Scores for Saturday 24 January 2026

Second game of the year and a good turn out of 14 players.

A blustery day today and wet under foot but no rain and the Sun came out, the Sun making it difficult to spot the flight of some shots particularly on the second and fourth holes.

Scores were quite mediocre today with the winners in the low 30s and the best gross being James with 84.

Roger Gibbs played a solid round with six pinkies in a row on the front nine and was looking set for at least a second place, however Lucky TonyE was having none of it and produced a great back nine to take second. Roger getting a consolation front nine for his efforts.

Our winner this week was Jock Hunter who had a very solid round, Jock couldn't stay afterwards as he was hosting an early Burns night that evening and therefore missed out on all the congratulations.

A few rules queries today.

1) What is the rule if you knock the ball of the tee at the start of your backswing?

2) What can you do about a plugged ball?

3) Are you required to mark the ball position for Preferred Lies?

Question 1

Rule 9.4b Penalty for Lifting or Deliberately Touching Ball or Causing It to Move

I won't print all the text for this rule but essentially if you knock the ball off the tee during your backswing it is a one shot penalty, you can replace your back on it's tee. 

UPDATE

This rule is only in effect when the hole starts (Rule 6.1a). The hole starts when making a stroke to begin a hole. Accidently knocking the ball off the tee is not making a stroke to begin the hole, hence in this case the ball can be re-teed with no penalty. Rule 9.4b is for when the hole is in play after making a stroke to begin the hole.  

Question 2

Rule 16.3a Embedded ball - When free relief is allowed

Relief is allowed only when your ball is embedded in the general area. Your ball is embedded only if it is in its own pitch-mark made as a result of your previous stroke and part of your ball is below the level of the ground.

Question 3

From the R&A website

Do I need to mark the position of my ball when taking relief for a preferred lie under Model Local Rule E-3?

It is recommended that you mark the position of your ball before preferring your lie, but there is no penalty if you fail to do so.

However in the last email from the club dated 23/10/2025 regarding preferred lies and will take precedence as Rule E-3 is only a Model Rule. 

It is recommended that a player marks the original position of their ball when taking a preferred lie so that it is clear to other players they have placed their ball within 6 inches. Marking becomes essential if you move away from the spot to clean your ball.

Definition of  "The General Area"

Rule 2.2a The General Area

The general area covers the entire course except for the four specific areas of the course described in Rule 2.2b

It is called the "general area" because:

• It covers most of the course and is where a player’s ball will most often be played until the ball reaches the putting green
• It includes every type of ground and growing or attached objects found in that area, such as fairway, rough and trees

Rule 2.2b The Four Specific Areas

Certain Rules apply specifically to the four areas of the course that are not in the general area:

• The teeing area the player must use in starting the hole they are playing (Rule 6.2)
• All penalty areas (Rule 17)
• All bunkers (Rule 12)
• The putting green of the hole the player is playing (Rule 13)

Winter Rules (Aldwickbury Park Golf Club email dated 12/11/2025)

The Following rules apply;

Preferred Lies – On closely mown areas players may lift their ball and place within 6 inches of its original position but not closer to the hole.

Cleaning the ball – Players may mark their position, lift and clean the ball and return

These are separate local rules so for the "Cleaning the ball" a ball may be marked, cleaned and returned to its original position anywhere on the course, "Preferred Lies" is only for mown areas.

UPDATE

After consultation with the club rules official, Carl Lawson, it would appear that "Clean the Ball" on its own is not a local rule for our club, the club email from Paul Toomey was unclear and there has never been a rule purely to clean your ball.

Statistics

The average gross score today was 92.93 and the average Stableford score was 27.43.

Best gross of the day was from James Miller with 84.

There were 0 Eagles or better today.

There were 4 birdies today.

Jock Hunter with 1 on hole 14.
Duncan Miller with 1 on hole 15.
James Miller with 1 on hole 17.
Peter Creighton with 1 on hole 12.

Our winner today with 33 points was Jock Hunter.
In second place on 32 points was Tony Froud.
The front 9 went to Roger Gibbs with 18 points.
The back 9 went to Duncan Miller with 17 points.