Preferred Lies and Winter Rules

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Dear Member,

Please see below the following updates regarding Preferred Lies and Medal competitions.

“Preferred Lies” and “Winter Rules”

From Wednesday 2nd of October 2024 the following temporary local rule will be effective:-

“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, they 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 their 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.

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 a club, they incur a penalty of one stroke.

Note: “Closely-mown area” means any area of the course, including paths through the rough, cut to fairway height or less.

*PENALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULE:

Match play – Loss of hole; Stroke play – Two strokes.

*If a player incurs the general penalty for a breach of this Local Rule, no additional penalty under the Local Rule is applied.”

Medal Competitions

With immediate effect, all future medal competitions will have both a net and a gross prize. This gives more people a chance of winning. The medal title will go to the net winner as it is a handicapped competition.

Each player will only be able to win one prize. Should one person be eligible for both awards, they will be awarded the net prize.

Kind regards, 

Chilworth Members Golf Club