Local Rules

To be read in conjunction with the Rules of Golf

1. Out of Bounds

All areas beyond the club’s boundary fences are out of bounds.

2. Ground Under Repair (G.U.R.)

Ground under repair is defined as:

  • Areas marked by white stakes or white lines
  • Garden beds within tee complexes
  • All new works
  • Roads, pathways, and drains (unless defined as penalty areas)
  • Clearly defined bare areas in parts of the general area cut to fairway height or less

Relief is available under Rule 16.1.

3. Abnormal Course Conditions

a. General

The following are treated as abnormal course conditions:

  • Significant animal damage (such as deep scratchings or burrows)
  • Sprinkler heads
  • Deep rutted tyre tracks
  • Coring holes and clearly defined ground cracks

Relief is available under Rule 16.1.

Animal droppings: There is no relief from animal droppings unless the ball is also impacted by a hole or other damage caused by an animal.

Cracks: Cracks are defined as areas where the ground is split apart, leaving a hole in the ground. Relief is provided to eliminate the risk of injury or damage from striking the crack while making a stroke. Tiny cracks on hard ground that would not affect a player’s swing do not qualify.

b. Tree Roots

If a player’s ball lies in the general area and exposed tree roots create a reasonable risk of injury to the player or damage to their equipment when making a stroke, the roots are treated as ground under repair. The player may take free relief under Rule 16.1b.

Relief: The relief area is within one club length of the nearest point of complete relief, no nearer the hole.

4. Penalty Areas

Penalty areas are defined by red or yellow stakes. Relief may be taken under Rule 17.

Note: The garden bed in front of the 3rd tee has a free drop zone to the right of the garden bed.

5. Drop Zones

Dropping zones are provided as an additional relief option on the following holes. The ball must be dropped in and come to rest within the dropping zone.

  • Hole 3: Two dropping zones are provided — (a) to the right of the garden bed near the tee, and (b) behind the green to the right of the pond.
  • Hole 6: Behind the green approximately 10 metres and to the right of the pond
  • Hole 7: Behind the green approximately 10 metres and to the right of the pond
  • Hole 8: Just after the drain at the corner, on the left for balls that go into the dam

6. Sprinkler Heads — Line of Play Relief

Relief from interference by a sprinkler head (immovable obstruction) may be taken under Rule 16.1.

In addition, if a sprinkler head is within two club lengths of the putting green being played, and the player’s ball is also within two club lengths of that sprinkler head, and the sprinkler head intervenes on the player’s line of play, the player may take free relief within one club length of the nearest point of relief, no nearer the hole.

7. Staked or Newly Planted Trees

A player must not play a stroke from a position where a staked or newly planted tree would be damaged by the stroke or the player’s stance. The player must take free relief under Rule 16.1. The nearest point of complete relief must be identified and the ball dropped within one club length of that point, no nearer the hole.

8. Motorised Carts

a. Green Surrounds

Motorised carts must not be driven within ten metres of any green and must be parked on the exit side of the green toward the next tee. Carts must not be parked directly in front of the green.

Breach of this condition will be referred to the Committee and may be addressed under the Club’s Code of Conduct.

b. Cart Conditions of Play (Club requirement — not a Local Rule)

As a courtesy to other players and to protect the course, groups are asked to limit motorised cart use to a maximum of two carts per group and to share carts where possible. The Starter may assist with rearranging groups if needed.

9. Pine Trees and Surrounding Areas

Pine needles, branches, and tree stumps within the pine tree areas on the 8th and 12th holes and between the 15th and 17th holes are part of the general area. No free relief is available.

A player whose ball comes to rest in such areas may proceed under Rule 19 (Unplayable Ball).

10. Model Local Rule E-5 — Alternative to Stroke and Distance

When a player’s ball has not been found or is known or virtually certain to be out of bounds, the player may proceed under Model Local Rule E-5 as an alternative to stroke and distance.

For two penalty strokes, the player may drop the original ball or another ball in the relief area defined by:

  • A line from the hole through the point where the ball is estimated to have come to rest or last crossed the boundary (Ball Reference Point), and
  • A line from the hole through the nearest point of fairway cut to fairway height or less, not nearer the hole than the Ball Reference Point (Fairway Reference Point).

The relief area must:

  • Be in the general area
  • Not be nearer the hole than the Ball Reference Point

Once a ball is put in play under this Local Rule, the original ball is no longer in play and must not be played — even if it is found within the three-minute search time (Rule 6.3b).

This option may not be used if:

  • The ball is known or virtually certain to be in a penalty area, or
  • A provisional ball has already been played under stroke and distance (Rule 18.3).

Penalty: Playing from a wrong place in breach of this Local Rule: General Penalty under Rule 14.7a.

Penalty for Breach of Local Rules

Unless otherwise specified:

  • Stroke Play: General penalty (two strokes)
  • Match Play: Loss of hole

Players should refer to the clubhouse notice board for any current temporary Local Rules.