When The Royal & Ancient and U.S. Golf Association got together to launch a preview of proposed new Rules of Golf this March, the most memorable words came at the end of the initial sentence.

There, in a press release from two organizations responsible for a Rules book containing hundreds of rules and sub-rules, and a 500-plus page Decisions book covering 1,200 more “hidden rules,” was the phrase “easier to understand and apply.”

Some are calling the proposed new rules of golf the most radical changes since the inaugural rule book in 1744. Not because the changes are dramatic, but because the focus is to “be more intuitive and straightforward.”

It took nearly 300 years, but here it is.

The R&A and USGA, which govern the sport around the world, call it “part of a joint initiative to modernize the Rules” and make them more understandable.

Which is understandable, after both 2016 U.S. Opens were blighted by manini rules blunders. This year’s first LPGA major was decided by someone watching TV, a controversial result that actually inspired a rules change the same month that now limits video evidence.

“The language is very basic and contained so that you don’t need to search all over the book to find the right ruling,” Hawaii State Golf Association Rules Chair Gary Haynie says of the proposed changes. “If there are multiple rules in question, you’ll find the right answer from any of them.

“I believe almost all players will find it much easier to have a basic understanding of the rules and therefore, play by the rules.”

The rules preview is explained in detail at USGA.org/rules. The section includes pictures, graphics, video and a request for feedback over the six-month evaluation period, which ends Aug. 31. The rules will be finalized next year and go into effect Jan. 1, 2019.

There are 24 new rules, reduced from the current 34. The USGA and R&A describe them as “written in a user-friendly style with shorter sentences, commonly used phrases, bulleted lists and explanatory headings,” to say nothing of “delivered in more than 30 languages.”

David Rickman, R&A’s executive director-governance, emphasized the “intuitive and straightforward” focus in the initial press release and added, “We believe we have identified many significant improvements. It is important that the Rules continue to evolve and remain in tune with the way the modern game is played, but we have been careful not to change the game’s longstanding principles and character.”

The groups’ “highlights” of their changes include “elimination or reduction of ‘ball moved’ penalties,” covering Dustin Johnson’s problem with accidentally moving his ball on the green at last year’s U.S. Open. It also relates to moving a ball while searching for it.

Players now will be allowed to putt with an unattended flagstick in the hole, and repair damage made by shoes and animals. There will be “relaxed” rules for “penalty areas” (now “water hazards”) and bunkers. That covers Anna Nordqvist’s two-shot penalty for touching a grain of sand during her backswing in last year’s U.S. Women’s Open playoff.

The time-consuming and often complicated act of “taking relief” will be simplified, including possibly being able to simply drop an inch above the ground.

According to Haynie, the changes place a “heavy emphasis” on pace of play and “player integrity.” Estimating distance, line and points for drops are simplified and “announcement procedures” eliminated. “Ready golf” is encouraged and search time for lost balls cut from five minutes to three.

Haynie hopes average rounds can ultimately be less than four hours, instead of 41⁄2 to five as it is now.

“The time and expense incurred in playing golf has been a major concern for some time,” he says. “It just took a while for all the governing bodies to come together on the language and organization of the rules.

“It was one of those ‘the sooner the better’ and this was as soon as it could be. I would also say that this was a massive undertaking by them and they did, and are doing, a great job of getting the information out.”

He is pretty sure it will make his thankless job easier.

“Much easier, I would think,” Haynie says. “Just as it will be easier for golfers in general to understand the rules, it will be easier to explain our rulings to them.”

Or, as pro Adam Scott told USA Today in encouraging the changes: “It all just seemed to get away from the simple game that it once started out to be.”

USGA Proposed Rules by Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Scribd