What is it?
At this time of year, heavy leaf fall can make it difficult to find or play your ball. The rule is intended to make the situation fairer, but importantly not to create an opportunity for golfers to deliberately take advantage for a better score or for a preferred lie.
With immediate effect, from 31/10/25, as we are suffering heavy leaf falls across the course - any area with temporary accumulations / piles of leaves that have not yet been mulched (in the general area or bunkers) will be treated as Ground Under Repair. We have agreed with England Golf that we will increase the specificity of this via the GK team over the coming days and weeks until the rule is removed. In short this will enable:
✅ Free relief is allowed under Rule 16.1 — drop a ball within one club-length of the nearest point of full relief, no nearer the hole.
❌ This does not apply in penalty areas.
How it works
Confirm the accumulation: As above specificity will increase as the days and weeks progress. With immediate effect, it relates to significant piles / accumulations of leaves which clearly prevent a ball from being found in the general play area or bunkers.
Confirm with partners: All playing partners must agree that the ball has been lost in the pile / accumulation before relief can be taken [known or virtually certain that it is lost in the pile of leaves]
Take free relief: You are allowed to take free relief under Rule 16.1 which means dropping your ball within one club length of the point of complete relief, no nearer the hole. For the avoidance of doubt this is one club length from the edge of the pile.
Replace or Drop: You can replace the original ball within the leaves or take relief as above
For Handicap purposes:
Cards entered that have used this ruling are valid for card entry / handicap purposes.
