Local Rules

Supplementary Local Rules

(a) Water Hazards

All ponds and open ditches marked by yellow stakes or lines are Wated Hazards, and those marked by red stakes or lines are Lateral Water Hazards.Rules 26 applies.

(b)(i) Embedded Ball

Closely mown area – a ball embedded in its own pitch mark in ground other than bunkers may be lifted, cleaned, dropped, without penalty, as near as possible to the spot where it lay but not nearer the hole.

(ii) Rook/Badger Damage

Through the green, a ball lying in an area which has been damaged by rooks/badgers may be lifted without penalty, cleaned and dropped as near as possible to where it lay but not nearer the hole.
A player may not obtain relief under this Local Rule if it is clearly unreasonable for him to play a stroke because of interference by anything other than the condition covered by this local rule.

(iii) Bunkers/Abnormal Ground Condition

If a ball comes to rest in a damaged area caused by rivulets, the player must lift and drop without penalty in accordance with Rule 25-1b(ii) except that the nearest point of relief must be in the bunker as near as possible to the spot where the ball lay but not nearer the hole.

(c) Work in Progress

Greenkeepers’ workings, including grass and wood piled for removal, stoned drainage channels are to be considered ‘ground under repair’ and relief must be taken as provided in Rule 25-1b.

(d) Distance Measuring Devices

Rule 14-3/5.5

The General Committee have approved the use of distance measuring devices in Club Competitions. The use of devices that measure other conditions which might affect a play (e.g. wind or gradient are not permitted).

(e) Temporary Greens

The Temporary Greens marked with a white line are ground under repair from which play is prohibited. Players must take relief under rule 25-1.

(f) Preferred Lies

A ball lying on a closely mown area through the green may be lifted, without penalty, and cleaned. Before lifting the ball the player must mark it’s position and replace it within 6 inches of and not nearer the hole from where it lay that is not in a hazard and not on the putting green.

(g) Aeration Holes

Through the green, 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.

On the putting green the ball may be placed at the nearest spot not nearer the hole that avoids the situation.

(h) Heather Nursery Protection

The areas indicated by blue posts are defined as Ground Under Repair from which play is prohibited. If a players’ ball lies in the area, or if it interferes with the players stance or the area of the intended swing, the player MUST take relief under Rule 25-1.

Penalty for breach of above Local Rules

Match Play – Loss of hole; Stroke Play – Two strokes