Clarification of "closely mown area"

[Kiwi battler]

When clean and place local rule is in place , how do we define CMA ?

Is it like a water hazard , or course boundary - margin extending vertically ,so a ball that overhangs the margin is on the CMA

Or , like a putting green where a ball if touching the green is on the green

I'd assume the latter ......but cant find anything specific in the rules

[jvincent]

Generally CMA is used to refer to the cut portion of the fairway. Since you are already allowed to lift/clean your ball on the putting surface it doesn't apply there.

The "rough" is not included and is not defined in the Rules.

[AAA]

When clean and place local rule is in place , how do we define CMA ?

Is it like a water hazard , or course boundary - margin extending vertically ,so a ball that overhangs the margin is on the CMA

Or , like a putting green where a ball if touching the green is on the green

I'd assume the latter ......but cant find anything specific in the rules

I have always understood it to be 'if the ball lies on or any part of the ball touches'.

All the conditions are consistent. The ball is in the area defined if it touches it. WH, bunker, casual water GUR.
In the case of OB, it is in effect the course that is being defined. (You can't define it if it is not part of the course.)

[Kiwi battler]

With that logic , a ball "touching" the rough is in the rough

Does the margin of the rough or CMA extend vertically ?

Interesting huh ....Equity tells me the ball should be touching the CMA at ground level ....but you will always get some anal retentive who will argue otherwise

And .....is the burn "deisel strip of dead grass" CMA ?

[AAA]

With that logic , a ball "touching" the rough is in the rough

'CMA' is a term recognised by the Rules. 'Rough' is not.
So 'on or touching' applies to the CMA. That seems logical to me.