Preferred Lies - Application and Subsequent Ball Movement
7 min read
The Situation
Understanding Preferred Lie Rules
The Ruling
1. When is Preferred Lie Applicable via Local Rules?
The "Preferred Lies" Local Rule (Model Local Rule E-3) is designed to address situations where temporary abnormal conditions might interfere with fair play, particularly when the course is suffering from widespread damage or adverse conditions. These conditions can include heavy snows, spring thaws, prolonged rains, or extreme heat that make fairways unsatisfactory or prevent proper maintenance.
A Committee, which is the body in charge of the competition or the course, has the authority to adopt this Local Rule. It's important to note that the use of this Local Rule is generally recommended only for areas cut to fairway height or less, meaning the fairways themselves. While a Committee could extend it to other areas of the general area (like the rough), it's not typically recommended as it might provide undue relief from areas where a ball would otherwise be unplayable, such as in bushes or trees.
The Committee must be mindful of when and how they implement this rule:
It should be applied only when ground conditions truly warrant it, resulting in an unfair playing condition.
It must be explicitly communicated to players which areas of the course are covered by the Local Rule.
The Local Rule should be withdrawn as soon as conditions allow, meaning when the course improves to a point where it no longer results in unfair playing conditions.
For stroke play, it is not authorized to implement the Preferred Lies Local Rule once play has begun for a round. This is to prevent an unfair advantage for players who have more holes left to play.
In match play, however, the Local Rule may be implemented once a match has begun, specifically between the play of two holes, as both opponents would receive an equal benefit.
Committees may also consider Model Local Rule E-2, which allows players to mark, lift, clean, and replace their ball in the general area if mud is sticking to the ball, as an alternative or in conjunction with Preferred Lies.
2. What's the Normal Procedure?
When the Preferred Lies Local Rule (Model Local Rule E-3) is in effect, and a player's ball lies in the specified area (typically the general area cut to fairway height or less), the player may take free relief once. The procedure is usually as follows:
Mark the spot of the original ball.
Lift the original ball.
Clean the ball.
Place the original ball or another ball in a relief area.
The relief area is measured from the spot of the original ball (the reference point). The size of this relief area is specified by the Committee, commonly one club-length, one scorecard length, or 6 inches.
The limits on the location of the relief area are crucial:
It must not be nearer the hole than the reference point.
It must be in the general area (or the specific area defined by the Local Rule, e.g., "on the fairway").
The ball must be placed by setting it down by hand on the chosen spot and letting it go so that it stays on that spot. You cannot use your club to roll the ball into position.
If the ball fails to stay on the spot where it was placed, the player must try to place it again. If it still doesn't stay on that spot after a second attempt, the player must then place the ball on the nearest spot where it will stay at rest, subject to the same limits (not nearer the hole, and in the same area of the course). If the only spot where the ball will stay at rest is nearer the hole, the player must take penalty relief under another allowed Rule, such as for an unplayable ball (Rule 19).
3. When is the Ball in Play?
Under the Preferred Lies Local Rule, the ball is considered "in play" once it has been set down by hand on the chosen spot and the player has let the ball go with the clear "intent" for that ball to be in play. This means that even if you haven't removed your ball-marker yet, the ball is in play once it's placed with that intent.
4. What if the Ball Moves After a Certain Amount of Time, Say 10 Seconds, Due to No Fault of the Player? Can the Player Prefer the Lie Again?
This is a great question that delves into the interaction between the Local Rule and the general Rules of Golf, particularly Rule 9 (Ball Played as It Lies; Ball at Rest Lifted or Moved).
Once a ball has been placed and is in play under the Preferred Lies Local Rule, it is subject to the general Rules of Golf. If the ball then moves due to no fault of the player, the specific circumstances of that movement determine the next course of action:
Movement by Natural Forces (Rule 9.3): If natural forces, such as wind or water, cause your ball at rest to move, there is generally no penalty.
- You must normally play it from its new spot. In this scenario, you would not be able to prefer the lie again because you are playing the ball as it lies from its new spot, and you are not "proceeding under another Rule that provides relief" which would allow the Local Rule to be used again. The ball is simply played from where it came to rest.
- There is an exception under Rule 9.3 where if a ball, after being dropped, placed, or replaced, moves due to natural forces to another area of the course or out of bounds, it must be replaced on its original spot. Again, this is a replacement to the original spot, not a new preferred lie.
Movement by Outside Influence (Rule 9.6): If it is known or virtually certain that an outside influence (such as an animal, another player, or equipment not belonging to you) lifted or moved your ball, there is no penalty, and the ball must be replaced on its original spot. Similar to the putting green, this is a replacement to the original spot, not a new preferred lie.
There are situations when preferred lie could be taken twice, but that would be permitted if the Local Rules specifies so. The key phrase from the Model Local Rule E-3 context is: "After a ball has been placed and is in play under this Local Rule, if the player then proceeds under another Rule that provides relief, this Local Rule may be used again." This means if, for example, after taking a preferred lie, your ball then becomes unplayable (Rule 19) or comes to rest against an abnormal course condition in the general area, and you decide to take relief under one of those Rules, you would then be able to apply the Preferred Lies Local Rule again if the new relief area falls within the conditions of the Local Rule itself. However, simple movement by natural forces or outside influence that requires replacement to the original spot, or playing from the new spot, does not constitute "proceeding under another Rule that provides relief" in a way that would allow a new preferred lie. Even if the ball marker or tee which was originally used to mark the position of the ball is left on the ground, the player may not take preferred lie twice.
The "Preferred Lies" Local Rule (Model Local Rule E-3) is designed to address situations where temporary abnormal conditions might interfere with fair play, particularly when the course is suffering from widespread damage or adverse conditions. These conditions can include heavy snows, spring thaws, prolonged rains, or extreme heat that make fairways unsatisfactory or prevent proper maintenance.
A Committee, which is the body in charge of the competition or the course, has the authority to adopt this Local Rule. It's important to note that the use of this Local Rule is generally recommended only for areas cut to fairway height or less, meaning the fairways themselves. While a Committee could extend it to other areas of the general area (like the rough), it's not typically recommended as it might provide undue relief from areas where a ball would otherwise be unplayable, such as in bushes or trees.
The Committee must be mindful of when and how they implement this rule:
It should be applied only when ground conditions truly warrant it, resulting in an unfair playing condition.
It must be explicitly communicated to players which areas of the course are covered by the Local Rule.
The Local Rule should be withdrawn as soon as conditions allow, meaning when the course improves to a point where it no longer results in unfair playing conditions.
For stroke play, it is not authorized to implement the Preferred Lies Local Rule once play has begun for a round. This is to prevent an unfair advantage for players who have more holes left to play.
In match play, however, the Local Rule may be implemented once a match has begun, specifically between the play of two holes, as both opponents would receive an equal benefit.
Committees may also consider Model Local Rule E-2, which allows players to mark, lift, clean, and replace their ball in the general area if mud is sticking to the ball, as an alternative or in conjunction with Preferred Lies.
2. What's the Normal Procedure?
When the Preferred Lies Local Rule (Model Local Rule E-3) is in effect, and a player's ball lies in the specified area (typically the general area cut to fairway height or less), the player may take free relief once. The procedure is usually as follows:
Mark the spot of the original ball.
Lift the original ball.
Clean the ball.
Place the original ball or another ball in a relief area.
The relief area is measured from the spot of the original ball (the reference point). The size of this relief area is specified by the Committee, commonly one club-length, one scorecard length, or 6 inches.
The limits on the location of the relief area are crucial:
It must not be nearer the hole than the reference point.
It must be in the general area (or the specific area defined by the Local Rule, e.g., "on the fairway").
The ball must be placed by setting it down by hand on the chosen spot and letting it go so that it stays on that spot. You cannot use your club to roll the ball into position.
If the ball fails to stay on the spot where it was placed, the player must try to place it again. If it still doesn't stay on that spot after a second attempt, the player must then place the ball on the nearest spot where it will stay at rest, subject to the same limits (not nearer the hole, and in the same area of the course). If the only spot where the ball will stay at rest is nearer the hole, the player must take penalty relief under another allowed Rule, such as for an unplayable ball (Rule 19).
3. When is the Ball in Play?
Under the Preferred Lies Local Rule, the ball is considered "in play" once it has been set down by hand on the chosen spot and the player has let the ball go with the clear "intent" for that ball to be in play. This means that even if you haven't removed your ball-marker yet, the ball is in play once it's placed with that intent.
4. What if the Ball Moves After a Certain Amount of Time, Say 10 Seconds, Due to No Fault of the Player? Can the Player Prefer the Lie Again?
This is a great question that delves into the interaction between the Local Rule and the general Rules of Golf, particularly Rule 9 (Ball Played as It Lies; Ball at Rest Lifted or Moved).
Once a ball has been placed and is in play under the Preferred Lies Local Rule, it is subject to the general Rules of Golf. If the ball then moves due to no fault of the player, the specific circumstances of that movement determine the next course of action:
Movement by Natural Forces (Rule 9.3): If natural forces, such as wind or water, cause your ball at rest to move, there is generally no penalty.
- You must normally play it from its new spot. In this scenario, you would not be able to prefer the lie again because you are playing the ball as it lies from its new spot, and you are not "proceeding under another Rule that provides relief" which would allow the Local Rule to be used again. The ball is simply played from where it came to rest.
- There is an exception under Rule 9.3 where if a ball, after being dropped, placed, or replaced, moves due to natural forces to another area of the course or out of bounds, it must be replaced on its original spot. Again, this is a replacement to the original spot, not a new preferred lie.
Movement by Outside Influence (Rule 9.6): If it is known or virtually certain that an outside influence (such as an animal, another player, or equipment not belonging to you) lifted or moved your ball, there is no penalty, and the ball must be replaced on its original spot. Similar to the putting green, this is a replacement to the original spot, not a new preferred lie.
There are situations when preferred lie could be taken twice, but that would be permitted if the Local Rules specifies so. The key phrase from the Model Local Rule E-3 context is: "After a ball has been placed and is in play under this Local Rule, if the player then proceeds under another Rule that provides relief, this Local Rule may be used again." This means if, for example, after taking a preferred lie, your ball then becomes unplayable (Rule 19) or comes to rest against an abnormal course condition in the general area, and you decide to take relief under one of those Rules, you would then be able to apply the Preferred Lies Local Rule again if the new relief area falls within the conditions of the Local Rule itself. However, simple movement by natural forces or outside influence that requires replacement to the original spot, or playing from the new spot, does not constitute "proceeding under another Rule that provides relief" in a way that would allow a new preferred lie. Even if the ball marker or tee which was originally used to mark the position of the ball is left on the ground, the player may not take preferred lie twice.