These Rules have been introduced following R&A and PGA guidance and are mostly taken from the "Model Local Rules" in the R&A Rulebook.
When it has been Announced that Winter Rules are In Force.

A ball lying on a closely-mown area through the green may be lifted, without penalty, and cleaned. Before lifting the ball, the player must mark its position. Having lifted the ball, he must place it on a spot within six inches of and not nearer the hole than where it originally lay, that is not in a hazard and not on a putting green.
A player may place his ball only once, and it is in play when it has been placed (Rule 20-4). If the ball fails to come to rest on the spot on which it is placed, Rule 20-3d applies. If the ball when placed comes to rest on the spot on which it is placed and it subsequently moves, there is no penalty and the ball must be played as it lies, unless the provisions of any other Rule apply.

If the player fails to mark the position of the ball before lifting it or moves the ball in any other manner, such as rolling it with a club, he incurs a penalty of one stroke.

Note: "Closely-mown area" means any area of the course, including paths through the rough, cut to fairway height or less.

*PENALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULE:
Match play - Loss of hole; Stroke play - Two strokes.

*If a player incurs the general penalty for a breach of this Local Rule, no additional penalty under the Local Rule is applied.

Water and Lateral Water Hazards.........Clarification.

It is fairly obvious that taking straight lines between posts cannot define our hazards as this would mean areas of water being outside a hazard and other areas of dry land being inside. Therefore, following comments made by the PGA rules official, I feel that we should play to the following definition.

The yellow and red posts should only be taken to indicate the type of hazard, not the boundary.

The boundary will normally be defined as "the normal water line". Thus flooding outside this boundary is casual water but dried up water courses are inside the hazard. All reeds and similar vegetation on the edges of hazards should be regarded as "inside the hazard" even if they are not growing past the normal water line. This means that if ball cannot be found in the reeds it can still be regarded as "lost in the hazard".

An exception to the "water line rule" will be on water hazards where the bank is so steep (eg 18 Kings or 12 Earls), so as to make it virtually impossible to drop, or even place, a ball without it returning to the water. In this case, the top of the bank should be regarded as the boundary of the hazard.

Another exception is where the stakes do not actually define an area of water (eg Earls 7). In this specific case, anywhere left of the stakes is in the hazard. If the ball crosses between the 3 stakes the ball should be played, at the cost of 1 penalty stroke, within 2 club lengths of where it crossed the margin of the hazard. If the ball enters the hazard left of the first stake but finishes past the first stake, it is in the hazard and relief can be taken at the cost of 1 penalty shot. Because it is a lateral water hazard, you can play from within 2 club lengths of any point that is equidistant from the point of entry. This means that you can play from within 2 club lengths of the first stake.

Please remember that this is now a water hazard and if you do play from "Dingly Dell" you may not ground your club.

Local Rule.

Provisional Ball may be played if the original ball may be lost in water (or lateral water) hazard.

For the purpose of preventing undue delay the following Local Rule is in operation at all times at The Warwickshire. (Copied from R&A Model Local Rules)

"Where a ball may be lost in a water hazard or a lateral water hazard but its final resting spot is difficult to determine, a provisional ball may be played under the conditions of Rule 26-1."

This means that the provisional may be played from 1) the spot where the original ball was played or 2) keeping the point where the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard between yourself and the pin, any point on that line or 3) (Red Stakes Only) within 2 club lengths of the point where the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard. 

"If the original ball is found not in the water hazard, the player must continue with this ball.

If a provisional ball is played and the original ball is found in the hazard, the player may play the original ball as it lies or continue with the provisional ball in play but he may not proceed under Rule 26-1 with regard to the original ball."

Local Rule.

Distance Measuring Devices.

For all play at The Warwickshire, a player may obtain distance information by using a device that measures distance only. If, during a competitive round, a player uses a distance-measuring device that is designed to guage or measure other conditions that might affect his play (e.g. gradient, windspeed, temperature, etc.), the player is in breach of Rule 14-3, for which the penalty is disqualification, regardless of whether any such additional function is actually used. 

Local Rule - Protection of Young Trees.

Protection of young trees identified by stakes. If such a tree or its stake(s) interfere with a player's stance or the area of his extended swing, the ball must be lifted, without penalty, and dropped in accordance with the procedure prescribed in Rule 24-2b (Immovable Obstructions). The ball may be cleaned when lifted under this Local Rule.

Exception. A player may not obtain relief under this Local Rule if a) it is clearly unreasonable for him to make a stroke because of interference by anything other than the tree or its stake(s) or b) interference by the tree or its stake(s) would occur only through the use of an unnecessarily abnormal, stanc,e swing or direction of play.

Procedure prescribed in Rule 24-2b can be interpreted as follows:-

Determine the nearest point, not nearer the hole, so that the stance or swing is not affectedby the tree or its stake(s) and put down a marker. (This is the "nearest point of relief")

Measure off a distance 1 club length from that marker in any direction, but not nearer the hole, and put in another marker.

Lift the ball (clean it if desired).

Drop the ball in accordance with the procedures prescribed in the article on "placing and dropping" anywhere between the two markers.

Please Note. You cannot claim relief just because the ball "will hit the tree".

***NEW*** Local Rule for "Accidental Movement of a Ball on a Putting Green
Rules 18-2, 18-3 and 20-1 are modified as follows:

When a player's ball lies on the putting green, there is no penalty if the ball or ball-marker is accidentally moved by the player, his partner, his opponent, or any of their caddies or equipment.

The moved ball or ball-marker must be replaced as provided in Rules 18-2, 18-3 and 20-1.

This Local Rule applies only when the player's ball or ball-marker lies on the putting green and any movement is accidental. 

Note: If it is determined that a player's ball on the putting green was moved as a result of wind, water or some other natural cause such as the effects of gravity, the ball must be played as it lies from its new location. A ball-marker moved in such circumstances is replaced.

R&A infographic.pdf

NEW LOCAL RULE.

Aeration Holes.

On the putting green, a ball that comes to rest in or on an aeration hole may be placed at the nearest spot, not nearer the hole, that avoids the situation.

This has been introduced because some recent aeration holes have taken time to heal and players have reacted to the situation in different ways. With further Hollow Tining due in the next few weeks, it was felt appropriate to introduce the above rule.

Please note:-

The rule only applies on the green.

You are still not allowed to smooth out spike and scuff marks.

You should always get your playing companion (opponent in matches) to agree before moving your ball.

If you repair a pitch mark you must still replace the ball on the original spot (It is up to you to repair it adequately).

The Rule will only apply when Aeration Holes are on the greens and so will effectively be of a recurring temporary nature.

Roger Saines (24th March 2008)

Line of Sight.

It has come to my attention that players are taking "line of sight" relief when they are behind irrigation boxes. This is definitely not allowed.

Below is a copy of R&A Decision 33-8/17:

Q:   Irrigation-control boxes, which are about 2 feet wide and 4 feet high, have been installed near a number of fairways. Would it be appropriate for a Committee to adopt a Local Rule under which relief would be provided from such boxes when they intervene on the line of play (ie. line of sight)?

A:   No. Providing line-of-sight relief from permanent immovable obstructions is not authorised, except in very unusual circumstances. It is not unusual for irrigation-control boxes to be located near fairways.

I think the confusion has come about because people see Professionals taking line of sight relief. When they get relief it is usually because of a temporary obstruction which has been placed there just for the duration of the tournament (eg. marquees or advertising banners).

Relief without penalty is permitted if the box interferes with the stance or intended swing of the player. However, as always when taking relief, please confirm with your playing partners.

Roger Saines (18th Jan 2013)