Following our summer maintenance programme, Preferred Lies are now in operation until further notice.

Preferred Lies (Fairway Only)

When a player’s ball lies in a part of the general area cut to fairway height or less, the player may take free relief once by:

• Marking the position of the ball.
• Lifting the ball (it may be cleaned).
• Placing it within 6 inches (15 cm) of its original spot, not nearer the hole.
• The placed ball must remain in the general area and on a part of the course cut to fairway height or less.

Once the ball has been placed and is at rest on the chosen spot, it is in play.

This Local Rule is authorised under Rule 14.3 (Placing a Ball) and the Model Local Rule E-3 – Preferred Lies in the Rules of Golf.

Relief from Abnormal Ground Conditions

Areas affected by maintenance, including any Ground Under Repair (GUR) or other Abnormal Course Conditions, may entitle a player to free relief.

Under Rule 16.1 – Relief from Abnormal Course Conditions, if an abnormal course condition interferes with the lie of the ball, the area of intended stance, or the area of intended swing, the player may take free relief by:

• Finding the nearest point of complete relief.
• Dropping the original ball or another ball within one club-length of that point.
• The dropped ball must come to rest in the relief area, not nearer the hole, and remain in the same area of the course.