I had a individual match play event today.  My opponent want to play lift, clean and place (winter rules).  I told him that was not in the rules of golf and the rules already allowed for relief from embedded ball and causal water.  He said the staff in the clubhouse allowed l,c & p.  I told I wanted to play by the rules.  Was I right in holding my ground on this issue even if he had backing of the staff in the clubhouse?

Hi Ken,

Preferred Lies can be viewed in much the same way as the Local Rule for Distance Measuring Devices (DMD).  When the Committee enacts the Local Rule for DMDs, a player may use a DMD (measuring distance only) but there is no penalty for not using one.

Though I commend you for wanting to “play the game the way it was meant to be played” if the Committee (in this case the pro shop staff) condoned the use of Preferred Lies, the Local Rule is in effect and is therefore a Rule during your match.  You could choose to ignore it but, it sounds as if this would have been to your disadvantage if your opponent was using the Local Rule throughout the round.

On a closely related note . . . here in the Northwest, there seems to be a lack of attention and understanding with respect to the application and use of Local Rules.  Local Rules must first be authorized before they can be adopted.  Paramount among these is how to proper apply Preferred Lies (or Winter Rules).

Preferred Lies cannot be used outside of closely mown areas, through the green (essentially, just the fairway).  I see this Local Rule constantly misapplied either by the Committee not laying down guidelines (must place within 6”) or extended relief to include the rough – a colossal overstepping of the Committee’s rights under the Rules of Golf. 

For further explanation about how to properly apply this Local Rule, in addition to the Local Rules for Cleaning Ball and Embedded Ball, through the Green, please click here.

Hopefully, even with Preferred Lies in effect, you were able to pull off a victory in your match!

Thank you for your interest in the Rules of Golf!

Regards,

Craig,

Thank you for your response.  Your explanation and the attachment are very helpful.  I’m trying to decide how to approach the staff in the shop in a diplomatic way that they need to institute an information program on these issues.  It is so important during any competition but also during the posting season when it effects handicaps. 

BTW-My opponent was quite surprised that I was so interested and serious about playing by the rules!  I had to warn him before he committed several rules infractions (I must admit, maybe my warning him might be an infraction on me).  I wasn’t interested in winning in that manner.  Without being too general I think a lot of new players have entered the game in the last 10 years and maybe they aren’t as versed in the rules, don’t care or nobody has explained that knowing the rules can actually be an advantage.

Rules I discussed with him:

Preferred lies, embedded ball, casual water
Water in bunker where he could take relief
Provisional ball must be different from first ball
Returning ball mark to original location after moving out of my line of play on green
Relief from unplayable lie
Not repairing pitch mark in the fringe when ball is off green
He is allowed to repair pitch mark on the green even though ball is off green

Thanks, Ken