Winter Rules in the Summer? On the PGA Tour? #golf

There are rules in every sport; golf is no exception. The Rules of Golf were written in conjunction between USGA and R&A with both player and golf course in mind. Learn the rules and you will most certainly maximize the pleasure you receive during a game. This short blog (below) was written by Richard E. Todd and reminds us why rules are used from the beginner to PGA Tour player.

Earlier this month, at The 2015 Honda Classic, the PGA Tour initiated the Preferred Lies rule. Most golfers know this term as winter rules or more simply as lift, clean, and place.

Touching the ball while in the fairway you say? Blasphemous? No. This decision is allowed by the USGA and is done to limit excessive damage to the golf course from strokes made on poor turf conditions while also promoting fair play. And it’s not the first time the PGA Tour has used this rare option.

So, when are you allowed to give yourself a better lie and stay within the rules of golf?

This option is only available under local rules when specific approval is given by the Committee of that course, under USGA Rules of Golf appendix I-4.b, and is a temporary ruling that may apply only to specific holes.

How do you exercise this rule?

When the course you’re playing has given specific authority to do so, and your ball is in the fairway (known in the rule book as any closely mowed area through the green), simply announce to your competitor your intention to enact the ruling, mark your ball, lift it, clean off any debris if you desire, and set it on the ground as close as possible to the original location but no closer to the green.

Sorry, you aren’t able to better your lie when you’re in the rough or a hazard under this option.

An example of this rule is further explained in my book, The Golf Rules, where a group comes upon a hole that flooded due to an overnight storm.

This rule and many others can increase the enjoyment of a round of golf and help lower your scores.

Unfortunately, many golfers are not educated on their options. To help with this problem, I published a funny yet educational series of books on stroke play, match play, and golf etiquette. If interested in a good golf read and potentially learning more about the sport that can last you a lifetime, check out TheGolfRules.com. You can also read about situations surrounding the Rules of Golf on the official USGA website.


Do you play by the Rules or are you just beginning to learn them? Let us know on Twitter @Golf4Beginners and below, on this golf blog.

Richard E Todd, Bio:

Author of The Golf Rules, Todd has written an educational and entertaining series of books on stroke play, match play, golf etiquette, and Short Stories from the Long Links, has been heard on the PGA Tour radio station and seen in On The Green magazine.  Contact him at Richard@TheGolfRules.com and follow on Facebook, Twitter and at www.TheGolfRules.com.

photos: Golf Digest, The Golf Rules, Foxnews.com

The views or opinions presented in this blog are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent Golf for Beginners.

The Short Game of #Golf is in Capable Hands! #Video

While CNN writes gloom and doom articles about the state of golf on the grassroots level, Esquire Network shows us that kids are the future of the sport with its newest TV show, The Short Game.

Although, as CNN states, the game is going through a slump in popularity (and they have a point), with the number of newcomers falling by twenty percent in the U.S. in the last year, Golf for Beginners remains positive that the sport will bounce back in popularity...and it starts with the kids in the video you see below.

Watch as kids with golf swings better than most Tour pros, focus on making it to the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship and wonder if your kids have the right stuff to compete, and win, at this super intense level.

Voice your opinion on this golf blog and on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.

Have You Played Golf in Abu Dhabi or Dubai? Let's Go!

Golf for Beginners, through our many internet conversations, understands that fans of the sport love to travel and learn about different cultures while playing some of the best courses around the world. In this blog we would like to share exciting vacation destination ideas and a special discount travel code for UK golfers!

Letsgo2, a UK based luxury holiday provider specializing in accredited package holidays to a selection of striking destinations, is offering our users an exclusive discount code to use when booking your next summer holiday.

Check off some of the golf courses on your bucket list while appreciating unique culture with letsgo2– enjoy a leisurely round or two on manicured fairways and then explore the sights of some of the world’s most famous golf destinations. 

Have you ever been to Abu Dhabi? I have not yet journeyed to AD but it is on my short list of exciting destinations. If you are looking for an exclusive and luxurious landing spot, you can stay at the elegant Yas Viceroy Hotel near the marina and play the Yas Links.

Thinking of visiting Dubai? Enjoy the sheer decadence of a Dubai golf holiday at the Jebel Ali resort, complete with stunning private beach. The on-site golf course is a precursor to the European PGA Tour event, the Dubai Desert Classic, so it must be a real tests of skill.

Yas Viceroy Hotel, Abu Dhabi

If the Middle East doesn’t strike your fancy, why not take a tour of the Belle Mare Plage, with two 18-hole championship paradises set among tropical gardens as well as one of the most beautiful beaches in Mauritius. 

All greens on the Legends and Links courses have been rebuilt to exacting specifications with Tif Dwarf grasses to ensure the perfect roll. Bring your A-Game!

Whether you’re searching for a golf holiday or family trip abroad, letsgo2.com has it covered.  

Quote one of these discount codes below when booking:

GOLF50 for £50 discount on holiday over £2,999

GOLF75 for £75 discount on holiday package over £3,000  

The codes are not limited to use on the golf packages but are valid on any holiday booked through letsgo2. 

Plan your vacation today!

What is your favorite UK destination for golf and relaxation? Let us know on Twitter @Golf4Beginners!

photos: Letsgo2.com