Winter Rules You Need to Know at Your Golf Club

It's that time of the year when things might be starting to change at your golf club. The nights are drawing in, the temperatures are falling, the dark hand of winter is approaching, and the peak of the golf season will soon become a distant memory.

However, winter golf can have its pluses, as you can stay active throughout the year and keep your game ticking over, but golf courses have to equip themselves for the conditions - and the rules give them that power.

There are changes in 2024 - at least with regards to when they can be implemented. England Golf has revealed that the Winter Checklist is being replaced by what is now called the Adverse/Extreme Weather Reference Guide, meaning that it doesn't just apply during winter, but throughout the whole year.

Back in March, due to months of significant rainfall, we saw the Winter Checklist extended to the end of May, which meant that preferred lies were a factor in England until well into the main season.

Reacting to inclement weather becoming more of a factor in all seasons, this new document has been introduced to support clubs and to ensure they continue to submit applicable scores to be eligible for handicapping.

Golf clubs can now deploy Model Local Rules throughout the whole year, but crucially, only when it is absolutely necessary. And any Model Local Rule that has been used must be removed as soon as possible.

We've taken a look at the latest guidance from England Golf - and here are the key points to consider.

Cleaning Ball

Lift, clean and place is a parlance that you see in the United States, and it applies on this side of the Atlantic, too, but the rules recommend that this is limited to specific areas where extreme conditions make playing the game difficult or unfair under the Rules of Golf, such as cracks in the fairways or damage from heavy rain.

Scores are still accepted by the World Handicap System under these conditions.

Preferred Lies

Prefered lies is something that you hear a lot about throughout winter, and you will come to accept it during your rounds, but for this to be acceptable for handicapping, the Local Rule can only apply to grass cut to fairway height or less, with the new placement having to be within six inches of the original lie of the ball.

Compulsory Use of Fairway Mats

Many golf courses introduce the compulsory use of fairway mats during the winter season to help maintain the playing surfaces, which is just something that golfers have to embrace, and scores can be submitted for handicapping purposes in Competitions and General Play with this rule in place.

Bunker Filled With Temporary Water

Whether a bunker has been flooded or is otherwise undergoing maintenance, when they are individually marked as ground under repair and offer relief, scores are still accepted for handicap purposes. There is no limit on the number of bunkers that can be treated as ground under repair for scores to be eligible for your Handicap Index.

Temporary Greens

Should you play an 18-hole golf course, no more than two temporary greens are allowed to be used for your score to be eligible for your Handicap Index. For a 9-hole course, only one temporary green will be allowed. But when the length of the course has increased or decreased by more than 100 yards for an 18-hole round or 50 yards for a 9-hole round, adjustments to the Course Rating and Slope Rating must be applied.

Closed Holes

Due to conditions or planned works, you may find that some holes are closed and declared out of play during winter. Should the requirement for a maximum of two temporary greens be met, then the scores you submit are still applicable for your handicap.

Embedded Balls

It's also worth noting the rule on embedded golf balls, as you are allowed relief from anywhere in the general area, which applies to fairways and rough, but not bunkers, hazards, or the green. Should your ball plug - which can happen on softer ground - then you are entitled to free relief.

These rules can now apply for the entirety of the calendar - not just the winter - but unless we have a repeat of the dire wet conditions of last year, it's likely that your golf club will have lifted them by the time springtime comes around. 

But now you know the essential winter rules - and just how it can impact your Handicap Index.

Ultimately, if you are expecting to get out on the course throughout winter, as always on Golfshake, we want you to Play More & Play Better!

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