1. ROADS, PATHS & TRACKS

All artificially surfaced paths, including any associated edging, are treated as Immovable Obstructions and relief is available under Rule 16.1.

2. FIXED SPRINKLER HEADS

All fixed sprinkler heads are immovable obstructions. In addition, if a ball lies off the putting green, but not in a penalty area, 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 (Rule 16.1b). 

3. GROUND UNDER REPAIR

Ground under repair is defined by any area encircled by a white line or small blue and white posts.

Stakes: When defined by stakes, the edge of the ground under repair is defined by the line between the outside points of the stakes at ground level, and the stakes are inside the ground under repair.

Dropping Zones: When these are marked for a specific area and the player's ball is in the ground under repair, including when it is known or virtually certain that a ball that has not been found is in the ground under repair, the player has these relief options:

• The player may take relief under Rule 16.1, or
• As an extra option, the player may take free relief by dropping the original ball or another ball in the dropping zone. The dropping zone is a relief area under Rule 14.3.

Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Local Rule: General Penalty Under Rule 14.7a.

4. SAND WASTE AREAS

The prepared areas of sand on the 2nd hole (the first two areas), in front of the 3rd tee and to the left of 4th hole, are part of the general area and not bunkers. Nb. - 2nd Hole - For clarity, there are four sand areas on the 2nd hole, the area short of the bridle path and the area just beyond the path are waste areas, the two areas nearest the green, (front and right) are bunkers.

5. SEAMS OF CUT TURF

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:

(a)   Ball in General Area. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b.

(b)   Ball on Putting Green. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1d.

But interference does not exist if the seam only interferes with the player's stance.

All seams within the area of cut turf are treated as the same seam in taking relief. This means that if a player has interference from any seam after dropping the ball, the player must proceed as required under Rule 14.3c(2) even when the ball is still within one club-length of the reference point.

(This means that you may take free relief for interference from a seam when it interferes with your lie or area of intended swing. If you drop the ball and still have interference from the same seam OR ANOTHER SEAM you drop again in the same place as the original drop.)

Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Local Rule: General Penalty Under Rule 14.7a.

*Note: Cut turf includes heather slabs.

6. AERATION HOLES

If a player's ball lies in or touches an aeration hole:

(a) Ball in General Area. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b. If the ball comes to rest in another aeration hole the player may take relief again under this Local Rule.

(b) Ball on 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 area of intended swing or, on the putting green, on the player's line of play.

Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Local Rule: General Penalty Under Rule 14.7a.

Temporary Local Rules

7. PREFERRED LIES

Preferred lies are currently NOT in operation.

Guidance Note for Local Rule 1:

This is a significant change from how rules relating to paths have been used before at Hankley, so we wish to provide some guidance to golfers as to how this should work.

Whilst new to Hankley, most clubs have rules in place providing optional relief from artificially surfaced paths. In almost all cases, this is very clear and easy to use – if the ball lies on what is clearly an artificially surfaced path or the player will stand on the path to play their shot, relief is available. The nearest point of complete relief (for both ball AND stance) is found, a Relief Area measured and relief is taken without penalty.

Some key points are outlined below:

Deciding whether a path is artificially surfaced or has been naturally formed over time may be occasionally difficult. The general rule of thumb is that, if it is clear that material such as gravel, rubber bark or concrete has been deliberately placed in an area, often with a defined edging, this is likely to be an artificial path and free relief is available. If the path is more rough, with some stones, tree roots, sand or mud making up the surface, with no obvious intention of the path being built by green staff deliberately and no artificial surface being put down to form a path, this is not an artificially surfaced path and no relief is available.

In some places the end of, or edges of artificially surfaced, deliberately constructed paths are hard to determine. The path reaches its end point, but then proceeds through an area of part path, part rough area, before reaching a more normal grass area. The rule of thumb here is that if a great deal of the artificial surface material is present, then this is still the path.  If there is very little such material and is clearly beyond the end or edge of the artificially created path, then no relief is available.

When taking permitted relief from a path, it is vital that golfers understand that COMPLETE relief must be taken using the nearest point of complete relief, not the nicest point of complete relief, as the reference point for their Relief Area.  

Complete relief means both the ball AND the stance of the player must be completely away from the path from which relief is being taken. You cannot simply drop the ball on the edge and then stand on the path. This can sometimes lead to the nearest point of complete relief being on the opposite side of the path than originally thought.

It is strongly recommended that golfers establish where their nearest point of complete relief lies BEFORE picking up the ball in anticipation of relief.  If a player picks their ball up to take relief and then decides that, once they find the Relief Area is in thick heather, they would rather have played from the path, the player will incur a one stroke penalty when replacing the ball as they have caused a ball at rest to move. 

Any queries should be directed to the General Manager or their team.