With cold weather here in many parts of the country and handicap posting season over, what are some of your winter golf rules that you and your group use?
Preferred lies is common during this type of year. Be it from frost or ice or just areas of the course that are not as maintained due to the climate. Generally speaking, these are just things you and your group do for fun. With that said, bringing them to course committee, etc could land them as official for all groups as local provisions.
What does your group use for winter golf rules?
On the fairway, the club will impose lift, clean and place on fairways as standard, but for friendly games we will do the above as well but drop rather than place so that you are still penalised for missing the fairway
Was not familiar with the handicap seasons by state, do what you want when you cant post a score. Roll it, keep away from roots, whatever you want to do.
No particular winter rules, and I’ll probably be in the cart having coffee or something anyway!
and if it’s too cold I am at home nice and warm, lol.
With any luck I will get to play at least once a month all winter but it is kind of a crap shoot.
As long as you’re there, respecting pace and the course, and not being a Richard, you’re free to do whatever feels right.
This reflects my feelings. Once scores cannot be posted, it really is akin to a practice round. Just keep up the pace and have fun. In December and January, it is fortunate even to be out on a course. However, if I travelled to where scores can be posted, I go back to abiding by the rules so that I can post my score.
I’m kind of a mixed bag on the second one. Sure, I’ll give it a fair shake to see where my game is, but rusty as hell in a different region on different grass is hardly a representation of my scoring potential.
Your points are especially valid with respect to different grass. Bermuda is almost like a different game to me. I figure where only 8 of the 20 scores count, it’s not a big deal. Plus, I cycle through the scores a few times per year anyway. It kind of helps me remember fun rounds in exotic places.
I definitely feel like it helps to start the following season fresh with some more ‘down to earth’ scoring. I just rarely go anywhere to play in the offseason with handicap in mind, which means my potential to score probably is a bit diminished subconsciously.
Lift clean and place is permitted when conditions found are not what we would get in summer. This past Saturday we had snow in some of the north facing bunkers. we moved the ball out of the bunker.
We haven’t had any snow yet for the most part but the ground is still frozen solid. And that means balls coming in from high up, come down and bounce like you just hit a cart path
So for par threes and approach shots where the ball lands and bounces up like it just got double bounced on a trampoline, we pick the ball up and put it back close to where we think it originally landed. Not like it matters since you can’t putt effectively or read any sort of line. It’s more for those times where you can see you would have stuck it for a good birdie look and your ball bounces 30 yards past.
No handicaps are being calculated with this rule and no money is on the line so it’s all for fun at this point before we are stuck on simulators for the winter.
Pretty much do what we want – take that USGA! lol
Playing out of each other’s bags, but don’t touch the flag sticks. Take that, Rona! ?
No we’ve been pulling flags for the last two months too.
I don’t pull a flag anymore takes too much time. Others do though.
Was waiting for you to chime in here.
2.Take out of the Bunkers to entry point.
3.Ok to Roll ball on to grass and off of dirt
1) Full Lift/Clean/Place through the green
2) Full leaf/soft area free drops in effect, provided the group agrees.
3) Putt everything out, in an effort to equalize scoring a little.
We allow as much relief as is needed in order to find some solid ground. Sometimes 6 inches, sometimes 6 club lengths. Just try to keep the lie the same.
Enjoy your first ever December round in MN. I have played a handful of December rounds in the past when the weather was favorable. One of the courses I used to play would go to temporary greens (closely mown spot in fairway with a flag sticking out of it) at some point in November.
1) Lift, Clean, Place
2) Preferred Lies
3) 2 putts on each green IF there is snow, ice, or debris.
Range is usually closed, so breakfast ball on the first tee.
Living life one mud ball at a time?
Yep. I’m probably the least bothered by it of anyone I know, and even I’m like can we get a little relief here?? I know it’s not actual water, but we can call it Casual ******** if we need to. Whatever gets it done. I don’t see how CPO and lift clean and place don’t go more hand in hand. ??