Local Rules

Out of Bounds (Rule 18.2)

A ball is out of bounds if it lies:

In or beyond any hedge, ditch, fence, or line of white stakes and/or lines defining the course boundary
The clubhouse, car park and professional’s shop as defined by kerbs, artificial surfaces, and/or white stakes/lines
The practice ground and greenkeeper’s complex as defined by white stakes/lines
The reservoir right of hole 10 as defined by white stakes/lines

No Play Zones (Rules 16.1f)

The area defined by white lines/posts is a no play zone that is to be treated as an abnormal course condition. Free relief must be taken from interference by the no play zone under Rule 16.1f.

Penalty Areas (Rule 17)

If a player does not know whether his or her ball is in the penalty area the player may play a provisional ball using any of the following relief options; stroke and distance, back on the line or if it is a red penalty area, the lateral relief option (Rule 17.1.b).

Abnormal Course Conditions (Rule 16.1)

Ground Under Repair (relief may be taken)

• Areas enclosed by white lines and/or indicated by GUR signs

Immovable Obstructions (relief may be taken)

• All buildings and sheds on the course electricity poles or their supporting stays, metal covers and the like, all roads and pathways, even if not artificially surfaced, the winter teeing areas, and bridges are immovable obstructions.
• Rubber matting laid for ground stabilization
d) Fixed course furniture
e) Safety fencing behind the 9th and 18th tees
f) Dropping zones
• There are several bare several areas around the course that are to be treated as abnormal course conditions (Ground Under Repair). Golfers can take relief under rule 16.1 if the abnormal course condition if the ball lies on a bare area Free relief can be taken by finding the nearest point of total relief (no nearer the hole) and then dropping your ball within one club length.

BUT relief is not allowed if the bare area only interferes with a player’s stance. Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Local Rules: General Penalty Under Rule 14.7a.

• As an additional free relief option, for interference from the path left of the 6th green, the player may use the nearest DZ provided

All Dropping Zones are Relief Areas under Rule 14.3

            No Play Zones (relief must be taken)

• Areas enclosed by white ropes and/or indicated by NPZ signs
• Staked or otherwise supported young trees
• Newly turfed or newly seeded area

Wrong Green (Rule 13.1f) (relief must be taken)

• Any Temporary green (except when being used on the hole being played)
• The Normal green on a hole when a temporary green is being used
• Any Practice green

Ball Deflected by Electricity Poles, Power Lines, and Posts marking walkways (Rule 16.1)

If it is known or virtually certain that a player’s ball hit an overhead power cable or tower, a wire, or a pole supporting the stroke does not count. The player must play a ball without penalty from where the previous stroke was made (see Rule 14.6 for what to do).

E-4 Relief from Aeration Holes

If a player’s ball lies in or touches an aeration hole on the general area, or on the putting green, relief may be taken under Rule 16.1.

F-4 Relief from Tyre tracks caused by the movement of vehicles

If a players ball lies in or on tyre/track marks caused by the movement of vehicles in the general area, relief may be taken under Rule 16.1.

MLR E-3 Preferred Lies (when in operation)

When a player’s ball lies in a part of the general area cut to fairway height or less or identify a specific area such as ‘on the fairway of the 6th hole’, the player may prefer the lie within 6 inches.

Penalty for Playing a Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Local Rule:

General Penalty under Rule 14.7a (Match Play – loss of hole; Stroke Play – 2 strokes)

Model Local Rule F-9

Model Local Rule F-9"If a player’s ball lies in the general area and there is interference from exposed tree roots on the 5th holes that are such as in a part of the general area cut to fairway height or less or in the rough within a club-length from the edge of the area cut to fairway height or less], the tree roots are treated as ground under repair. The player may take free relief under Rule 16.1b. But relief is not allowed if the tree roots only interfere with the player’s stance. Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Local Rule: General Penalty Under Rule 14.7a."