I recent discovered the USGA has made a significant change in the rules. It is clearly stated "drop zones should not be located on the green side of a penalty area". When we went to our AGA we were told "the rules say "you should not" put the drop zone on the green side of a penalty area BUT "we don't say you can't". "Well within the rules, no handicap adjustment necessary". We even have a tee (course) for those who can't carry the penalty area (water), but those less skilled golfers have been given the go ahead by our AGA and the USGA to change the way the hole plays.
Higher handicap golfers who would play the easier course, which takes the water out of play, now can play a longer, more difficult course as there is no down side. Only an upside, they get more strokes.
This seems like bifurcation to me. I don't believe the USGA or my AGA would ever run an event placing drop zones on the green side of a penalty area.
Are you aware of the change?