Rules of Golf - Part B: Specimen Local Rules
Within
the policy established in Part A of this Appendix, the Committee may
adopt a Specimen Local Rule by referring, on a score card or notice
board, to the examples given below. However, Specimen Local Rules 3a,
3b, 3c, 6a and 6b should not be printed or referred to on a score card
as they are all of limited duration.
1. Areas of
the Course Requiring Preservation; Environmentally-Sensitive Areas
a. Ground Under Repair; Play Prohibited
If the Committee wishes to protect any area of the course, it should
declare it to be ground under repair and prohibit play from within that
area. The following Local Rule is recommended:
“The _____________(defined by ____) is ground under repair from which
play is prohibited. If a player’s ball lies in the area, or if it
interferes with the player’s stance or the area of his intended swing,
the player must take relief under Rule 25-1.
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULE:
Match play — Loss of hole; Stroke play — Two strokes.”
b. Environmentally-Sensitive Areas
If an appropriate authority (i.e., a Government Agency or the like)
prohibits entry into and/or play from an area on or adjoining the course
for environmental reasons, the Committee should make a Local Rule
clarifying the relief procedure.
The Committee has some discretion in terms of whether the area is
defined as ground under repair, a water hazard or out of bounds.
However, it may not simply define such an area to be a water hazard if
it does not meet the Definition of a “ Water Hazard ” and it should
attempt to preserve the character of the hole.
The following Local Rule is recommended:
“I. Definition
An environmentally-sensitive area is an area so declared by an
appropriate authority, entry into and/or play from which is prohibited
for environmental reasons. These areas may be defined as ground under
repair, a water hazard, a lateral water hazard or out of bounds at the
discretion of the Committee provided that, in the case of an
environmentally-sensitive area that has been defined as a water hazard
or a lateral water hazard, the area is, by Definition, a water hazard.
Note: The Committee may not declare an area to be
environmentally-sensitive.
II. Ball in Environmentally-Sensitive Area
a. Ground Under Repair
If a ball is in an environmentally-sensitive area defined as ground
under repair, a ball must be dropped in
accordance with Rule 25-1b.
If there is reasonable evidence that a ball is lost within an
environmentally-sensitive area defined as ground under repair, the
player may take relief without penalty as prescribed in Rule 25-1c.
b. Water Hazards and Lateral Water Hazards
If a ball is in or there is reasonable evidence that it is lost in an
environmentally-sensitive area defined as a water hazard or lateral
water hazard, the player must, under penalty of one stroke, proceed
under Rule 26-1.
Note: If a ball dropped in accordance with Rule 26 rolls into a position
where the environmentally-sensitive area interferes with the player’s
stance or the area of his intended swing, the player must take relief as
provided in Clause III of this Local Rule.
c. Out of Bounds
If a ball is in an environmentally-sensitive area defined as out of
bounds, the player must play a ball, under penalty of one stroke, as
nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last
played (see Rule 20-5).
III. Interference with Stance or Area of Intended Swing
Interference by an environmentally-sensitive area occurs when the
condition interferes with the player’s stance or the area of his
intended swing. If interference exists, the player must take relief as
follows:
(a) Through the Green: If the ball lies through the green, the point on
the course nearest to where the ball lies must be determined that (a) is
not nearer the hole, (b) avoids interference by the condition and (c) is
not in a hazard or on a putting green. The player must lift the ball and
drop it without penalty within one club-length of the point so
determined on a part of the course that fulfills (a), (b) and (c) above.
(b) In a Hazard: If the ball is in a hazard, the player must lift the
ball and drop it either:
(i) Without penalty, in the hazard, as near as possible to the spot
where the ball lay, but not nearer the hole, on a part of the course
that provides complete relief from the condition; or
(ii) Under penalty of one stroke, outside the hazard, keeping the point
where the ball lay directly between the hole and the spot on which the
ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind the hazard the ball may
be dropped. Additionally, the player may proceed under Rule 26 or 28, if
applicable.
(c) On the Putting Green: If the ball lies on the putting green, the
player must lift the ball and place it without penalty in the nearest
position to where it lay that affords complete relief from the
condition, but not nearer the hole or in a hazard.
The ball may be cleaned when lifted under Clause III of this Local Rule.
Exception: A player may not take relief under Clause III of this Local
Rule if (a) it is clearly unreasonable for him to play a stroke because
of interference by anything other than a condition covered by this Local
Rule or (b) interference by the condition would occur only through use
of an unnecessarily abnormal stance, swing or direction of play.
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULE:
Match play — Loss of hole; Stroke play — Two strokes.
Note: In the case of a serious breach of this Local Rule, the Committee
may impose a penalty of disqualification.”
2. Protection
of Young Trees
When it is desired to prevent damage to young trees, the following Local
Rule is recommended:
“Protection of young trees identified by ______ — If such a tree
interferes with a player’s stance or the area of his intended swing, the
ball must be lifted, without penalty, and dropped in accord-ance with
the procedure prescribed in Rule 24-2b (Immovable Obstruction). If the
ball lies in a water hazard, the player must lift and drop the ball in
accordance with Rule 24-2b(i) except that the nearest point of relief
must be in the water hazard and the ball must be dropped in the water
hazard or the player may proceed under Rule 26. The ball may be cleaned
when lifted.
Exception: A player may not take relief under this Local Rule if (a) it
is clearly unreasonable for him to make a stroke because of interference
by anything other than the tree or (b) interference by the tree would
occur only through use of an unnecessarily abnormal stance, swing or
direction of play.
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULE:
Match play — Loss of hole; Stroke play — Two strokes.”
3. Temporary
Conditions — Mud, Extreme Wetness, Poor Conditions and Protection of the
Course
a. Relief for Embedded Ball; Cleaning Ball
Rule 25-2 provides relief without penalty for a ball embedded in its own
pitch-mark in any closely mown area through the green. On the putting
green, a ball may be lifted and damage caused by the impact of a ball
may be repaired (Rules 16-1b and c). When permission to take relief for
an embedded ball anywhere through the green would be warranted, the
following Local Rule is recommended:
“Through the green, a ball that is embedded in its own pitch-mark in the
ground, other than sand, may be lifted without penalty, cleaned and
dropped as near as possible to where it lay but not nearer the hole. The
ball when dropped must first strike a part of the course through the
green.
Exception: A player may not take 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.
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULE:
Match play — Loss of hole; Stroke play — Two strokes.”
Alternatively, conditions may be such that permission to lift, clean and
replace the ball will suffice. In these circumstances, the following
Local Rule is recommended:
“(Specify area) a ball may be lifted, cleaned and replaced without
penalty.
Note: The position of the ball must be marked before it is lifted under
this Local Rule — see Rule 20-1.
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULE:
Match play — Loss of hole; Stroke play — Two strokes.”
b. “Preferred Lies” and “Winter Rules”
Occasional local abnormal conditions that might interfere with fair play
and are not widespread should be defined as ground under repair (Rule
25).
However, adverse conditions, such as heavy snows, spring thaws,
prolonged rains or extreme heat can make fairways unsatisfactory and
sometimes prevent use of heavy mowing equipment. When these conditions
are so general throughout a course that the Committee believes
“preferred lies” or “winter rules” would promote fair play or help
protect the course, the following Local Rule is recommended:
“If a player’s ball lies on a closely-mown area through the green [or
specify a more restricted area, e.g., at the 6th hole] the player may
mark, lift and clean his ball without penalty. Before lifting, he must
mark the position of the ball. The player must then place the ball on a
spot within [specify area, e.g., six inches, one club-length, etc.] of
and not nearer the hole than where it originally lay, that is not in a
hazard or on a putting green.
A player may place his ball only once, and it is in play when it has
been placed (Rule 20-4). If the ball fails to come to rest on the spot
on which it was placed, Rule 20-3d applies. If the ball when placed
comes to rest on the spot on which it is placed and it subsequently
moves, there is no penalty and the ball must be played as it lies,
unless the provisions of any other Rule apply.
If the player fails to mark the position of the ball before lifting it
or moves the ball in any other manner, such as rolling it with a club,
he incurs a penalty of one stroke.
*PENALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULE:
Match play — Loss of hole; Stroke play — Two strokes
*If a player incurs the general penalty for a breach of this Local Rule,
no additional penalty under the Local Rule is applied.”
c. Aeration Holes
When a course has been aerated, a Local Rule permitting relief, without
penalty, from an aeration hole may be warranted. The following Local
Rule is recommended:
“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. 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.
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULE:
Match play — Loss of hole; Stroke play — Two strokes.”
4. Stones in
Bunkers
Stones are, by definition, loose impediments and, when a player’s ball
is in a hazard, a stone lying in or touching the hazard may not be
touched or moved (Rule 13-4). However, stones in bunkers may represent a
danger to players (a player could be injured by a stone struck by the
player’s club in an attempt to play the ball) and they may interfere
with the proper playing of the game.
When permission to lift a stone in a bunker is warranted, the following
Local Rule is recommended:
“Stones in bunkers are movable obstructions (Rule 24-1 applies).”
5. Immovable
Obstructions Close to Putting Green
Rule 24-2 provides relief without penalty from interference by an
immovable obstruction, but also provides that, except on the putting
green, intervention on the line of play is not, of itself, interference
under this Rule.
However, on some courses, the aprons of the putting greens are so
closely mown that players may wish to putt from just off the green. In
these conditions, immovable obstructions on the apron may interfere with
the proper playing of the game and the introduction of the following
Local Rule providing additional relief without penalty from intervention
by an immovable obstruction would be warranted:
“Relief from interference by an immovable obstruction may be taken under
Rule 24-2. In addition, if a ball lies off the putting green but not in
a hazard 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 as follows:
The ball must be lifted and dropped at the nearest point to where the
ball lay that (a) is not nearer the hole, (b) avoids intervention and
(c) is not in a hazard or on a putting green. The ball may be cleaned
when lifted.”
Relief under this Local Rule is also available if the player’s ball lies
on the putting green and an immovable obstruction within two
club-lengths of the putting green intervenes on his line of putt. The
player may take relief as follows:
“The ball must be lifted and placed at the nearest point where the ball
lay which (a) is not nearer the hole, (b) avoids intervention and (c) is
not in a hazard. The ball may be cleaned when lifted.
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULE:
Match play — Loss of hole; Stroke play — Two strokes.”
6. Temporary
Obstructions
When temporary obstructions are installed on or adjoining the course,
the Committee should define the status of such obstructions as movable,
immovable or temporary immovable obstructions.
a. Temporary Immovable Obstructions
If the Committee defines these obstructions as temporary immovable
obstructions, the following Local Rule is recommended:
“I. Definition
A temporary immovable obstruction is a non-permanent artificial object
that is often erected in conjunction with a competition and is fixed or
not readily movable.
Examples of temporary immovable obstructions include, but are not
limited to, tents, scoreboards, grandstands, television towers and
lavatories.
Supporting guy wires are part of the temporary immovable obstruction
unless the Committee declares that they are to be treated as elevated
power lines or cables.
II. Interference
Interference by a temporary immovable obstruction occurs when (a) the
ball lies in front of and so close to the obstruction that the
obstruction interferes with the player’s stance or the area of his
intended swing, or (b) the ball lies in, on, under or behind the
obstruction so that any part of the obstruction intervenes directly
between the player’s ball and the hole; interference also exists if the
ball lies within one club-length of a spot equidistant from the hole
where such intervention would exist.
Note: A ball is under a temporary immovable obstruction when it is below
the outermost edges of the obstruction, even if these edges do not
extend downward to the ground.
III. Relief
A player may obtain relief from interference by a temporary immovable
obstruction, including a temporary immovable obstruction that is out of
bounds, as follows:
(a) Through the Green: If the ball lies through the green, the point on
the course nearest to where the ball lies must be determined that (a) is
not nearer the hole, (b) avoids interference as defined in Clause II and
(c) is not in a hazard or on a putting green. The player must lift the
ball and drop it without penalty within one club-length of the point so
determined on a part of the course that fulfills (a), (b) and (c) above.
(b) In a Hazard: If the ball is in a hazard, the player must lift and
drop the ball either:
(i) Without penalty, in accordance with Clause IIIa above, except that
the nearest part of the course affording complete relief must be in the
hazard and the ball must be dropped in the hazard, or, if complete
relief is impossible, on a part of the course within the hazard that
affords maximum available relief; or
(ii) Under penalty of one stroke, outside the hazard as follows: the
point on the course nearest to where the ball lies must be determined
that (a) is not nearer the hole, (b) avoids interference as defined in
Clause II and (c) is not in a hazard. The player must drop the ball
within one club-length of the point so determined on a part of the
course that fulfills (a), (b) and (c) above.
The ball may be cleaned when lifted under Clause III.
Note 1: If the ball lies in a hazard, nothing in this Local Rule
precludes the player from proceeding under Rule 26 or Rule 28, if
applicable.
Note 2: If a ball to be dropped under this Local Rule is not immediately
recoverable, another ball may be substituted.
Note 3: A Committee may make a Local Rule (a) permitting or requiring a
player to use a dropping zone or ball drop when taking relief from a
temporary immovable obstruction or (b) permitting a player, as an
additional relief option, to drop the ball on the opposite side of the
obstruction from the point established under Clause III, but otherwise
in accordance with Clause III.
Exceptions:
If a player’s ball lies in front of or behind the temporary immovable
obstruction (not in, on or under the obstruction) he may not obtain
relief under Clause III if:
1. It is
clearly unreasonable for him to play a stroke or, in the case of
intervention, to play a stroke such that the ball could finish on a
direct line to the hole, because of interference by anything other than
the temporary immovable obstruction;
2.
Interference by the temporary immovable obstruction would occur only
through use of an unnecessarily abnormal stance, swing or direction of
play; or
3. In the case
of intervention, it would be clearly unreasonable to expect the player
to be able to strike the ball far enough toward the hole to reach the
temporary immovable obstruction.
Note: A player not entitled to relief due to these exceptions may
proceed under Rule 24-2, if applicable.
IV. Ball Lost
If there is reasonable evidence that the ball is lost in, on or under a
temporary immovable obstruction, a ball may be dropped under the
provisions of Clause III or Clause V, if applicable. For the purpose of
applying Clauses III and V, the ball is deemed to lie at the spot where
it last crossed the outermost limits of the obstruction (Rule 24-3).
V. Dropping Zones (Ball Drops)
If the player has interference from a temporary immovable obstruction,
the Committee may permit or require the use of a dropping zone or ball
drop. If the player uses a dropping zone in taking relief, he must drop
the ball in the dropping zone nearest to where his ball originally lay
or is deemed to lie under Clause IV (even though the nearest dropping
zone may be nearer the hole).
Note 1: A Committee may make a Local Rule prohibiting the use of a
dropping zone or ball drop that is nearer the hole.
Note 2: If the ball is dropped in a dropping zone, the ball must not be
re-dropped if it comes to rest within two club-lengths of the spot where
it first struck a part of the course even though it may come to rest
nearer the hole or outside the boundaries of the dropping zone.
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULE:
Match play — Loss of hole; Stroke play — Two strokes.”
b. Temporary Power Lines and Cables
When temporary power lines, cables or telephone lines are installed on
the course, the following Local Rule is recommended:
“Temporary power lines, cables, telephone lines and mats covering or
stanchions supporting them are obstructions:
1. If they are
readily movable, Rule 24-1 applies.
2. If they are
fixed or not readily movable, the player may, if the ball lies through
the green or in a bunker, obtain relief as provided in Rule 24-2b. If
the ball lies in a water hazard, the player may obtain relief under Rule
24-2b(i) except that the nearest point of relief must be in the water
hazard and the ball must be dropped in the water hazard or the player
may proceed under Rule 26.
3. If a ball
strikes an elevated power line or cable, the stroke must be canceled and
replayed, without penalty (see Rule 20-5). If the ball is not
immediately recoverable, another ball may be substituted.
Note: Guy wires supporting a temporary immovable obstruction are part of
the temporary immovable obstruction unless the Committee, by Local Rule,
declares that they are to be treated as elevated power lines or cables.
Exception: A stroke that results in a ball striking an elevated junction
section of cable rising from the ground must not be replayed.
4.
Grass-covered cable trenches are ground under repair, even if not marked
and Rule 25-1b applies.”
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