The short answer
- Only in effect when the committee adopts the local rule — not when you decide the fairways are muddy.
- Almost always limited to the general area cut to fairway height or less (the fairway and aprons).
- The committee sets the relief area. Model Local Rule E-3 lists one club-length, one scorecard length or six inches.
- You place the ball and can only place it once. Get it wrong and it's the general penalty.
What are preferred lies?
Preferred lies — still called "winter rules" by almost everyone — is a local rule that lets you mark, lift, clean and place your ball instead of playing it as it lies. It is designed for widespread adverse conditions that damage the course. Where mud sticking to the ball is the issue, the committee may instead allow lift, clean and replace (Model Local Rule E-2).
The official language is Model Local Rule E-3. It is usually limited to "the general area cut to fairway height or less," which means the fairway and the closely mown apron areas — not the rough.
When it can be introduced
Preferred lies can't be introduced once a stroke-play round has started, because players with more holes left would get an unfair advantage. In match play it may be introduced between the play of two holes, since both sides benefit equally.
How far can you move the ball?
| Relief area | Where you'll see it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Six inches | Some clubs, casual winter rules | Smallest specified area |
| One scorecard length | An option listed in Model Local Rule E-3 | Shorter than a club-length |
| One club-length | One of the sizes listed in E-3 | Largest of the three listed sizes |
Whatever the committee picks, the ball must stay in the general area and must not be placed nearer the hole than the original spot.
How to place the ball correctly
- Mark the spot before lifting. It's good practice, though E-3 doesn't require it.
- Pick a spot inside the relief area, no nearer the hole, in the general area.
- Place — don't drop. Set it down and let go with the intent that it is in play. At that moment the spot is chosen and locked in.
- If it won't stay, replace it on that same chosen spot a second time. If it still won't stay, find the nearest spot where it will stay at rest, no nearer the hole.
Watch the classic error: players drop the ball under preferred lies, or place it once, watch it roll, then place it again somewhere else. You only get the one placement (plus the one re-placement if it will not stay). Rolling the ball into place with your club is placing it in a wrong way: one penalty stroke if you play it without correcting it first.
Preferred lies and your handicap
Check with your club or handicap authority whether scores count when preferred lies are in effect. The handicapping body can set limits for scores to count, such as the size of the relief area or whether it may only be used in the fairway.
What you can't do is decide for yourself. If there is no local rule but you quietly give yourself preferred lies anyway, your score is not being played by the Rules of Golf.
The practical takeaway: preferred lies is a committee decision, not a group decision. Read the card, listen to the starter, and play what's actually in effect.
Frequently asked questions
What are preferred lies in golf?
How far can you move the ball under preferred lies?
Does preferred lies apply in the rough?
Can I post a score for handicap when preferred lies are in effect?
Can you take preferred lies if the club hasn't declared it?
Play the right rules every season
Conditions change weekly and so do the local rules. Save Strokes: Golf Rules Quick Reference is a PDF covering 20 rules situations, with a printable bag card and a phone card.