“Winter guidelines” are lined by Mannequin Native Rule E-3.
getty photos
This content material was first printed in Golf Journal, a quarterly print publication solely for USGA Members. To be among the many first to obtain Golf Journal and to be taught how one can guarantee a robust future for the sport, grow to be a USGA Member at this time.
***
Winter is upon us, which suggests many programs throughout the nation cope with difficult situations created by colder climate. Golfers are a hearty bunch, however your native course will seemingly not be in midseason form. When these situations would possibly intervene with honest lies, many services will play what are generally known as “winter guidelines,” that are identified within the Guidelines of Golf as Most popular Lies. That is lined by Mannequin Native Rule E-3.
So, how does it work?
Winter guidelines enable a participant to elevate their ball within the fairway and place it on a unique spot. The committee in cost or golf course ought to set the dimensions of the reduction space that the ball must be positioned in (equivalent to 6 inches, a scorecard size or perhaps a club-length). This distance makes use of the unique location of the ball because the reference level, and the ball can’t be positioned any nearer the outlet than that time. As soon as lifted, the ball may be cleaned and even changed with a unique ball. If this course of have been to permit the participant to go from fairway to fringe, and even from fairway to tough, that’s OK as effectively.
Winter guidelines ought to usually be used solely within the fairway of the outlet being performed. If they’re prolonged to areas exterior of the green, it might lead to a participant unfairly getting free reduction from a spot the place the ball would possibly in any other case not have been playable, equivalent to in a bush or group of bushes.
As soon as the participant locations the ball utilizing the process above, it can’t be lifted once more and have to be performed because it lies.
Using winter guidelines is a good way to increase the season and revel in the advantages of golf so long as the climate permits.
Todd Stice is the USGA supervisor of Guidelines know-how and training.
