Hartley Wintney Golf Club
Local Rules – February 2026

Out of Bounds (Rule 18.2)

• Out of bounds is defined by the line between the course-side points at ground level of
  white stakes and fence posts. Out of bounds is also defined by all fences and hedges
  marking the boundary of the course.
• The boundary to the right side of the 18th is defined by the white posts, the exact out
  of bounds line being determined by the commencement of the tarmac path.
• On or over the car park.
• Within the green keeper’s facility defined by white posts.

Internal Out of Bounds – When playing the 8th Hole

During play of the 8th hole, the closely mown area (fairway) on the 12th hole is out of bounds.

Penalty Area 14th Hole

If a player does not know whether his or her ball is in the pond on the 14th hole, the player may
play a provisional ball using any of the following relief options: stroke-and-distance, back-onthe-line or lateral relief (see Rule 17.1d)

Temporary / Wrong Greens

All temporary greens when not in use are the wrong green and relief must be taken under Rule
13.1f.

Aeration Holes

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

1. 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.
2. 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,
   on the putting green, on the player’s line of play.

Protective Fence between 10th tee & 11th green - Line of play relief

During play of the 1st, 9th and 11th holes, if the protective fence between the 10th tee and 11th
green is on a player’s line of play:

• The player may take free relief by dropping a ball in and playing it from the designated
  dropping zone.
• BUT this relief is allowed only if the ball in play is nearer the hole than where the
  dropping zone is located. (see Rule 14.3)

Protection of young trees

• The young trees identified by stakes or shrouds are no play zones:
  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 free relief under Rule 16.1f.

Ball deflected by power line

If it is known or virtually certain that a player’s ball hit a power line or tower or a wire or pole
supporting a power line during play, 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).

Abnormal Course Conditions (including Immovable Obstructions) (Rule 16)

• All course furniture, seats, tee marker plates and fixed course signage.
• The artificial tee on the 16th hole.

Fixed Sprinkler Heads

The player also has these extra options to take relief when such immovable obstructions are
close to the putting green and on the line of play:

Ball in General Area: The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b if an immovable 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.

Exception - There is no relief under this Local Rule if the player chooses a line of play that is
clearly unreasonable.

Log Pile Woodland Habitats

The log piles created as wildlife habits:

• to the left of the 7th green;
• between the Halfway Hut & 10th tee;
• between the 10th tee and 11th green; andb
• etween the 11th and 12th fairways,

are to be treated as an immovable obstruction. If a player's ball touches or is in or on these log
piles, or the log pile interferes with a player's stance or swing the player may take free relief
under rule 16.1, one club-length from the nearest point of complete relief, no nearer to the hole.

Relief from tree roots

If a player’s ball is at rest in a portion of the general area cut to fairway height or less and there
is interference from exposed tree roots that are in a part of the general 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, including if the tree roots interfere with the player’s stance.

Animal Dung

At the player’s option goose dung, dog and cow dung may be treated either as:

• • A loose impediment that may be removed under Rule 15.1, or
• Ground under repair from which relief is allowed under Rule 16.1.

Roads, paths and bridges

All roads, paths and bridges on the course, even if not artificially-surfaced, are treated as
immovable obstructions from which free relief is allowed under Rule 16.1.
Such relief cannot be obtained if the ball lies within the confines of a penalty area

Practising on the Course

A player may practice on the competition course, before or between rounds, on a Wednesday
if the Summer 9 Hole Order of Merit competition is being played.

Compulsory Use of Fairway Mats - When Applicable

When a player’s ball lies in a part of the general area cut to fairway height or less and a putter
is not being used for the stroke, the player must take free relief by lifting the original ball and
placing the original ball or another ball on an artificial mat and play it from there. The mat
must be placed on top of the spot where the ball came to rest.

If a ball when placed rolls off the mat, the player must try to place it a second time. If the ball
again does not stay on the mat, the mat must be moved to the nearest spot, not nearer the
hole, where the ball will come to rest on the mat when placed.

If the ball on the mat is accidentally moved before a stroke is made, there is no penalty and
the ball must be placed again on the mat.

If a tee is used to secure the mat into the ground, the ball must not be placed on the tee.

Preferred Lies – When Applicable

When a player's ball lies in a part of the general area cut to fairway height or less, the player
may take free relief once by placing the original ball or another ball in and playing it from this
relief area:

• Reference Point: Spot of the original ball.

Size of Relief Area Measured from Reference Point: 6 inches from the reference point,
but with these limits:

Limits on Location of Relief Area:

• Must not be nearer the hole than the reference point, and
• Must be in the general area.

In proceeding under this Local Rule, the player must choose a spot to place the ball and use the
procedures for replacing a ball under Rules 14.2b (2) and 14.2e.

Deep ruts and deep tyre marks caused by course maintenance vehicles and equipment are
classed as abnormal course conditions and free relief may be taken under rule 16.1. This does
not apply to shallow indentations caused by green keeping equipment or trolleys.

For the full text of any Model Local Rules referenced, please refer to the Official Guide to
the Rules of Golf. Unless otherwise noted, the penalty for breach of a Local Rule is the
General Penalty.