It's a sad week for golf with the passing of too good old boys, our own Alan Harnett lost his battle with cancer and will be missed by us all. His childhood friend John summed him up the best "not a soul could find a bad word to say about him". 

And the world of golf lost one of the all-time greats with Arnold Palmer leaving us. Palmer was a true great; the first million dollar golfer and a player like Hogan and Ballesteros whos charisma transcended golf.

This weekend is the Marwell trophy the last cup competition of the year it is Medal golf on the Greenwood course, but I do have one bit of good news it will signal the start of winter rules here are the rules.




WINTER RULES REMINDER 

On the fairway you may mark clean and place within 6 inches no nearer the hole Rule 25-2 Embedded Ball A ball embedded in its own pitch-mark in the ground in any closely-mown area through the green may be lifted, cleaned and dropped, without penalty, as near as possible to the spot where it lay but not nearer the hole. 

The ball when dropped must first strike a part of the course through the green. "Closely-mown area" means any of the course, including paths through the rough, cut to fairway height or less. "Through the green", is the whole area of the course except the teeing ground and the putting green of the hole being played and all hazards on the course. 

In accordance with the EMBEDDED BALL Rule, a ball plugged in the rough must be played as it lies. Relief may be taken with a penalty under Rule 28, BALL UNPLAYABLE. 

Local Rule: Most golf courses, including East Horton GC., invoke a local rule during wet times to include the rough as a free drop in the event of a plugged ball. 

This rule would apply when the winter rule is in operation: A ball embedded in its own pitch-mark in the ground through the green-etc. The phrase "closely mown area" is not present in the local rule, thus allowing a plugged ball in the rough to be lifted, cleaned and dropped. 

If the distinction between the rough and fairway is not clear get a fellow playing partner/s agreement and proceed under winter rule of play as the ball lies. 

If there is water in a bunker and there is no place to drop inside the bunker you must drop outside the bunker for a penalty of one shot. 

NB. The committee (professional manager and head green keeper) introduce a temporary local rule in extreme conditions that all bunkers will be deemed ground under repair 33-8a and relief can be taken by dropping outside the bunker at the point of entry one club length no nearer the hole. 




Fancy £20 OFF on the Foremost Golf website? Just fill out this 5 minute survey and claim your exclusive discount code NOW! 




*** Winter Coaching package - Six 30 minutes lessons for £99. Click here to book. ***