The courtroom scenes in “A Few Good Men” are an instant draw for me. I surf by it on the tube, and I generally stop and stay glued until the end. One I like is Kevin Bacon asking the Private Downey where the guidance for a Code Red is in the code of regulations. After a few more questions it becomes obvious that a Code Red is an understood punishment and form of hazing, but it’s not a formal and published guidance, it’s implied and outside the boundaries of the code of regulations.
The term “Winter Rules” has a similar connotation to me on the golf course. What are winter rules? Where are they found in the rule book? The answer? Just like a Code Red for the private on the stand, they’re not in there.
If you do a search of the internet (and yeah, the stuff you find there is ALWAYS correct), you’ll probably find something like this… “As the weather gets colder and underfoot conditions get wetter, so most golf clubs will allow players to use winter rules. The idea here is that as balls are likely to either end up in poor, muddy lies or accumulate a lot of mud as they roll out, the adoption of winter rules or preferred lies under a suitably worded temporary Local Rule would allow you to play your next shot from something closer to the lie you would probably have enjoyed during the rest of the year. Typically, winter rules would allow you to lift, clean and place your ball within six inches of where it has come to rest, although that distance is not mandatory and may vary (e.g., one club-length at some courses) but only on “closely mown areas”.
So, if you want to accept that as sort-of gospel, the idea is SIMILAR to our REGL local rule for “Rolling the ball in the fairway”. However, there is an important difference, and I’m pretty much forced to present the REGL local rule to illustrate the difference… (from the current REGL rules (2023 version) ““Winter Rules” apply for all league play. A player may roll their ball IN CLOSELY MOWN AREAS ON THEIR OWN HOLE ONLY! Closely mown areas are areas purposely cut to fairway height, greens and fringe area. The ball may be rolled using the player’s club only (no touching by hand), within the length of a REGL scorecard turned longways (approx. 8”) and (without cleaning), no closer to the hole for purposes of finding an acceptable hitting surface without penalty. “”
Did you catch the difference? The “Internet Accepted“ definition lets you LIFT, CLEAN AND PLACE the ball. REGL has you “roll the ball” without touching it.
Is this difference in “Winter Rules” substantial enough for a blog entry? I wouldn’t think so under normal circumstances, but I ran into a guy that’s been playing in REGL for a bit longer than I have, and it was pointed out to him last night that after May we haven’t be able to lift, clean and place (a reminder came out from the commish on Monday stating the same thing). Turns out, up until last year he’s been playing under the ASSUMPTION that we’re playing “WINTER RULES” in your own fairway. He’s always (for at least 20 years!) thought that meant marking his ball, cleaning it, and placing it in his own fairway – which is the guidance I gave you from the internet, and violates the REGL rule which doesn’t allow you to touch the ball with your hand OR clean it. If this guy got it wrong, I’m sure the misconception is much wider than just one player.
The story gets better. Last night the reformed guy was moving the ball with his club in his own fairway to get a preferred lie (in strict accordance with the REGL local rule). His opponent thought that the message that came out this week meant you COULD NOT move the ball in your own fairway. Local rules, temporary local rules, misinterpreted local rules, and the REGL rules are at least 5 pages long.
From my foxhole, I would propose eliminating the words “WINTER RULES” from the REGL local rule. It can only lead to further confusion.
I know it would be widely unpopular, but if I were king for a day, I’d delete most of the REGL local rules (to include this one in its entirety – I happen to think preferred lies are unnecessary and don’t encourage players to deal with adversity). I continue to contend that there are enough rules in the USGA-sanctioned rule book to deal with a nine-hole evening golf league on Ruggles Golf Course. Enough bubbles from the soapbox – don’t touch a ball with your hand or clean your ball unless there’s a rule that allows for those actions, and (currently) you are able to roll the ball in your own fairway to get a preferred lie....