heroes of the day, winning in China despite an early lead by McIlroy and Graeme McDowell, both representing Ireland. The 5-under 67 won the cup by two strokes, ending an eleven-year streak in which the United States had been shut out of the top World Cup spot (although it should be noted that the World Cup recently switched from an annual event to being biennial).

Regardless of standings, golfers stand united by sportsmanship

It’s a good time to be a top-rated golfer from outside the United States, as golfers from countries like South Korea, Ireland, England, and Australia have had a lot of success even in winning the top U.S. championships like the U.S. Open. McIlroy won that event for Northern Ireland, as did McDowell for the same country the previous year.

Additionally, the U.S. has been inconsistent in the Ryder Cup, another international competition that pits the world’s top golfers against each other. Europe won the most recent Ryder Cup, and has won four of the last five.

The good news, however, is that while the United States has lost some ground to international players in the field of play, there has not been an overt loss of sportsmanship between players of different countries. Many of the top golfers today are considered well-behaved sportsman who respect the competitions between the countries.

The role of tradition and etiquette

One reason that these golf events have such a tremendous impact on a country’s golf standing is that each event has a long tradition of both relevance and sportsmanship. For example, the biennial Ryder Cup doesn’t happen every year; and when it does, golfers are expected not only to represent their respective countries with outstanding play, but with proper sportsmanship and etiquette as well. A country’s reputation as a beacon in the golf world is not only dependent on the quality of its players, but the quality of those players’ character and integrity on the green. Here at Ediquete LLC, we believe passionately in the importance of equality, fairness and courtesy for the betterment of the game – and we salute the victors of the World Cup for their exemplary performance in both skill and sportsmanship alike.

Riverwalk Golf Course, San Diego\Source: San Diego Golf

Picture, for a moment, the sweeping vista of the golf course during the first round of the day: the green is pristine, the bunkers are perfectly raked and everything is in top condition. Next, imagine watching a golfer as he takes a bunker shot – and immediately litters sand across the putting surface. Without fail, this golfer will proceed to rake the bunker after his shot, smoothing out the sand to create an aesthetically pleasing and playable surface for the next player.

But what about the sand on the putting green?

Chances are, that golfer – and many others like him – will simply abandon sand displaced by bunker shots and footprints, leaving the green in an inferior condition and detracting from playability and aesthetics in the process. It was this realization that inspired avid golfer Eben Dobson to create a solution for sand on the putting surface – and in turn, to perpetuate a new generation of etiquette for the betterment of the game.

The WISP

Sand on the putting surface has hindered golf for decades; and now, Dobson’s utterly original WISP golf tool poses a simple, universal solution created for players and superintendents alike. Designed to allow everyday players to wisp displaced sand past the canopy and into the putting surface after each bunker shot, the tool stands poised to join the bunker rake as a golf course staple – and to help each and every golfer leave the green in better condition for those who follow.

With the WISP tool, golf has gained a solution not just for sand on the putting surface, but also for improved fairness and equality on the course. To learn more, contact us today  – or visit our website to see how the WISP is designed to serve golfers and superintendents alike.