Handicap & Competitions Newsletter
Course & CompetitionUpdate
Dear Member,
Please find the latest course and competition information from the Handicap and Competitions Committee.
**Winter Rules **
There has been some confusion regarding the local winter rules which are currently in force. To avoid confusion and for clarification, the current local rules which are currently in play are as follows:
The using of fairway mats:
** Local Rule**
“When a player’s ball lies in a part of the general area cut to fairway height or less, and a putter is not being used for the stroke, the player MUST take free relief by lifting the original ball and placing the original ball or another ball on an artificial mat and playing it from there.”
Procedure:
– The mat must be placed on top of the spot where the ball came to rest.
– If the ball, when placed, rolls off the mat, the player must try to place it a second time.
– If the ball again does not stay on the mat, move the mat to the nearest spot, not nearer the hole, where the ball will come to rest when placed.
– If the ball on the mat is accidentally moved before a stroke is made, there is no penalty, and the ball must be replaced on the mat.
– If a tee is used to secure the mat, the ball must not be placed on the tee.
When the player is 10 yards or less from the putting green of the hole in play, the player may play the ball from the grassed surface without the use of a mat as detailed above.
Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong Place: General Penalty under Rule 14.7a.
Penalty for not using a fairway mat as required above: Disqualification.
Preferred Lies & Bunkers
When a ball lies anywhere within the general area which IS NOT cut to fairway height or less (The Rough), the ball may be lifted, cleaned and replaced no more than six inches from where it originally lay without penalty.
The player must mark the original position of the ball before lifting it and the area of relief must remain in the general area and must not be nearer to the hole than where it originally lay.
The General Area refers to any area of the course that is not a hazard and is not a putting green.
Penalty for using an artificial mat in an area not cut to fairway height or less (The Rough): Disqualification
When a ball lies in a bunker, the ball may be lifted, the bunker raked, and the ball replaced no nearer the hole and no more than six inches from where it originally lay.
Men’s Tuesday Competitions
Due to the large drop in numbers entering the Tuesday Competitions, the Committee have decided that these competitions will no longer be divisional. Instead, prizes will be paid for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places net and for the best gross score. The amount of the prizes awarded will depend on the number of entrants in each competition and we will endeavour to pay out all monies received in entry fees for the competition in question. To further try and balance the competition between all handicaps, a course playing allowance of 75% will replace the current 95%. This will remain under review for the trial period which will run until the end of December.
All Men's Tuesday competitions during the winter period will finish on the 10th hole. If one or more holes are closed on any given competition day, the number of holes open will dictate the number of holes for that particular competition.
Slow Play
Whilst we understand that it takes extra time when using mats and implementing preferred lies, please make every attempt to keep the course moving. Where possible, please play your ball before walking across the fairway to help a playing partner look for theirs. If you are losing ground on the group in front, please call following groups through as is appropriate.
If you have any questions or queries, please contact us at: handicapandcomp@leeparkgolfclub.co.uk
Best wishes
Paul Graff (Chairman)
Handicap & Competitions Committee
Please find the latest course and competition information from the Handicap and Competitions Committee.
**Winter Rules **
There has been some confusion regarding the local winter rules which are currently in force. To avoid confusion and for clarification, the current local rules which are currently in play are as follows:
The using of fairway mats:
** Local Rule**
“When a player’s ball lies in a part of the general area cut to fairway height or less, and a putter is not being used for the stroke, the player MUST take free relief by lifting the original ball and placing the original ball or another ball on an artificial mat and playing it from there.”
Procedure:
– The mat must be placed on top of the spot where the ball came to rest.
– If the ball, when placed, rolls off the mat, the player must try to place it a second time.
– If the ball again does not stay on the mat, move the mat to the nearest spot, not nearer the hole, where the ball will come to rest when placed.
– If the ball on the mat is accidentally moved before a stroke is made, there is no penalty, and the ball must be replaced on the mat.
– If a tee is used to secure the mat, the ball must not be placed on the tee.
When the player is 10 yards or less from the putting green of the hole in play, the player may play the ball from the grassed surface without the use of a mat as detailed above.
Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong Place: General Penalty under Rule 14.7a.
Penalty for not using a fairway mat as required above: Disqualification.
Preferred Lies & Bunkers
When a ball lies anywhere within the general area which IS NOT cut to fairway height or less (The Rough), the ball may be lifted, cleaned and replaced no more than six inches from where it originally lay without penalty.
The player must mark the original position of the ball before lifting it and the area of relief must remain in the general area and must not be nearer to the hole than where it originally lay.
The General Area refers to any area of the course that is not a hazard and is not a putting green.
Penalty for using an artificial mat in an area not cut to fairway height or less (The Rough): Disqualification
When a ball lies in a bunker, the ball may be lifted, the bunker raked, and the ball replaced no nearer the hole and no more than six inches from where it originally lay.
Men’s Tuesday Competitions
Due to the large drop in numbers entering the Tuesday Competitions, the Committee have decided that these competitions will no longer be divisional. Instead, prizes will be paid for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places net and for the best gross score. The amount of the prizes awarded will depend on the number of entrants in each competition and we will endeavour to pay out all monies received in entry fees for the competition in question. To further try and balance the competition between all handicaps, a course playing allowance of 75% will replace the current 95%. This will remain under review for the trial period which will run until the end of December.
All Men's Tuesday competitions during the winter period will finish on the 10th hole. If one or more holes are closed on any given competition day, the number of holes open will dictate the number of holes for that particular competition.
Slow Play
Whilst we understand that it takes extra time when using mats and implementing preferred lies, please make every attempt to keep the course moving. Where possible, please play your ball before walking across the fairway to help a playing partner look for theirs. If you are losing ground on the group in front, please call following groups through as is appropriate.
If you have any questions or queries, please contact us at: handicapandcomp@leeparkgolfclub.co.uk
Best wishes
Paul Graff (Chairman)
Handicap & Competitions Committee