Local Rules

 

 Local Rules 

Abnormal Course Conditions 

  • All areas bounded by a white line are Ground under Repair (GUR) and relief may be taken in accordance with Rule 16.1b. 
  • Newly planted trees on the 3rd, 7th 10th, 12th. These have been marked as GUR with white lines and/or stakes and relief MUST be taken in accordance with Rule 16.1b. 
  • GUR includes areas of unusual damage such as clearly defined tyre ruts, or where traffic has combined with wet conditions to alter the ground surface materially and relief may be taken under Rule 16.1b. For avoidance of doubt, light tyre indentations from trolleys or similar are not covered under this Local Rule. 
  • As a result of course renovation work, bunkers that have had sand removed or been filled and/or smoothed and the surrounding areas of exposed soil are considered GUR and relief MUST be taken under Rule 16.1b. 
  • Temporary Immovable Obstructions (TIOs). As a result of course renovation work, large mounds of earth piled temporarily in the general area are TIOs. A TIO is different from an immovable obstruction and the player may choose to take relief by using either: The procedure for taking relief from an abnormal course condition (rule 16.1) as if it were an immovable obstruction or 
  • The procedure for line of sight interference (that is, the TIO is located on the players line of sight to the hole or the ball is within a one club length “corridor” of the line of sight). In taking free relief the player may drop the original or another ball and play it where: the reference point is in the general area, the nearest point of complete relief where both physical and line of sight interference no longer exist, the relief area is one club length from the reference point and is no nearer the hole. 

BUT there is no relief under this TIO local rule if playing the ball as it lies would be clearly unreasonable because of something from which no free relief is allowed (such as when a player is unable to make a stroke because the ball lies in a bush outside the TIO) or if inference exists only because the player chooses a club, stance or direction of play that is unreasonable. In addition, there is no relief from line of sight interference when a player is not reasonably able to reach the TIO or demonstrate a stroke that would have both the TIO on the line of the stroke and result in the ball finishing on a direct line to the hole. 

 

Preferred Lies (Model Local Rule E-3) 

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: Must not be nearer the hole than the reference point and must be in the General Area. 

 

Goose Droppings 

As a result of goose droppings being prevalent on the course an additional local rule has been added: At the player’s option, droppings from geese may be treated either as: a) Loose impediment that may be removed under Rule 15.1 or b) Ground under repair from which free relief is allowed under Rule 16.1 (by cleaning and dropping the original ball or another ball in the relief area). 

 

No Play Zone 

The No Play Zone in front of the 16th Tee has been lifted; play the ball as it lies. 

 

Immovable Obstructions (Rule 16) 

  1. All artificially surfaced paths and artificially surfaced tracks (are immovable obstructions. 
  2. The Halfway Hut, the gardens surrounding it and the pathway directly adjacent to the Hut and gardens are considered one obstruction. 
  3. Immovable obstructions close to or on the putting green - when a ball lies in the general area, interference exists if an immovable obstruction is: on the player’s line of play an/or is within two club-lengths of the putting green and/or within two club-lengths of the ball. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b. 
  4. If a players ball is on the putting green and there is interference from an abnormal course condition free relief may be taken under rule 16.1d by placing a ball on the nearest point of complete relief. Note, this may come into play on the 10th hole with the sprinkler heads now sitting inside the green edge. Note, the outside edge of the white dotted line marks the edge of the green. 

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

 

Out of Bounds (Rule 18.2) 

  1. Over any boundary fence of the course. 
  2. The Clubhouse, patio area, and surrounding flower beds. 
  3. Beyond the line of white stakes to the right of the 2nd and behind the 14th and 15th holes 
  4. Beyond the nearside kerbstone of the road to the right of the 18th hole 

 

Penalty Areas 

Penalty Areas are defined by Red stakes. 

As an additional option for the Red Penalty Area behind the green on the 14th hole the player may drop a ball in the DZ. 

 

Wrong Green (Rule 13.1f) 

The practice putting green behind the 18th green and the green on the RHS of the 3rd short of the lake are Wrong Greens. Relief must be taken. As an extra option on the 3rd the player may take relief by dropping the original ball or another ball in the dropping zone (DZ), which may be nearer the hole. The circular DZ is defined as being within one club length from the sign and is a relief area under Rule 14.3. 

 

Aeration Holes 

On Putting Green: The player may take relief under Rule 16.1d. If a player’s ball is on the putting green and there is interference by an abnormal course condition on the course, the player may take free relief by placing the ball on the spot of the nearest point of relief. 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.