Linda,
My club has been using winter rules for the last few months – placing everywhere. This weekend, with weather improving, they changed to preferred lies. Lift, clean and place on the fairway, and if mud on ball in rough lift, clean and replace, otherwise play as it lies. I cannot find any reference to winter rules or preferred lies in the new rules. I know there is no longer an area known as rough or fairway – both of these are now the general area. Is the option of winter rules or preferred lies gone or is this still allowed under local rules?
Lou from Ireland
Dear Lou,
These Local Rules are still with us. They have been moved out of the rulebook and into the Official Guide to the Rules of Golf. Local Rule E-2, which permits the player to lift, clean, and replace, and Local Rule E-3, which permits "preferred lies" (also known as "winter rules"), appear on pages 465-467 in my edition.
If you do not own the Official Guide, you may access it online via the USGA or R&A website. The Model Local Rules appear in the back of the book under Committee Procedures, Part IV, Section 8.
Linda
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