Preferred lies:
Preferred lies refers to a local rule (Model Local Rule E-3) that allows the ball lying on any closely mown area to be lifted, cleaned, and placed on the fairway during adverse course conditions.
This rule is usually adopted after heavy rain or extreme heat, when the course is damaged or when the ball can easily be embedded in the ground.
A golfer under this rule can, without penalty, lift the ball and move it up to a specified distance in any direction, but no closer to the hole. Most commonly, the ball may be placed no further than:
- six inches,
- one scorecard length away (scorecard length), or
- one club length (usually on professional tours)
from the original lie, but this spot may be described differently.
The Committee decides whether scores made under this rule are acceptable for handicap purposes.
Other names: Winter Rules or “lift, clean and place”.
A similar, but separate rule: Model Local Rule E-2 “mark, lift, clean and replace”.