Winter Rules

Notices will be displayed in the Spike Bar and/or on the web site when Winter Rules come into force, usually between the 1^st November and 30^th April.

USE OF FAIRWAY MATS (MLR E-12)

In order to protect the course, the USE OF FAIRWAY MATS may be in operation, affecting both SOCIAL and COMPETITION golf. Notices will be displayed in the Spike Bar and/or on the web site when this Local Rule is in force, and will state whether the use of mats is mandatory or optional.  

1. When the use of mats is deemed mandatory :-

• A ball which comes to rest on any fairway or closely-mown area (not rough) in the General Area MUST, without penalty, be lifted, optionally cleaned, and placed on an appropriate mat within six inches of the original position of the ball not nearer the hole.
• The Preferred Lies Rule (see below) does not apply.
• ALL Visitors and Societies as well as Members must comply.

2. When the use of mats is deemed optional :-

• A ball which comes to rest on any fairway or closely mown area (not rough) in the General Area MAY, without penalty, be lifted, optionally cleaned, and placed on an appropriate mat within six inches of the original position of the ball not nearer the hole.
• The Preferred Lies Rule (see below) applies.

3. When the use of mats is deemed either mandatory or optional :-

• If a ball, when placed, rolls from the mat, it may be replaced without penalty. If it still fails to remain on the mat, the mat shall be moved to the nearest point, not nearer the hole, where the ball will remain at rest.
• There will be no penalty should the ball move or be moved after being placed on the mat and before playing a stroke, including when addressing the ball or taking a practice swing.
• When playing from any Tee mats MUST be used when using an iron club - either those provided by the Club (which should not be removed) or those purchased from the Pro's Shop at a small one-off cost.
• For SOCIAL (not competition) golf, provided all members of the group agree:-
  • Mats may be used in the rough
  • As an alternative to using a mat, a ball which comes to rest on any fairway or closely mown area, can be moved well away from the fairway to the closest area of rough (preferably the 2^nd cut), dropped not nearer the hole, and played as it lies without a mat.  

PREFERRED LIES: (MLR E-3)

NOTE: When in force this rule applies to both SOCIAL and COMPETITION golf

• A ball lying on a closely mown area (including Par 3 holes) may be lifted, cleaned and placed within 6 inches of its original position, no nearer the hole, without penalty. Once a ball has been so placed it is deemed to be in play.

TEMPORARY GREENS

• When a Temporary Green, is deemed to be in use on a hole, the Green proper is deemed to be a wrong Green (Rule 13.1f).
  A ball landing on the Green proper MUST NOT be played and appropriate relief MUST be taken.
• When not in play, Temporary Greens are deemed to be wrong greens, with relief procedures as designated above.

The R&A Rules of Golf can be found on their website or via the R&A mobile app.

DEFINITIONS which form the foundation around which the Rules of Golf are written can also be found on the R&A website

Competition and Handicap Committee

1^st November 2023