ALLIANCE SET FOR BUSY SECOND HALF

QUESTION 4: John was three minutes late on the tee for a Stableford competition.What penalty does John incur?

a. Two points are deducted from his final Stableford score for the round.

b. He incurs a two-strokes penalty for the first hole.

c. He is disqualified for being late on the first tee.

QUESTION 5: Janet’s putt in motion on the seventh green hit a beetle on the putting surface and was deflected away from the hole. What is the correct procedure?

a. She must play the ball as it lies.

b. She must replay the stroke.

c. She may either play the ball as it lies or replay the stroke.

5. A - A minor change to Rule 11.1b(2) with regards to a ball played from the putting green, ‘Ball in motion accidentally hits person or outside influence,’ states that an insect is not considered to be an animal, (outside influence). If a ball in motion played from the putting green accidentally hits an Theinsect. ball is not replayed, such as if it was deflected by a dog, and is played where it comes to rest after hitting the insect.

4. B - Until the Rule change on January 1, 2023, if a player was five minutes or less late on the first tee in a Stableford competition, the player was penalised by having two points deducted from their overall total score for the Thatround. has now been changed from January 1 to apply to the player being penalised two strokes for the first hole. As is the case in a medal round.

green, teeing area of the hole being played, or went out of bounds, the ball must be replaced on, and played from its original spot.

Therfore, if a golf ball on a fairway was dropped, placed or replaced under a Rule, and then moved by wind, water, or gravity into a penalty area, bunker, putting

The different areas of the course are: The Teeing Area of the hole being played (that area being a rectangle defined by the starting blocks and two club lengths behind the blocks), Penalty Areas, Bunkers, the Putting Green of the hole being played. All other areas of the course are the General Area, such as fairways, all rough, and teeing grounds on other holes.

3. B - Normally if natural forces cause a ball at rest to move, except when the ball is on the putting green of the hole in play, under Rule 9.3 that ball is played from the spot where it came to rest. However, if a player puts their original ball or another ball into play by dropping, placing or replacing it, and natural forces then cause the ball at rest to move and come to rest in another area of the course, or out of bounds, the ball must be replaced on, and played from, its original spot. This rule change came into place on January 1, 2023.

2. True - With effect from January 1, 2023, if a player damages or breaks a club accidentally during a round, the player may repair or replace the club with another club. If a player breaks or damages their club by abusing it, that club may not be replaced.

1. False - Rule 3.3 has been changed with regard to a player being obliged to show their handicap on the scorecard in strokeplay competitions. With effect from 1st January 2023 the player does not need to show the handicap on the scorecard. It is deemed that their handicap is known to the committee. Nor does the player need to add up the scores, as that will be done automatically by a computer. However, a Local Rule may be put in place that requires a player to put their handicap index, course handicap, playing handicap/strokes allowed on the scorecard. That Local Rule may well be useful when playing in foursomes, fourball, a Society or Roll-Up competition where a computer is not available, and some clubs may adopt that Local Rule.

Have you got a rules query you’d like clarification on? If so, email news@golferslocal.co.uk and Peter will provide an answer for you

THE Manchester and District Golf Alliance is the biggest organisation of its kind in England catering, with a variety of competitions,for more than 110 clubs within a radius of 30 miles of Manchester Town Hall.

The Alliance has done this since being formed 99 years ago and is looking forward to celebrating a spectacular Centenary in 2024.

A big part of their programme is running inter-club matchplay competitions in five categories which are played during the spring and summer months.

The Dunham Forest Trophy for professionals and six top amateurs, the City Glass Trophy,which is a men’s foursomes event. The Archie Preston Trophy is for mixed foursomes. There is also a men’s seniors trophy and the BMW Junior Team Challenge.

The Alliance runs Winter competitions at a variety of clubs, which include Order of Merit competitions for professionals and amateurs, with one half played before the festive season and second half early in the New Year, which

BY GEOFF GARNETT

members from all of the affiliated clubs can enter.

Alliance president Ian Brooks, a member of Bolton Old Links, said: “We are now well into the second half of winter season with record numbers attending the weekly events.”

The second half of the winter season, which began at Hart Common on February 15,concludes with President’s Day at Chorley on April 26.

“We have made the draws for the knockout competition and this is displayed on our website.

“We are already planning for the 2024 Centenary season by booking courses and some special events will be added to our normal programme to mark the special milestone.

“Our thanks go out to all professionals, amateurs and sponsors who support the Alliance every week and here’s hoping for a dry start and finish of our season led by our captain Scott Jackson, the professional at Disley.”

Helen signs in as CCLGA captain

CHESHIRE County Ladies Golf Association’s new captain Helen Heggarty brings a wealth of golfing experience and success into her new role and is looking to continue the county’s playing success in 2023.

Her own playing career saw her win the County Championship four times and she represented the Cheshire team almost 100 times.

Helen was England Girl champion in 1976 and a player for the England Girls and Youths team from 1976-78.

Her academic achievements included a BSc in Sports Science 2:1 with honours from Liverpool John Moores University and a MEd in Leisure from the University of Western Australia,majoring in marketing and industrial relations.

Her wide range of work experience in golf included Responsibility for Marketing for the PGA in 198285.

From 1985 she has run Helen Latham Promotions which specialises in sponsorship and event management with many activities in golf.

These included – player management on men’s and women’s tours where her clients included Laura Davies and Alison Nicholas, The World Cup of Golf – press officer for tournaments in Spain and Australia, Rules of Golf Quiz for the R&Acreation and management for 15 years, SeveTrophy project manager, organising more than 200 golf days for corporate clients and charities all over the UK and the Wirral Classic.

Helen is married to Royal Liverpool head professional John, has a son Tom who plays off +2 and now lives in the USA and a daughter Laura, also a keen golfer who works in London.

Helen said: “I owe thanks to a lot of people who helped and encouraged me as a junior - Carol Comboy who took me under her wing at an early age taking me to the Northern Foursomes (which we won twice), Audrey Briggs, members at my two clubs Caldy and Royal Liverpool, my parents and of course my husband John who has been very patient over the years!

“Cheshire had a great year in 2022 with the team winning the Northern Division and the Seniors team who did the same.

“We will be making every effort to win again in 2023.”