The CSGA Links Volume 2 Issue 2 April, 2014 | Page 39

Preferred Lies or Suspend Score Posting?

F

or golf enthusiasts throughout
Connecticut the day has finally
arrived! April 1st marks the
arrival of the 2014 handicap season and
the “official” start to the golf season in
our state.
However, due to extreme
temperatures and unthawed snow,
many of our courses do not have the
plush green grass and blooming flowers
we expect to see when The Masters
begins on April 10th. These extreme
temperatures and unthawed snow make
the job of the handicap committee at
each club a little more difficult. The
question posed to each committee is
should we adopt preferred lies (winter
rules) or suspend score posting?

How widespread are these
adverse conditions? This is the first
question the committee should ask
themselves.
If the conditions are
so widespread that no golf is being
played on the course then there is no
reason to adopt either winter rules or
suspend score posting since no golf is
being played. If the conditions do not
prohibit play on the course but several
temporary tees and greens are in place,
effectively changing the course’s normal
scoring