To all Club Members,
Please find below confirmation regarding a change to the clubs Local Rules and the immediate implementation of a GUR Area on the course.
Bunker designated as GUR
As of 12/11/25 The Bunker right of the 11th Green as you approach it from the 11th tee is now GUR and will shortly be marked as such by the complex Greenstaff.
You may now take free relief under rule 16.1b If you wish too, it is GUR not a no play zone.
FAIRWAY MATS
The use of Fairway Mats is now recommended by the Club to help to protect the course in any rounds that are not acceptable for WHS Handicap submission.
Please find below the addition that has been made to the Local rules:
For any rounds that are not acceptable for WHS Handicap during a period of preferred lies being in place the usage of fairway Mats is recommended to help protect the course, this is inclusive of club competition rounds.
Mats must not be used in any rounds that are acceptable for WHS Handicap submission.
Usage: When a player’s ball lies in a part of the general area cut to fairway height or less, in that area, and a putter is not being used for the stroke, the player shall take free relief by lifting the original ball and placing the original ball or another ball on an artificial mat and play it from there. The mat must be placed on top of the spot where the ball came to rest. If a ball when placed rolls off the mat, the player must try to place it a second time. If the ball again does not stay on the mat, the mat must be moved to the nearest spot, not nearer the hole, where the ball will come to rest on the mat when placed. If the ball on the mat is accidentally moved before a stroke is made, there is no penalty and the ball must be placed again on the mat. If a tee is used to secure the mat into the ground, the ball must not be placed on the tee. The choice of the mat itself (e.g., fibre-bonded, different pile heights, specific size) is not specified, there are many commercially available options meeting the practical requirements for play.
BALLS LOST IN LEAVES (NO Free Drops)
There are many areas of the course that are currently affected by Leaf fall making finding the golf ball at times very tricky, please be aware that the so called ‘Leaf rule’ is not in place, the committee is in agreement that this local rule will not be implemented at Little Hay at this time.
The R&A advises this Model Local Rule should be limited to the holes or specific areas where there are problems with piles of loose impediments and should be withdrawn as soon as the conditions improve, or the piles of loose impediments have been removed. This Model Local Rule does not cover situations where there are lots of individual leaves or clumps or leaves,** it is specific to large piles of leaves**. Currently no such piles are evident on course & therefore this rule will not be implemented.
Should you hit your ball into an area affected by leaf fall ensure to pinpoint an exact line to have the best chance of locating it when you arrive at the location.
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