When our golf courses open in Spring, we sometimes face special situations and these are the particular rules that can be in effect.
PREFERRED LIES
Some of you play preferred lies all the time and everywhere on the golf course. This article is only for the players that want to play by the Rules.
area:
The Committee must determine the area where the preferred lie will be in effect.
-1 on closely-mown area (this includes the fringes around greens)
-2 through the green (everywhere on the course except hazards), this includes the forest, bushes and the woods
-3 the Committee may decide 1 or 2 could be made available only on certain holes (example # 5 only)
The Committee may not say it is preferred lie through the green inside the tree lines…
how to proceed:
The ball must be marked before it is picked up and placed at the proper area. The Committee must also determine the distance allowed from the original position (club length, score card length, etc)
The ball must not be placed with the head of the club. I know it is better for Pace of Play but not permitted by the Rules.
BUNKER FULL OF WATER, SNOW OR UNDER REPAIR
By local rules, the Committee may declare a specific bunker as ground under Repair. A player may take relief outside the bunker without penalty.
If the Committee did not put that local rule in effect, the player could play the ball outside the bunker but with a 1 stroke penalty.
HOLE UNPLAYABLE
A competition can be played with less than 18 holes.
For handicap purposes, the missing hole or holes should have a score define by the players handicap
TEMPORARY GREEN
For fun or for wagers, (not in a tournament) the Committee may determine the specific rules around the temporary hole: as an example the ball is holed if it is less than 2 club length or 2 putts if the ball in a define circle, etc.
For your handicap, the hole has a define score depending on your handicap and the handicap number on the score card, you may not count the actual score on the hole.