Winter Rules

It’s important to make sure that you place your ball back in its original position if you need to lift it.  This is particularly important on the putting green which is where we all lift the ball most often and where it is easy to make the mistake of putting it back slightly nearer the hole. 

The rules of golf are quite clear that the ball must be replaced “back on the spot from which it was lifted” and if not, then either a 2-shot penalty or loss of the hole will result if the ball is played from the wrong place.

GENERAL POINTS ABOUT LIFTING AND REPLACING YOUR BALL

·           You must mark the position of your ball before you lift it.

·           The position should be marked by placing a ball marker, small coin or similar object immediately behind the ball.  If the marker interferes with the play, stance or stroke of another player it should be placed one or more clubhead-lengths to the side.

·           If the ball or marker is accidentally moved in the process of placing or replacing the ball, the ball or ball-marker must be replaced. There is no penalty, provided the movement is a direct result of placing or replacing the ball or removing the ball-marker.  Otherwise, the player incurs a penalty of one stroke.

·           If the ball is not placed back on the spot from which it was lifted or moved and the error is not corrected, the player loses the hole in match play or is penalised two strokes in stroke play.

·           The ball must be replaced by either the person who lifted/moved it, or the player or the player’s partner.

·           You can clean your ball if you lift it on the putting green or anywhere else unless you have lifted it to identify it, determine if it is unfit for play or because it is interfering/assisting with play of another person.

·           If you do clean your ball during play of a hole in breach of the rules you will incur a penalty of one stroke and the ball, if lifted, must be replaced.

 

 

WINTER RULES

The rules of golf say that the Committee can grant relief by making a temporary Local Rule either to protect the course or to promote fair and pleasant play. The Local Rule for “Preferred Lies” and “Winter Rules” should be withdrawn as soon as the conditions improve sufficiently.

 

Our local rule is that if your ball is on the fairway, you may mark, lift and clean the ball without penalty and should then place it within 6” of where it originally lay in any direction but not nearer the hole but not in a hazard or on a putting green.  You must mark it before lifting it and can only place it once. If you don’t mark it before lifting it, or if you move it in any other way (by rolling it with your club for example) you will incur a one-shot penalty.  If the ball moves after it has been placed, there is no penalty but it must be played as it lies.

 

An embedded ball (ie one where more than half the ball is embedded in its own pitch mark) may be lifted, cleaned and dropped “through the green” ie on the fairway or in the rough but not in a hazard.

 

and finally ……..

If you think there might be an infringement of the rules but aren’t certain of how to proceed, then in a medal or stableford competition, you can play a second ball, record both scores and take advice once you are back in the clubhouse.   It’s important that you are happy with the score of the player’s card that you are marking before you sign it.