1. OUT OF BOUNDS (Rule 18.1)

• Over all boundary walls and fencing; clubhouse and precincts, including the practice putting green, as defined by the white posts; on or over the Club car park and driveway.
• 18th hole, white posts behind the brick pathway to the 1st tee.
• The mown sports field to the left of the 11th and 14th fairways; the pavilion enclosure as defined by the white posts to the left of the 14th fairway. 
• When playing the 10th - Back of 10th green on the road (asphalt) and beyond

2. 10th HOLE (Rear of Green), if the ball is deemed unplayable at the rear of the 10th green and a penalty drop can’t be taken, because it will be closer to the hole, the ball can be lifted and dropped in the nearest designated dropping zone under the penalty of one stroke (Rule 17.1d).

3. 15th HOLE: (Rule 17.1) PENALTY AREA, to the right of the green as marked by red posts. A ball deemed unplayable may be lifted and dropped in the nearest designated dropping zone, under penalty of one stroke (Rule 17.1d).

4. 16th HOLE (Ditch to the Right): a ball lying in the ditch, if deemed unplayable, may be lifted and placed within two club-lengths of where it lay, not nearer the hole, on penalty of one stroke. 

A ball lying in the ditch beyond the black/white marker post close to the green, if deemed unplayable, may be lifted and dropped in the nearest designated dropping zone, under penalty of one stroke.

5. TREES (Rule 16.1): trees protected by stake or wire are immovable obstructions and relief MUST be taken (Rule 16.1).

6. RUTS: a ball lying in a rut made by a motor vehicle may be lifted and dropped without penalty at the nearest point of relief not nearer the hole. 

7. FIXED SPRINKLER HEADS: these are immovable obstructions and relief may be obtained (Rule 16.1)

In addition, if such an obstruction on or within two club lengths of the putting green of the hole being played intervenes on the line of play between the ball and the hole, the player may obtain relief, without penalty, as follows: if the ball lies off the putting green but on a closely mown area, not in a hazard and is within two club-lengths of the intervening obstruction, it may be lifted, cleaned and dropped at the nearest point to where the ball lay which a) is not nearer the hole, b) avoids such intervention and c) is not in a hazard or on a putting green.

8. Netting on 1st tee of the Hartington, immovable obstruction Rule 16.1b. 

9. PATHS: a ball lying on any surfaced path i.e. tarmac, rubberised, shell, wood chippings or road may be lifted and dropped at the nearest point of relief, not nearer the hole, without penalty. 

10. AERATION HOLES: through the green on closely mown areas, a ball that comes to rest in or on an aeration hole may be lifted, without penalty, cleaned and dropped, as near as possible to the spot where it lay but not nearer the hole. The ball when dropped must first strike a part of the course through the green. On the putting green, a ball that comes to rest in or on an aeration hole may be placed at the nearest spot not nearer the hole that avoids the situation.

11. PLASTIC PLUGS ON GREENS: if a ball lies on the putting green and a temporary plug or protective netting lies on the line of a proposed putt, relief maybe taken (Rule 16.1).

12. “GROUND UNDER REPAIR” AREAS (Rule 16.1): these are generally indicated by blue posts or blue lines.

N.B. all winter greens are ‘GUR’ when not in use. All GUR is ‘Play Prohibited’ and relief must be taken as one club-length from the nearest point of relief not nearer the hole (Rule 16.1).

13. VISIBILITY: if visibility is reduced to less than 150 yards at any point on the course due to fog, mist or rain etc., the course will be closed as a Health & Safety measure.

14. DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICES (Rule 4.3): the use of distance measuring devices for the purpose of measuring distance only is permitted, strictly in accordance with Rule 4.3.

15. WINTER RULES: a detailed notice of all Winter Rules will be posted in the Clubhouse and the Professional’s Shop, as applicable, during the period 1st October to 30th April.

16. ADVERSE/EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS (preferred lies etc): a detailed notice of all conditions will be posted in the Clubhouse and the Professional’s Shop. Please click here to view

In case of emergency

In an emergency golfers should contact the Club on the numbers below. 

The Club has trained first aiders and a portable defibrillator in the Clubhouse.

Office: 01323 744045 Pro Shop: 01323 744041

Address for emergency vehicles: Royal Eastbourne Golf Club, Paradise Drive, Eastbourne, BN20 8BP.