• stroke indexes will change across all three courses (see table here)
• Ground Under Repair (GUR) will be designated differently
• the status of plantations will change - most will NOT now be classed as GUR.

New Stroke Indexes

Having reviewed average player performance hole-by-hole over the last few years for both men and ladies, stroke indexes will be adjusted and a new course card has been prepared.  Stroke indexes according to this new course card will come into effect from 1 June and should be used for all competitive golf with immediate effect from that date.  This includes any match-play knock-outs in progress.  Please be aware that for the short term, stroke indexes on the plaques mounted on the tee boxes will now be incorrect and should be ignored in favour of the card.  The actual new indexes are here.

GUR and Plantations

With the new course card being prepared, the committee has taken the opportunity to work with the club management to change the way we define and use Ground Under Repair (GUR).  With effect also with the new card, GUR will be designated by areas marked by sequences of blue stakes.  Plantations will no longer be counted as GUR by default.  Whilst it is subject to final review, the only old plantation area likely to be marked GUR will be that to the right of the Essex 6th fairway.  Please note that our 100 yd distance markers are also currently blue stakes.  Any GUR will be so marked with multiple blue stakes so that there is no possible confusion between the two types.

What do I do when I am in a plantation which is not now GUR?

• If you lose a ball in a plantation, you have only one option - to play according to Rule 27 - hitting a new ball from where you took your original shot (under penalty of 1 stroke);
• If you find your ball in a plantation you normally have three options:

1. play the ball as it lies;
2. declare it unplayable and take a penalty drop;
3. take free relief from a young tree (marked as such by a stake, tag, support, plastic collar or net).  In this case you proceed according to Rule 24.2 (Immovable Obstruction).  

• If you do get relief without penalty from a young tree but the nearest point of relief is next to another young tree from which you'd also get relief then you get relief again (and again) under Rule 24-2b until no relief situation is available.  Note that this may eventually involve you dropping a ball near to a tree from which no relief is available because it is not staked etc.

We hope the above guidance is helpful.  In the event of inadvertent errors, the normal Rules of Golf apply.