Local Rules

LOCAL RULES

To be read in conjunction with the Rules of Golf and any Temporary Local Rules.    (Effective: December 2021)

OUT OF BOUNDS

All ground outside the club’s boundary fences; the car parks; practice fairway right of the 1st hole; short game practice area left of the 10th tee; clubhouse; residence right of the 1st hole; roundabout and roundabout rockery.

ABNORMAL COURSE CONDITIONS (ACC) & IMMOVABLE OBSTRUCTIONS

Marker Stakes; Staked or Guarded Trees/Shrubs/Plants

Stakes defining Penalty Areas and GUR areas, staked trees/shrubs/plants (and their stakes and guards) are deemed to be Immovable Obstructions. Free relief under Rule 16.1 applies. (No free relief if ball lies in a Penalty Area)

Fixed Sprinkler Head / Tap / Drainage Grate

These are Immovable Obstructions. Relief from interference may be obtained under Rule 16.1. In addition if a ball lies off the putting green in the general area, and such an obstruction is on the line of play and is within two club-lengths of the putting green and within two club-lengths of the ball, the player may obtain relief without penalty under Rule 16.1b in accord with the provisions of Specimen Local Rule F-5.

Overhead Wires

If a ball strikes the overhead wires at the 17th hole, the player must replay the stroke, without penalty, in accord with Rule 14.6.

Ground Under Repair (GUR)

The following areas are defined as Ground Under Repair:

• Garden beds adjacent to the Clubhouse and the 1st tee.
  (Players must take relief without penalty in accord with Rule 16.1)
• Those areas whose margins are defined by white stakes, white lines, GUR signs and/or ropes.
• Walkway matting.
• Washaways in bunkers and at the margins of bunkers.
• Clearly defined wheel ruts (except in a Penalty Area)
• If a player’s ball lies in or touches a seam of cut turf or a seam interferes with the player’s area of intended swing (but no relief if the seam only interferes with the player’s stance).
• Bunkers being worked on by Course Maintenance Staff. The entire bunker is considered GUR while work is in progress.

Players may take relief without penalty in accord with Rule 16.1 for (ii)-(vii) above.

MOVABLE OBSTRUCTIONS

Ropes, stakes and hoops guarding wet areas of the course, on-course cart/buggy direction signs, and rake holders at bunkers are Movable Obstructions. Free relief is available under Rules 15.2a and 15.2b (excludes stakes defining GUR and Penalty Areas which are Immovable Obstructions). Objects moved MUST be replaced after relief has been taken.

PENALTY AREAS

All Penalty Areas are Red Penalty Areas, allowing Lateral Relief in accord with Rule 17.1d(3) [as well as 17.1d(1) and 17.1d(2)].

Dropping Stakes on the 3rd and 12th holes, and at the rear of the 7th hole provide an additional relief option for a ball found in, or known or virtually certain to have come to rest in the Penalty Area. A player may drop a ball within two club lengths of the dropping stake closest to where the ball lies in the Penalty area or closest to the point where the ball last crossed the margin of the Penalty Area.

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF A LOCAL RULE

Stroke Play: 2 Strokes.    Match Play: Loss of hole

DISTANCE MARKERS:    are to the CENTRE of the green.

Blue 100m; Yellow 150m; White 200m; Red 250m.

EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION UNITS: located on holes 6, 13 and 15.

ETIQUETTE: All players must: carry and use sand to fill divots; smooth bunkers as best possible; repair ball marks. (The low marker is responsible for the etiquette of players in the group/match)