Look What’s Arrived!!

The new rules for 2019 seems like only a few months ago, but we are having an update and a new set go live on 1st January 2023. There won't be the wholesale changes that we had for 2019 - just a few tweaks, incorporation of some of the clarifications, and perhaps some of the … Continue reading Look What’s Arrived!!

Play the Course as it is Marked!

https://youtu.be/EUYokYN2gO4 Regular golfers are likely to be playing the same course, maybe several times each week, and you get to know where the greenkeepers have been making repairs and so marking areas as Ground Under Repair (GUR), and potentially as No Play Zones (NPZs). This can lull you into a false sense of security as … Continue reading Play the Course as it is Marked!

Temporary Greens and “Winter Rules”

Temporary Greens are often classified as "Wrong Greens" or "GUR-No Play Zones" and so you must take relief from them if they interfere with the lie of your ball, your stance, or area of intended swing (Rule 13.1f). You go to the nearest point of complete relief (i.e. lie, stance and swing not touching the … Continue reading Temporary Greens and “Winter Rules”

Preferred Lies

As we (in the northern hemisphere) move into the colder months and courses can't be maintained in peak summer conditions "Winter Rules" are often brought into play on the 1st of October. Probably the most common of these is a preferred lie rule which should be based on the model local rule E-3. This is … Continue reading Preferred Lies

Penalty Area Definition

Painted lines are the least ambiguous method for defining a precise boundary for a penalty area and while these will be put in for major competition, most golf courses don't have the resources to maintain such course marking 365 days of the year. Within their local rules they should describe how the edge of penalty … Continue reading Penalty Area Definition

Coping with a large area of GUR / NPZ

Following the construction of some new ponds at Brokenhurst we have some large areas of Ground Under Repair (GUR) which are also No Play Zones (NPZs) on the 12th and 13th. One edge of the GUR is bounded by a ditch (Penalty Area), the path runs through the middle of them, and the new ponds … Continue reading Coping with a large area of GUR / NPZ

Staked and Unstaked Trees

Several new trees have been added to a few existing ones to provide a better screen between the 2nd and 4th holes at Brokenhurst. The new ones are a similar size to the existing trees and need some support from stakes until they get fully established. The existing trees, being already well rooted, aren't staked. … Continue reading Staked and Unstaked Trees

Local Rules

What are they and why are they necessary? Before you play a round on a new course it is important to be aware of the local rules that are in play on the day - and of course equally important to know and understand those on your home course. The Local Rules are often printed … Continue reading Local Rules

Ball Embedded in the Face of a Bunker

NB THE 2023 RULES HAVE CHANGED THE OUTCOME FOR SCENARIO 2: THE VIDEO IS NOW INCORRECT ON THIS POINT. THE NEW PROCEDURE IS TO FIND THE NEAREST SPOT IN THE GENERAL AREA THAT IS NOT NEARER THE HOLE TO THE SPOT IMMEDIATELY BEHIND WHERE THE BALL EMBEDDED, AND THIS SPOT BECOMES THE REFERENCE POINT FOR … Continue reading Ball Embedded in the Face of a Bunker

10th @Brokenhurst – Ball Embedded in the face of a bunker

The 10th is a long par 3 - a wood or even a driver for many golfers to reach the raised green. Bunkers left and right trap many shots and even if you hit the green a two putt isn't straightforward if you are on the wrong tier. Most players are more than happy to … Continue reading 10th @Brokenhurst – Ball Embedded in the face of a bunker