CLARIFICATION NOTICE - CORRECT PLACEMENT AND USE OF MATS IN WINTER COMPETITIONS

The Rules state quite clearly that the mat must be placed ON TOP OF THE SPOT WHERE YOUR BALL CAME TO REST.
To achieve this you MUST :

- mark the spot of the ball just as you would when taking a Preferred Lie.

- clean your ball if necessary.

- place the approximate centre of your mat on the marked spot.

- firmly press down the whole of the mat.

For the avoidance of doubt, you MUST NOT :

a) place your mat further away from the correct spot as described above .

b) " tee up " your ball on the plastic protrusions which may be found on the smooth side of some mats.

c) just press down on the rear of the mat to create an upwards sloping launch pad from which to play your ball.

d) move, bend or break any growing or attached natural object such as weeds, brambles, tree branches and the like to create a spot for your mat.

The penalty for any of the above is TWO STROKES.