TEMPORARY LOCAL RULES

(i)  Winter Rules

A ball lying on a closely-mown area through the green may be lifted without penalty and cleaned. Before lifting the ball, the player must mark its position. Having lifted the ball, he must place it on a spot within six inches of and not nearer the hole than where it originally lay, that is not in a hazard and not on a putting green.

A player may place his ball only once, and it is in play when it has been placed (Rule 20-4). If the ball fails to come to rest on the spot on which it is placed, Rule 20-3d applies. If the ball when placed comes to rest on the spot on which it is placed and it subsequently moves, there is no penalty and the ball must be played as it lies, unless the provisions of any other Rule apply.

Penalty for breach of Local Rule

Match play – loss of hole;

Stroke play – Two strokes.

If the player fails to mark the position of the ball before lifting it or moves the ball in any other manner, such as rolling it with the club, he incurs a penalty of one stroke.

N.B.

The main slope of the 13th hole on the Old Course and the slope between the green and the 150 yard marker on the 17th hole on the Old Course are technically fairway; the grass is allowed to grow on the slope beyond normal fairway height to help prevent the ball rolling backwards/sideways. Whilst winter rules are in force, lies may be preferred at these holes in accordance with the conditions above.

(ii)  Embedded Ball

A ball embedded in its own pitch mark in the ground in an area “through the green” which is not “closely mown” may be lifted, cleaned and dropped, without penalty, as near as possible to the spot where it lay but not nearer the hole.

(iii) Aeration Holes

If the ball comes to rest in an aeration hole on the putting green it may be placed at the nearest spot not nearer the hole which avoids such situation.