Winter Golf

Our Winter Playing Conditions:

The following playing conditions will come into effect as as and when our Greenkeeper deems it necessary to protect the course each winter. They subsist until the Greenkeeper thinks it is safe to lift them.

These conditions are also copied to the notice boards by the back door and will be reinforced by increased signage on the course in coming days. All and visitors and members should abide by these rules in order to protect the course. The rate grass growth significantly slows in winter so any divots that are made will not recover until the spring.

• Only play to the green which is designated by the flag.
• All players should tee off from the marked teeing areas. Where there is a winter mat in place all players should play from this, not the surrounding grass
• There should be no play from the grass on the fairway. If a ball comes to rest on the fairway the player has two options:
• Move the ball to the NEAREST point in the rough which is no nearer the hole (this may be behind you in certain parts of the course) where the ball may be placed.
• Use a mat and play the shot from the point where the ball came to rest.
• An exception to this applies where the player intends to hit a shot which will, reasonably, not take a divot – such as a putt or a ‘bump and run’ type shot around the green. These may be played from the fairway with preferred lies in play.
• In club competition a player must use a mat or move the ball to the side for the duration of the round. They may not switch between one method and the other.
• Preferred lies, or the use of mats are permitted in ‘managed rough’. This is the rough which surrounds the fairway and would expected to be maintained throughout the summer. Preferred lies must be taken within 6 inches of the spot where the ball lies and be no nearer the hole.
• Balls coming to rest in the rest of the course (i.e. the long rough in areas such as the right hand side of the 1st green, 2nd fairway, left of the 4th fairway, behind the 5th green, right of the 6th hole, left of the approach to the 8th green etc) must be played as they lie.
• All Bunkers are considered Ground Under Repair (this is to facilitate work on some bunkers through the winter). If a ball comes to rest in a bunker a player must lift the ball and drop it at the point which means the point where the ball came to rest in the bunker lies between the ball and the hole.
• If a winter green is in use, a player MAY NOT putt off of the main green should their ball come to rest on it. This is considered a ‘Wrong Green’ under the rules of golf and the ball must be lifted off to the nearest point of relief, no nearer the hole.
• A ball on the 7th Fairway or behind or left of the 5th green that cannot be found and is agreed to be in play can be replaced with no penalty only if ALL players in the group agree it is in play. If there is ANY doubt, the ball should be considered lost.e off from the designated teeing area and use the fairway mats provided where applicable.
• Do NOT play from the fairway. If your ball lands on the fairway you have two options

1. Use a mat and play from the spot where your ball finished.
2. Move your ball to the intermediate rough (denoted by two bands of cut grass around the fairway) on the side of the fairway nearest your ball and place your ball on the grass no nearer the hole than where the ball came to rest. Play from here and replace all divots.

• In competitions a player must use one of these options for the entire round. They cannot switch between options on different holes. (i.e., if you use a mat on the 1st hole you must use it for the entire round).
• The ball must be played as it lies throughout the remainder of the course. The use of mats is not permitted except on the fairways and there are no preferred lies in the rough.
• Bunkers remain in play, unless designated as GUR by the greenkeeper, sustain weather damage due to running water, become flooded or are frozen. The player may then lift the ball out of the bunker and drop it at the point outside of the bunker which leaves the point where the ball came to rest between the drop point and the hole. Players should rake the bunker after use.
• There will be a drop zone on either side of the 7th fairway. You may use this, without penalty, if you (and you playing partners) agree that the ball is likely to be in play but you cannot find it.

Please follow these playing conditions in order to ensure we have the course in the best possible condition for the start of next season.

Thank you, on behalf of The Management Committee