Golf Random Irritations

The change in preferred lies rules meaning clubs must remove them on 1st May and are unable to extend them without county approval which is unlikely to be given unless in extreme circumstances

Most clubs haven’t had enough growing conditions

Can only think the counties have thrown their toys out of the cot
We have had only one request for the extension of preferred lies, which was duly granted.

I am not sure where you get your “unlikely to be given unless in extreme circumstances”. However I would have thought circumstances would have to be unusual for a club to want to have preferred lies in the normal playing season.

Clubs seem happy enough around here.
 
We have had only one request for the extension of preferred lies, which was duly granted.

I am not sure where you get your “unlikely to be given unless in extreme circumstances”. However I would have thought circumstances would have to be unusual for a club to want to have preferred lies in the normal playing season.

Clubs seem happy enough around here.
We have been told that an extension would only be granted in extreme conditions

They must be very lucky to have not have the cold over night temps that have been typical for this time of year as well as the reduced rainfall again during April
 
We have been told that an extension would only be granted in extreme conditions

They must be very lucky to have not have the cold over night temps that have been typical for this time of year as well as the reduced rainfall again during April
Patently a lot of committees feel their fairways are good enough not to warrant preferred lies.
The County is there to help and provide advice as well as to ensure that clubs are acting in a consistent manner, thankfully this seems to be very well accepted here and there is goodwill on both sides.
 
Patently a lot of committees feel their fairways are good enough not to warrant preferred lies.
The County is there to help and provide advice as well as to ensure that clubs are acting in a consistent manner, thankfully this seems to be very well accepted here and there is goodwill on both sides.

So why the need to change from last year when clubs can make their own choice 🤷‍♂️

Did it not work well last year with clubs applying the model rule when they deemed it was necessary
 
So why the need to change from last year when clubs can make their own choice 🤷‍♂️

Did it not work well last year with clubs applying the model rule when they deemed it was necessary
This is the bit I don’t understand! Why does the county get to choose or hold authority over when a club has preferred lies? Yet the ground staff who look after the course and know what’s best for it don’t get to choose!

Not being pedantic it’s a genuine question. Our place is really firm at the moment and preferred lies would still be better for the ground, but we’ve got to go to play as it lies the ground hasn’t changed overnight from 30th Apr - 1st May. Surely it should be down to the green keepers and clubs.
 
This is the bit I don’t understand! Why does the county get to choose or hold authority over when a club has preferred lies? Yet the ground staff who look after the course and know what’s best for it don’t get to choose!

Not being pedantic it’s a genuine question. Our place is really firm at the moment and preferred lies would still be better for the ground, but we’ve got to go to play as it lies the ground hasn’t changed overnight from 30th Apr - 1st May. Surely it should be down to the green keepers and clubs.
It has been the case for a very, very log time that scores for handicap were allowed for a defined period with preferred lies in place but outside this period (basically the normal golfing season) then clubs needed to seek permission if they wished to have scores counting for handicap with preferred lies in place.
EG decided last year to change this and allowed clubs basically to have scores for handicap purposes with preferred lies whenever they wanted. Apparently this led to some clubs, irrespective of course conditions. to have preferred lies all year round as this was 'easier to manage' and some clubs said for example that 'their members liked it' and so just left them on. Other clubs acted as before and considered the course conditions and made appropriate informed decisions. This meant there was a real mixture of playing regulations across individual counties.
As I have said on here before, there is a really broad spectrum in knowledge, diligence and strength of oversight in Club Handicap and Competition Committees. The authorities try and ensure as much uniformity as possible despite this broad range of ability and commitment and what might seem simple and obvious for your own club to decide and rule on does not mean that this is the case for every club in the County.
 
It has been the case for a very, very log time that scores for handicap were allowed for a defined period with preferred lies in place but outside this period (basically the normal golfing season) then clubs needed to seek permission if they wished to have scores counting for handicap with preferred lies in place.
EG decided last year to change this and allowed clubs basically to have scores for handicap purposes with preferred lies whenever they wanted. Apparently this led to some clubs, irrespective of course conditions. to have preferred lies all year round as this was 'easier to manage' and some clubs said for example that 'their members liked it' and so just left them on. Other clubs acted as before and considered the course conditions and made appropriate informed decisions. This meant there was a real mixture of playing regulations across individual counties.
As I have said on here before, there is a really broad spectrum in knowledge, diligence and strength of oversight in Club Handicap and Competition Committees. The authorities try and ensure as much uniformity as possible despite this broad range of ability and commitment and what might seem simple and obvious for your own club to decide and rule on does not mean that this is the case for every club in the County.

So basically the counties weren’t happy losing the power and feel that they can’t trust the experts in a golf club - ie the highly qualified greenkeepers

Enough experience and evidence from our county that they are incompetent in many ways

growing conditions change vastly across the country and even within counties and EG need to trust the clubs and allow them to make the choice not the county
 
It has been the case for a very, very log time that scores for handicap were allowed for a defined period with preferred lies in place but outside this period (basically the normal golfing season) then clubs needed to seek permission if they wished to have scores counting for handicap with preferred lies in place.
EG decided last year to change this and allowed clubs basically to have scores for handicap purposes with preferred lies whenever they wanted. Apparently this led to some clubs, irrespective of course conditions. to have preferred lies all year round as this was 'easier to manage' and some clubs said for example that 'their members liked it' and so just left them on. Other clubs acted as before and considered the course conditions and made appropriate informed decisions. This meant there was a real mixture of playing regulations across individual counties.
As I have said on here before, there is a really broad spectrum in knowledge, diligence and strength of oversight in Club Handicap and Competition Committees. The authorities try and ensure as much uniformity as possible despite this broad range of ability and commitment and what might seem simple and obvious for your own club to decide and rule on does not mean that this is the case for every club in the County.
And nothing in that convinces me it should be a county decision on whether a club should have lift and place on fairways as to whether it’s best for the course.

Broad sweeping every club in a county based on failings at others does nothing to protect golf courses that need it. A club imo shouldn’t have to appeal to its county for permission to do what is right to protect it against the elements they individually face which are more apparent to the ground staff working on them than they are some bloke in the county office making a decision behind his desk.

We've had PL extended "until further notice "
Barely any growth on the fairways..I think there been cut once this year, maybe twice...
That’s how it should be based on current weather. We should have the same but have been told is has to be okay as it lies.
 
So basically the counties weren’t happy losing the power and feel that they can’t trust the experts in a golf club - ie the highly qualified greenkeepers

Enough experience and evidence from our county that they are incompetent in many ways

growing conditions change vastly across the country and even within counties and EG need to trust the clubs and allow them to make the choice not the county
Doesn’t sit right with me. Should be the discretion of those qualified on the ground to decide what’s best for the course. We’ve been told it has to be play as it lies , but it’s extremely dry, hard and very little growth. We already have several brown spots , it’s not good for the course as it is right now. But then we’re not on the county decision committee so what would we know aye 🤷🏼
 
So when I won the Stromberg comp. They sent me through some gear. 3 x polos, a lovely mid layer and some
More shoes.
Ave ended up giving the 3 x polos to a PP as they were XL and I am A Large. I looked like Harry Hill In them. ☹️
He is over the moon so I should post in the gladden the hearts thread. But me am gutted coz they were gorgeous.
If you win a competition surley they would give you the correct size 😳
 
So basically the counties weren’t happy losing the power and feel that they can’t trust the experts in a golf club - ie the highly qualified greenkeepers

Enough experience and evidence from our county that they are incompetent in many ways

growing conditions change vastly across the country and even within counties and EG need to trust the clubs and allow them to make the choice not the county
Having read the reply from @D-S that really isn't representative of what he said. If clubs are leaving PL on all season do you think that is right? Do you think that is a decision made by 'a highly qualified greenkeeper'?

Clubs were given the power, some abused it. Power taken away because they couldn't be trusted 🤷
 
Having read the reply from @D-S that really isn't representative of what he said. If clubs are leaving PL on all season do you think that is right? Do you think that is a decision made by 'a highly qualified greenkeeper'?

Clubs were given the power, some abused it. Power taken away because they couldn't be trusted 🤷

Surely it depends on the situation with the club , we have seen many clubs that have very badly burnt out patchy fairways because of droughts , lack of water in the summer after cold spring nights haven’t allowed fairways to recover from a poor spring

Shoold the power be given to counties who have abused it in the past

If there are some clubs that abuse it then deal with the clubs as opposed to all the same

I played all over the county last year , the clubs that had preferred lies on during certain periods made the right call for their course

Having played a few in the past 2 weeks there is little chance of the courses being ready due to the weather we have had
 
I don't have experience of counties abusing power in the past so can't comment. It's been stated however that some clubs abused the PL rule and that is why full freedom was withdrawn. It can still be asked for but if clubs want qualifying comps then it seems reasonable for them to meet certain criteria. That means no PL if they aren't required.

If you are annoyed by this, be annoyed with the clubs who abused the rule previously.
 
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