Golf

As of Jan. 1, a golfer falling down in a bunker may ground his club to avoid falling down without suffering a penalty. But he won’t be allowed to smooth out spike marks around the hole anymore.

Those changes are among new rules adopted by the U.S. Golf Assn. and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews.

Penalties for grounding a club in a hazard were removed, as long as the golfer isn’t testing the hazard or improving the lie of the ball. Also, the rules will define the line of play or the line of putt, resulting in a prohibition on tapping down spike marks around the hole. Repairing ball marks is permitted.