WinterRules

[Smully]

Wondering bout winter rules,Is it legal to move ball from rough to fringe, or fringe to green, under lenght of club rule.

[landlord]

Since there is no such thing as "winter rules" as far as I know, it's between you and your playing partners.

[nearace]

One of the basic principles of golf is that the ball be played as it lies. Preferred Lies (often referred to as Winter Rules) are common in Canada in early spring, late fall and throughout the winter in those parts of the country where winter golf is played, and should only be used when playing golf by the Rules would be unfair or the rule is necessary to protect the course from excessive damage. Winter Rules are commonly implemented for too long a period or when conditions do not warrant such a rule. Implementing Winter Rules when conditions do not warrant has the effect of artificially lowering players’ handicaps because it allows players to create a “perfect” lie for every stroke. This puts them at a disadvantage when playing at a course where no such rule is in effect.

Suggested wording:

“If a player’s ball lies on a closely-mown area through the green [or specify a more restricted area, e.g., at the 6th hole or of the hole being played] the player may mark, lift and clean his ball without penalty. Before lifting, he must mark the position of the ball. The player must then place the ball on a spot within [specify area, e.g., six inches, one club-length, etc.] of and not nearer the hole than where it originally lay, that is not in a hazard or on a putting green.

[cdnputter]

Play the ball down, no fluffing it or moving it unless the course you're at is telling you that "Lift, Clean and Replace" is allowed on that day.