The New Rules of Golf are designed to make the game simpler for every golfer, but if ignored can become costly. Below is some helpful material that will keep unnecessary penalty strokes off your scorecard.
Rules You Must Know to Avoid Penalty
Dropping a Ball
Under the 2019 Rules of Golf, when required to drop a ball you must drop from knee height.
- Club-length - the longest club in the player's bag excluding their putter(s).
Helping with Alignment
You are no longer allowed to receive assistance from your partner or caddie in lining up your next stroke while taking a stance.
Time of Search
One of the main initiatives of the New Rules of Golf is to help speed up play. The reduction of search time from 5 minutes to 3 minutes will surely help do just that.
Rules that May Save You Strokes
"The Eraser Rule"
This rule allows you to correct most mistake made while putting a ball back into play "free of charge" provided it is done before making the stroke.
- Accidentally drop from shoulder height? You can correct this mistake under Rule 14.5 by simply re-dropping the ball from knee height. No penalty.
- Drop in the wrong place? You can correct it before making the stroke.
Accidental Movement of Ball on Putting Green or While Searching
Any accidental movement of a ball in play on the putting green or while searching will not result in a penalty as long as the original ball is replaced.
Removal of Loose Impediments
You may now move loose impediments ANYWHERE on or off the golf course provided your ball doesn't move.
Putting Greens & Flagsticks
New relaxed rules that include being able to hole out with the flagstick in the hole, repairing most damage, and also when a ball is holed (see pic).
Embedded Ball
You are now allowed to take relief from an embedded ball in the general area without a Local Rule being in place. You are also now allowed a one club-length relief area for an embedded ball. 
Double-Hit
That pesky double-hit will no longer be a penalty provided it was accidental. A double-hit will only count as one stroke, with no additional penalty stroke(s).
Unplayable Ball in Bunkers
The new Rules give you an extra option for taking relief from an unplayable ball in a bunker. That is right, for two total penalty strokes you can now take relief outside the bunker back-on-the-line with the flagstick.
Other Important Rules & Changes
Areas of the Course
There are now four specific areas of the course to go along with the general area. Determining which part of the course your ball lies can make a big difference in certain situations.
Penalty Areas
"Hazards" are now be called penalty areas. Not only does this sound different, but will also look different with certain relief options.
Abnormal Course Conditions
Quite a few definitions to the Rules of Golf are now lumped under this umbrella (ground under repair, temporary water, immovable obstructions, etc.)
The Teeing Area
The definition itself has not changed, but there are some unique differences to this area.
Equipment
You may now play with a club that has been damaged during your round; however, that club can only be replaced if it falls under one rare exception.
Wrong Ball vs. Wrong Place
Playing an incorrect ball, or your ball from the incorrect place, can be costly, and knowing the difference between the two is very important.
Conditions Affecting the Stroke
Play the course as you and find it and play the ball as it lies. This section explains the reasonable actions you may take along with the actions you cannot take regarding these conditions.
Other Forms of Stroke Play & Match Play
Four-Ball, Foursomes, Stableford, Maximum Score, and more. How the rules are applied can be slightly different depending on the form of competition.
