Rules that let golf clubs decide for themselves when to bring in preferred lies have been changed by England Golf.
In an updated Adverse/Extreme Weather Reference Guide, the governing body brought back the traditional ‘winter’ window for the Local Rule – just a year after allowing clubs to apply it as conditions needed.
Now they can once again only use the measure between October 1 and April 30 before “county permission is required”. That also applies to Local Rules on cleaning balls and the compulsory use of fairway mats.
England Golf said the decision had been taken following feedback from counties, with the aim to “ensure clubs are using the rules correctly”.
Last year, NCG reported how the annual winter checklist had been replaced with new advice because bad weather was becoming more frequent during the year.
The biggest change was allowing clubs to use preferred lies – also known as Model Local Rule E-3 – at any point and still submit scores for handicaps.
England Golf guidance stated: “Preferred Lies no longer has a defined period for use, and a club may, if conditions require it, utilise this Model Local Rule throughout the year.”
Explaining the decision, James Luke, then England Golf’s head of handicapping, said: “It is up to golf clubs who know their courses inside and out and understand when they require support to keep them in the condition they need to be in to be acceptable for handicap purposes.”
