PNGA Winter Rules

With the weather as it is, its probably important to revisit winter rules. From the PNGA Rules Committee, here are the official Winter Rules:

The following Preferred Lie Local Rule may be used by clubs for various reasons during the inactive or winter handicap freeze period when scores are not being posted for handicap purposes or when extreme abnormal course conditions dictate.

However, the USGA and the PNGA strongly recommend that during the active period when scores are being posted for handicap purposes, the ball should be played as it lies in accordance with the Rules of Golf.

1. A ball may be moved through the green* with the following restrictions:
A ball shall not be moved when it lies:
Within 36 inches of the base of a tree, stump, shrub or out of bounds.

2. If lifted, the ball shall be marked; it may be cleaned; and shall be placed no more than 6" from its original lie, no nearer the hole.

Use of the clubhead in the movement and placement of the ball is prohibited.

A. A ball so lifted is deemed to be back in play once it has been placed.
B. While in the act of placing, the ball may be repositioned. For the purpose of this condition, the ball is considered placed, and may not be repositioned, once it has been at rest for five seconds.
C. A ball back in play that moves prior to address shall be played as it lies unless Rule 18 requires replacement.
D. A player is entitled to exercise this preferred lies option one time only per shot.

3. The Embedded Ball Rule shall be in effect through the green*.

A. Anywhere "through the green," a ball which is embedded in its own pitch-mark in the ground, except in loose sand, may be lifted without penalty, cleaned and dropped as near as possible to the spot where it lay but not nearer the hole.
B. When an embedded ball is lost "beyond a reasonable doubt" in wet, soft turf, another ball may be put to play as near as possible to the spot the original ball was lost without penalty.
Exception: A player may not obtain relief under this Local Rule if it is clearly unreasonable to play a stroke because of interference by anything other than the conditions covered by this Local Rule. (Unplayable lie, etc.).

*Definition
"Through the green" is the whole area of the course except:

The teeing ground and putting green of the hole being played and all hazards on the course.

General Penalty for Breach of this Rule:
Stroke Play - Two Strokes: Match Play - Loss of Hole

Read the official transcript here:
PNGAWinterRules.pdf