Basic winter rules (UK)

[Mr Soane]

I'm asking this as I had to disqualify myself form a comp for picking balls up from the rough to clean them. My misunderstanding arose from the belief that I can pick a ball up on the fairway to clean it and that if the ball is in casusal water in the rough I can pick a better lie within 6 inches of it's original position but no closer to the hole. So as of today I need a clear understanding of what I can and can't do during the round. I've downloaded a copy of the Rules of Golf from the R & A website so I 'm working my way through that, but a layman's interpretation is what I'm after. Thanks..

[MiniMoe]

It depends on the rules of the competition. If they allowed lift, clean, and place in the fairway, then anywhere in your fairway you can mark the ball, clean and place it within one club length from the original position of the pall, no closer to the hole.

However, if you are in casual water anywhere other than a hazard or a bunker (different relief procedure) you are allowed relief. What you do is inform your playing partners that you are in casual water and are going to take relief. You then mark you ball, find the nearest point of relief and then drop within one club length of the point of relief. You are allowed to clean the ball when taking a drop. If you are in a bunker, you are also allowed relief from casual water, but you have to drop in the bunker even is the bunker is 100% under water. You have to find the place that has the least amount of water and drop there. Or, under penalty of 1 stroke, you can drop outside the bunker.

Hope this helps.

[gogolfing]

The winter rules at my home course are through the green, so we can lift, clean and place anywhere except in a hazard; so, rough is no problem. As for casual water, the above poster covered it.