From 28th August 2026 there will be a revised local rule in effect.
The stakes defining the garden behind the 2nd Green have now changed to Green Topped Red Stakes instead of the previous White Stakes.
Green topped red stakes define penalty area environmental No Play Zones. A NPZ is a defined part of an abnormal course condition (see Rule 17.1e) where play is not allowed. A player must take relief when:
- Their ball is in a NPZ (dropping at the drop zone and the addition of a 1 stroke penalty) or
- A NPZ interferes with their area of intended stance or area of intended swing in playing a ball outside the NPZ (See Rule 16.1f) taking free relief and dropping within 1 club length of the nearest point of complete relief.
The drop zone to the North of the green will continued to be used for all balls entering this area with the addition of 1 penalty stroke.
What is the thinking behind this change?
Why are we punishing aggressive golf?
Seems strange to me.
It’s not intended to stop anyone from being aggressive. Quite the opposite — if you have the ability and confidence to take on the green, you absolutely can. However taking the aggressive option should come with some risk, particularly on a drivable par 4.
The previous free drop essentially removed most of that risk. This change is intended to make the 2nd a more genuine risk/reward hole while also properly defining the garden as an No Play Zone.
Hi Matt, thanks for the reply.
As for risk, there’s a dam short, a dam right, trees left, and a tight 8-10m long zone where you can land a drive. There is already plenty of risk. The downhill chip from the drop zone isn’t all that easy either.
The tee boxes moving behind the tree made the shot harder, forcing a shaped shot from the tee. Still makeable, but harder.
If you hit the flat at the front of the green from the tee the ball will skip off the back into the garden. You need to hit the sloped section at the back to stop a drive on the green.
You said the intention was not to stop aggressive play – how so? This change takes the balance of risk/reward way too far in the direction of risk.
It’s an extremely tight course already. Let people hit their driver and have fun. We should even be encouraging it!
Hitting a 7 iron off the tee on a par 4s is boring. 5/6/16/17 are all already irons off the tee par 4s. We don’t need more.
Anyway, just my thoughts. Cheers
Joe