Relief From Dirt Areas In The Fairway

Posted May 18, 2023

Noah and the Green Committee have asked the Associations for help by avoiding play from the dirt areas in the fairways while his crew work to improve the conditions. The QCMGA Board has adopted Model Local Rule E-3: Preferred Lies (Temp) for a ball that lies on bare dirt in the fairway and for a player’s stance on this dirt area. The rule is in effect immediately and will be in force until Noah is satisfied that the conditions have returned to where normal play can commence. We will use this rule in all our events and you are asked and encouraged to use it in your regular play. Scores made while this rule is in effect are postable to GHIN. The Rule is as follows:

MLR E-3 (Temp): “When a player’s ball touches any part of bare dirt in the general area cut to fairway height or less (fairway) or the player’s stance is on bare dirt in the fairway, the player must take complete and free relief by placing the original ball or another ball on turf grass in and playing from this relief area:

Reference Point: A point off the outside edge of the dirt on a line from the flagstick through the original lie of the ball (Back-on-the-Line).
Area Size Measured from the Reference Point: One club length, but with these limits:
Limits on Location of Relief Area:
Must not be nearer the hole than the reference point and
Must be in the general area.

In proceeding under this Local Rule, the player must choose a spot to place the ball and use the procedures for replacing a ball under Rule 14.2b(2) and 14.2e. But for the purposes of applying Rule 14.2e, the player has only chosen the spot on which to place the ball once the ball has been set down, and the player has let the ball go with the intent for the ball to be in play. The ball is in play when it has been replaced.”