During the winter period, winter rules are in operation to help protect the course and ensure fair play for all. Mats must be used on all closely mown areas, including fairways and fringes. When your ball lies in the rough, there is no requirement to use a mat, although you may choose to do so if you wish.

When your ball lies in the rough, you may lift, clean and place the ball within 6 inches, no nearer the hole. In scramble competitions only, this relief area is extended to one club length.

For all other situations involving winter rules, including the placement of a mat or lift, clean and place on closely mown areas, the standard relief area is 6 inches, except where a scramble competition allows one club length.

As winter competitions are not handicap qualifying, players are permitted to putt from a mat when their ball lies on the fringe. This helps reduce wear on closely mown areas during the wetter winter months.

If you would prefer not to use a mat on a closely mown area, you may move your ball to the nearest point of rough, no closer to the hole, and play the shot from the rough.

Where a mat is provided on a teeing area, play must be made from the mat. This applies regardless of weather conditions and ensures consistency and protection of tee surfaces throughout the winter.

At the club, the winter period does not have a fixed start or end date, as this depends on ground conditions. However, the introduction and removal of winter rules will always be clearly communicated to members.

The plugged ball relief rule, as detailed in the Rules of Golf, is applicable all year round and is not specific to the winter period.

When winter rules are in play at Tytherington, the club also allows the use of a modified version of Rule E-5, which provides an alternative to stroke and distance for lost balls and balls out of bounds. The modification at Tytherington is that this relief carries a one-shot penalty instead of the standard two-shot penalty. Players are encouraged to familiarise themselves with Local Rule E-5 by referring to the Rules of Golf website.

Please note that while the use of a mat in the rough is permitted during winter competitions, this is not the rule when playing a handicap qualifying round. If you are playing a handicap round, players should refer to the dedicated web page covering winter rules for handicap purposes.

For each competition, any variations or exceptions to these standard winter rules will be clearly detailed in that competition’s rules section and should always be checked before play.