Winter Rules/Preferred Lies

Starting this year the Board has voted to establish "preferred lies", also known as "winter rules". Starting with the November 21, 2022 event at Balboa players can lift, clean and place their ball in the fairways only - six inches is recommended by the USGA but a club length is reasonable.  It is the judgement of the foursome to determine if the ball is in the fairway. Sometimes it's hard to distinguish between fairway and rough!

This will be in effect until March 31, 2023. We'll continue to allow lift, clean and place in bunkers to obtain relief from unraked areas.  Additionally, it is most important that you rake the bunker after you hit, not before. It's the old saying, "leave the bunker better than you found it".

Beginning the 2022/2023 season we'll have "preferred lies" starting on November 1 and ending on March 31. 

Between April 1 and October 31 each tournament director can determine if the "preferred lies" rule will be used depending on the course conditions. Each director will assess course conditions prior to an event.

 

Local Rule- Ball out of Bounds

As you know, USGA rules allow a player to hit a provisional ball if the player thinks the ball may be lost or out of bounds. The player may decide not to hit a provisional and, if the ball is lost or out of bounds, return to the original spot and hit again, taking a one-stroke penalty.

 

To speed up play, USGA created a local rule, which SSGC has adopted. This rule applies only if the player has not hit a provisional and the ball is not in a hazard.

Drop your ball either in the fairway within two club lengths nearest where your ball is reasonably assumed lost or out of bounds or drop your ball within two club lengths nearest the point where it can be reasonably assumed the ball was lost or out of bounds.  Take a two-stroke penalty.

 

Guidelines for Raking the Bunkers

If we are allowing you to lift, clean and place your ball in a bunker, we still need to be reminded of the importance of raking each bunker after use for the benefit of others playing behind us. Here are some guidelines: 

•                      Find the best entry and exit point to the bunker

•                     Take the rake with you into the bunker

•                     Play your golf shot

•                     Using the rake, smooth over the sand where you played as well as any
              nearby areas that were missed by previous players

•                     Smooth out the sand behind you as you exit the bunker

•                     Leave the rake outside of the bunker parallel to the hole’s direction of play

•                     Following this etiquette will be appreciated by all your fellow golfers