As there are many golf courses around the world that experience the winter season, a lot of local courses have implemented what are commonly known as "winter rules." Winter rules are typically not covered by the United States Golf Association (USGA) Rules manual. There is, however, a press release that explains its position regarding the winter rules.
According to the press release, the USGA will not recognize the winter rules. As a matter of fact, the USGA recommends that all the rules outlined in its Rules manual be used exclusively. The organization points to Rule 7 (5) in its manual, covering the conditions when a golf course is under repair. However, in a compromise with local golf courses and committees, the USGA does understand that these courses and committees can make their own rules pertaining to the conditions of their golf courses.
The USGA states that it does understand that winter conditions differ from normal conditions of play, and they would affect every part of the golf course during the winter months. The Association does, however, want these golf courses to specifically outline the rule changes applied to these winter conditions. A golf course must never, on a whim, just place a sign stating "Winter rules in effect today." The courses and local rules committees must outline the specific rule changes made and make those rule changes available to all golfers.
The winter rules instituted by local golf courses usually pertain to the lie of the golf ball (also known as "preferred lies"). This means that a golfer can pick up his ball, clean it and place it near the spot where it was originally located. There are other winter rules that may apply to certain golf courses, but what you need to keep in mind is that these rules are not recognized by the USGA.
A tournament that is being played in harsh conditions is usually when rules will be set by the local rules committee. The rule changes are invoked in order to protect the course and provide a more pleasurable game and a fairer competition for every golfer playing in the tournament.
Some of the rules covered include when the ball is embedded, how far the ball can be moved from its original location, where on the golf course preferred lies can be applied and anything else the rules committee or golf course deem necessary to protect the golf course. An example of this is that some courses allow golfers to only take the preferred lies when their ball lands in the fairway, but not if their ball lands in the rough.
The winter rules that are adopted by the golf course or local rules committee must be extremely specific to prevent golfers from taking advantage of the rules. The winter rules that are applied during the winter months are usually listed on the scorecards and are outlined in detail so that every golfer playing during that time of year can go over them before beginning play.
As soon as the winter months are over, a golf course almost always reverts to the rules outlined in the USGA Rules manual.
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