Local Rules
Dartford Golf Club LOCAL RULES (May 2025) with Clarifications
This document includes the Local Rules with Clarifications included in Italics.
These Local Rules replace any Local Rules previously published by Dartford Golf Club (e.g. on the club’s previous score cards, notice boards, club diary or web site).
1. For the purposes of Rule 1.3 a, the Terms of the Competition shall include the Specific Competition Conditions, the General Competition Conditions of Dartford Golf Club (DGC), DGC’s Code of Conduct, Pace of Play & Suspension of Play Policies each of which are deemed to
be incorporated into these Local Rules.
(This Local Rule is included to tie in the terms, conditions and policies stated so that they become part of the Local Rules and allow the committee to issue penalties for breaches of them.)
2. Out of Bounds (Rule 18.2)
a) The course-side edge of any wall, fence, hedge or line of white stakes defines the boundary of the course. (Note white stakes with a single black band indicate that OOB is present but do not define it.) (Both such stakes are boundary objects and must not be moved.)
b) Beyond the course-side edge of any white line defining the boundary of the course including, in either case, the edge of any internal out of bounds;
c) In or beyond the ditch to the right of the 5th hole; (the white stakes in the ditch solely indicate that there is OOB present and are not the line of OOB ,if you’re in the ditch you are OOB))
d) On or beyond the footpath at the rear and the side of the 18th green; (A ball on the footpath but overhanging the course is OOB)
e) On or beyond the course-side kerb bordering the footpath to the 1st tee; (A ball on the footpath but overhanging the course is OOB)
f) Beyond the footpath between the 18th tee and 4th tee; (A ball overhanging the footpath is not OOB)
g) Beyond the footpath between the 4th green and the 5th tee up to the white post. (A ball overhanging the footpath is not OOB, neither is a ball nearer to the 5th tee than the white post)
h) Only for the fence beyond the path behind the 8th green and the 14th teeing area a ball is only out of bounds when it is beyond the fence at ground level. (A ball on the path or against the fence is not OOB and free relief is available under Local Rule 8.2)
i) On or beyond the Buggy/Trolley Shed behind the 16th green.
(Note: In each case if the ball is OOB the only option available is stroke and distance as per Rules 18.2b & 14.6 and players are advised to play a Provisional ball as per Rule 18.3 if they are unsure whether their ball has finished in or out of bounds. For d & e the ball is OOB if it is on the path, even if overhanging the course. For f & g if the ball overhangs the path at all the ball is in bounds.)
(If a player is uncertain about whether their ball might be out of bounds after playing a stroke they should play a provisional ball just in case. This will speed up play should the original ball be out of bounds.)
3. Penalty Areas (Rule 17) (Although DGC currently does not have any Penalty Areas this Local Rule is included so that if any are added we have a rule to cover it)
All penalty areas are Red Penalty Areas from which relief may be taken under Rule 17. The edges of the penalty areas are defined as follows:
a) where stakes and lines are used, the edge of the penalty area is the course side edge of the line and the stakes are solely for visibility to players;
b) where stakes alone are used, the edge of the penalty area is defined by the line between the course side edge of the stakes at ground level and the stakes themselves are in the penalty area;
c) where there are no stakes or lines, the edge of the penalty area is, on both sides, the natural margin of the penalty area concerned.
4. Ground Under Repair (Rule 16.1) – PLAYERS MUST TAKE RELIEF FROM GUR
a) Any area encircled by a blue line. (note the blue line is part of the GUR area)
b) Any area of damaged ground in the general area that is considered by an appointed referee to be an abnormal course condition. (This Local Rule is included to protect areas that are under repair from further damage. Where a relief area might be unfair the committee may provide a Drop Zone as an additional option)
5. Integral Parts of the Course
The wooden sleepers to the rear of the 5th & 11th teeing grounds are an integral part of the course. The ball must be played as it lies or declared unplayable (Rule 19).
6. Young Trees identified by being staked (whether attached or not) or plastic protected are No Play Zones as per Rule 2.4: (This local rule is to protect young trees from damage)
a) If a player's ball lies anywhere on the course other than in a penalty area and it lies on or touches such a tree or such a tree interferes with the player's stance or area of intended swing, the player must take relief (see Rules 16.1f and 17.1e).
b) If the ball lies in a penalty area, and interference to the player's stance or area of intended swing exists from such a tree, the player must take relief either with penalty under Rule 17.1e or with free relief under Rule 17.1e(2).
7. Immovable Obstructions (Rule 16.1) include: (This local rule clarifies what items are immovable obstructions)
a) All artificially surfaced roads, paths and winter tees on the course, including those covered with wood chips and areas where the artificial surfacing material has been transferred. All other paths and tracks are integral parts of the course.
b) White lined areas adjoining any immovable obstruction are part of the obstruction and not ground under repair.
c) Stone-filled drainage ditches or channels.
d) Sleepers or wooden boards within bunkers.
e) The Buggy/Trolley Shed behind the 16th green.
7.1 Relief from interference by an immovable obstruction may be taken under Rule 16.1.
7.2 The player also has the option to take relief when such immovable obstructions are close to the putting green and on the line of play and the ball is in the General Area as follows: The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b if an immovable obstruction is on the line of play within two club-lengths of the putting green and within two club-lengths of the ball. Exception - there is no relief under this Local Rule 7.2 if the player chooses a line of play that is clearly unreasonable. (This local rule provides line of play relief for immovable obstructions such as sprinkler heads etc., only if they are within the limits specified)
8. Dropping Zones are denoted by a white stake with 2 black bands. The ball must be dropped within 1 club length of the stake & remain within 1 club length of the stake. The stake is a moveable obstruction but MUST be replaced after playing the stroke if moved. (Note that the location of the Drop Zone stakes is set by the committee and MUST NOT be altered)
8.1 Dropping Zones (under penalty)
A ball coming to rest (and is not out of bounds) in the hedges at the rear of the 5th hole
may be:
(i) Played as it lies, or
(ii) Deemed unplayable (Rule 19), or
(iii) As an additional option picked & dropped in the nearest dropping zone under penalty of 1 stroke.
(Note: If the ball is out of bounds the only option is stroke and distance as per Rules 18.2b & 14.6) (This means that you must be able to identify your ball in-bounds, even if you cannot retrieve it, in which case you can proceed with a substituted ball) (This local rule is included as it may be difficult/impossible to get relief under normal rules)
8.2. Dropping Zones (without penalty)
A ball coming to rest:
a) On the path or against the fence behind the 8th green & 14th teeing area or if that path interferes with play, may be:
(i) Played as it lies, or
(ii) Relief taken under Rule 16.1, or
(iii) As an additional option picked & dropped in the nearest dropping zone without penalty.
b) In any area identified by a Temporary Local Rule that the committee wish to provide free relief from, may be as an additional option picked & dropped in the nearest dropping zone without penalty.
(This allows relief from an area (usually GUR) where normal relief options are inadequate or unfair, i.e. mandatory relief from GUR that puts the player in a bush or such like)
9. Aeration Holes on the Putting Green
If the players ball lies in or touches an aeration hole on the putting green the player may take relief under Rule 16.1d. But interference does not exist if the aeration hole only interferes with the player’s stance or line of play. (This provides for relief from aeration holes on the putting green only, and only for the position of the ball and not the line of play)
10. Wrong Green (Rule 13.1f) For the purposes of this Rule only, Wrong Green includes the fringe of the green. This means that the nearest point of complete relief must avoid interference from both the green and fringe. (Complete relief includes the area of your stance and swing, therefore you cannot be standing on the fringe. Note, the approach to the green is not fringe, only the part adjacent to the green to the same width as the fringe around the rest of the green)
11. Tree Roots
If the player’s ball in the General Area lying on grass cut to fairway height or less has interference from tree roots, free relief is available under Rule 16.1b. However, interference does not exist if the tree roots only interfere with a player’s stance. (If you are not sure if a tree root is present you may probe the area with a tee peg to establish this)
12. Suspension of Play Players must comply with DGC’s Suspension of Play Policy.
The Penalty for breach of a Local Rule (unless otherwise specified) is the General Penalty (Match play – loss of hole, Stroke play – 2 strokes).
Note: All divots should be replaced and all pitch marks on greens repaired. After playing from a bunker it should be raked and smoothed and the rake replaced in the middle of the bunker aligned to direction of play.