Local Rules

LOCAL RULES as documented on the 2018 Scorecard

To be read in conjunction with Rules of Golf

OUT OF BOUNDS (Rule 27-1)

1. Beyond any wall, fence or white stakes with black tops defining the boundary of the course
2. Beyond the fence bordering the Water Reclamation plant on RHS of 10^th and 17^th holes
3. On or beyond paths surrounding the clubhouse and to rear/side of 1^st Tee

GROUND UNDER REPAIR (GUR) (Rule 25-1)

1. Those areas the margins of which are defined by white stakes and/or white lines or GUR signage. NOTE:  The stakes are immovable obstructions
2. Except in a hazard, clearly defined wheel ruts made by a mower, tractor or motor vehicle
3. Practice tees on the 11^th, 15^th and 17^th holes
4. Painted exclusion lines around greens and/or their residual indentations
5. Designated gardens are indicated by white stakes with green tops. Play is prohibited and relief MUST be taken in accordance with Rule 25-1b.  NOTE:  The stakes are immovable obstructions.
   NOTE:  All other gardens are integral parts of the course.

WATER HAZARDS – 1^st, 9^th, 10^th and 18^th tees

The playing of a Provisional Ball is permitted if a ball may be in a water hazard.  The Specimen Local Rule in Appendix I of the Rules of Golf is in effect except that the Provisional ball MUST be played from the tee.

Specimen Local Rule:

If there is doubt whether a ball is in or is lost in the water hazard (Holes 1, 9, 10 and 18), the player may play another ball provisionally under any of the applicable options in 26-1.  If the original ball is found outside the water hazard, the player must continue play with it.

If the original ball is found in the water hazard, the player may either play the original ball as it lies or continue with the ball played provisionally under 26-1.

If the original ball is not found or identified within the five-minute search period, the player must continue with the ball played provisionally.

LATERAL WATER HAZARDS

The margins of Lateral Water Hazards are defined by red stakes and/or lines.  NOTE:  The stakes are immovable obstructions.

IMMOVABLE OBSTRUCTIONS (Rule 24-2)

1. Artificially surfaced roads and paths (includes gravel).
2. The machine shed and all the enclosed area bounded by concrete paving
3. The practice matting and base below 10^th tee –as an additional option, relief may be taken on the teeing area behind the path.
4. If a staked or guarded tree or shrub interferes with the player’s stance or area of intended swing, the ball MUST be lifted without penalty and dropped in accordance with the procedures prescribed in Rule 24-2b. NOTE:  The stakes and tree guards are immovable obstructions.

PROTECTIVE SCREEN – Rear 15^th Green (Rule 24-2)

If a ball comes to rest in a position at which there is interference from the screen and/or garden at the rear of the 15^th green, as an additional option, the player may use the nearest drop zone.

IMMOVABLE OBSTRUCTION CLOSE TO PUTTING GREEN (e.g. Sprinkler Heads)

The specimen Local Rule in Appendix I of the Rules of Golf is in effect.

Specimen Local Rule:

Relief from interference by an immovable obstruction may be taken under Rule 24-2.

In addition, if a ball lies through the green and an immovable obstruction on or within two club-lengths of the putting green and within two club-lengths of the ball intervenes on the line of play between the ball and the hole, the player may take relief as follows:

The ball must be lifted and dropped at the nearest point to where the ball lay that (a) is not nearer the hole, (b) avoids intervention and (c) is not in a hazard or on a putting green.

If the player’s ball lies on the putting green and an immovable obstruction within two club-lengths of the putting green intervenes on his line of putt, the player may take relief as follows:

The ball must be lifted and placed at the nearest point to where the ball lay that (a) is not nearer the hole, (b) avoids intervention and (c) is not in a hazard.

The ball may be cleaned when lifted.

Exception: A player may not take relief under this Local Rule if interference by anything other than the immovable obstruction makes the stroke clearly impracticable.

 

MOVABLE OBSTRUCTIONS (Rule 24-1)

Hoops, stakes and ropes controlling the flow of traffic are Movable Obstructions

EMBEDDED BALL (Rule 25-2)

Relief extended to “through the green”.  Specimen Local Rule in Appendix I of the Rules of Golf is in effect.

Specimen Local Rule:

Through the green, a ball that is embedded may be lifted, cleaned and dropped, without penalty, as near as possible to the spot where it lay but not nearer the hole. The ball when dropped must first strike a part of the course through the green.

Note: A ball is “embedded” when it is in its own pitch-mark and part of the ball is below the level of the ground. A ball does not necessarily have to touch the soil to be embedded (e.g. grass, loose impediments and the like may intervene between the ball and the soil).

Exceptions:

1. A player may not take relief under this Local Rule if the ball is embedded in sand in an area that is not closely-mown.
2. A player may not take relief under this Local Rule if interference by anything other than the condition covered by this Local Rule makes the stroke clearly impracticable.

DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICES

The Specimen Local Rule in Appendix I of the Rules of Golf is in effect

Specimen Local Rule:

For all play at this course, a player may obtain distance information by use of a distance-measuring device. If, during a stipulated round, a player uses a distance-measuring device to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect his play (e.g. elevation changes, wind speed, etc.), the player is in breach of Rule 14-3.

 

Penalty for breach of Local Rule:  Match Play – Loss of hole.  Stroke Play – Two strokes

Flags:  Red Front, White Middle, Yellow Back

DISTANCES:  On card/sprinkler heads are in metres to centre of green

 

ARTIFICIAL BUNKER LINING

If a player’s ball lies in a bunker in such a position that artificial bunker lining material may be just below the surface, the player may, without penalty, probe the area around the ball with a tee or the like to see if the club would strike the artificial material in the course of making a stroke, provided:

(i)   The lie of the ball, area of intended stance or swing or the line of play is not improved (Rule 13-2), and

(ii)  The ball is not moved (Rule 18-2).

If the club would strike the artificial material, relief is available in accordance with Rule 24-2b(ii).