Does the rule of preferred lies on the fairway relate to the fairway on the hole you are actually playing or all fairways. EG If I tee off and my ball slices two fairways across – am I entitled to a preferred lie on that particular fairway?

The Local Rule on preferred lies relates to all closely-mown areas outside of a hazard.

On our course the preferred lie states only for the fairway being played.

Yes, correct.

The Local Rule can be restricted to 1 hole only, or a specified area on this hole, but if the is a Local Rule on preferred is in effect for the whole course, I would find it very odd if it was restricted to the hole played only, and not for any closely-mown area on the course.

How should the Local Rule be applied if the ball was lying on a closely-mown path right between two holes??

I’d be questioning the reason for the rule if the club ruled out fairways you weren’t playing on. There MUST be a reason for the rule, ie, poor fairways needing to recover from lots of rain, dry weather etc, this rule is generally about fairway not the player….

I agree Cliff.
The limitation is an attempt to punish a player for not staying on the fairway of the hole being played. Seeing it is a variation of the Specimen Local Rule and I would imagine, not approved by the relevant Rules Body if there was an argument the Rules Body would probably refuse to adjudicate.

Quote from the specimen Local Rule on preferred lies from appendix I in the Rules book.

”...A ball lying on a closely mown area through the green [or specify a more restricted area, e.g., at the 6th hole] may be lifted without penalty and cleaned…”

Limitations to 1 hole only is allowed.

The limitation can only be to a specified area (or areas). It cannot be constrained to ‘when playing the xth hole’.

Incidentally, if it is intended as a deterrent, how does the club ‘punish’ players hitting onto an adjacent fairway when preferred lies are not in force. I think it is just a badly thought out LR

The limitation is however the club chooses to define it.

I have played at many clubs where a wide variety of preferred lies options have been available – through the green, fairways only, the fairway of the hole being played or a specific part of the course

Its the same for everyone so it doesn’t matter that much. What does matter is that the club clearly defines what relief is available, and where it applies. That way players should have no doubt of their enititlements.

Cheers
John