The USGA and R&A released proposed changes to the rules of golf on Wednesday. Golf’s two governing bodies dropped a set of 30 changes that would theoretically go into effect for the PGA Tour in January 2019. 

Most seem to take aim at making the game less complicated for amateurs and pros. According to Ryan Lavner of Golf Channel, if all these rules go into effect, the rule book would be reduced from 34 rules to 24. This is a good thing. 

Here are the five most interesting proposals.

• No penalty if a player accidentally moves his or her ball or ball-marker on the putting green. Current rule is a one-stroke penalty.

This is the Dustin Johnson Rule from the 2016 U.S. Open. Remember that controversy? Nobody knew if Johnson’s putter caused his ball to roll backwards. He claims it did not. The USGA said it did. The crux was that it had to be “more likely than not,” or 51 percent certain, which is a crazy way to crown golf major winners.

Under the new rules, Johnson would not be held responsible unless it was intentional “or virtually certain” that it was intentional “[meaning at least 95 percent] to be the case.”

• Players may now drop golf balls from different heights instead of shoulder-height. 

Here is the USGA and R&A: “The only requirement is for the player to hold the ball above the ground without it touching any growing thing or other natural or artificial object, and let it go so that it falls through the air before coming to rest; to avoid any doubt, it is recommended that the ball be dropped from at least one inch above the ground or any growing thing or object.”

More good news! Drops will take less time and be less complicated.

• A ball is lost if not found in three minutes. The rule is currently five minutes. 

You’re rolling, USGA! You’re on fire!

• A caddie is not allowed to stand on a line behind a player while the player is taking his or her stance and until stroke is made.

I can go either way on this one, but anything that helps speed up play is a good thing in my mind. This will help.

• A player may repair almost any damage (including spike marks and animal damage but not including natural imperfections) on the putting green. 

This will limit the #TourSauce sprayed at events, but it is a good change.

“Our aim is to make the rules easier to follow and to apply for all golfers,” said David Rickman, executive director of governance for the R&A, in a press release. “We have looked at every rule to try to find ways of making them more intuitive and straightforward, and 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.”

Meanwhile, a few golfers (including Tiger Woods) weighed in on the changes.

You can see the full list of proposed rule changes here.