LOCAL RULES

1. OUT OF BOUNDS
A ball is out of bounds:
a) Over any wall, fence or hedge bounding the course.
b) Out of Bounds is defined by the line between the course-side points at ground level of white stakes and fence posts.
c)   Over the wall or marked stones left of no. 9 and continuation of wall behind the 2nd tee.
d)   In or over the ditch, or on the public footpath, or left of the white markers at no. 10

2. STAKED TREE/PLANTATIONS

• Staked trees/Plantations are  No Play Zones - The exception being the ‘Plantation’ to the left of the 16th Green  which is a penalty area
• If a player's ball lies anywhere on the course other than in a penalty area and it lies on or touches such a tree or such a tree interferes with the player's stance or area of intended swing, the player must take relief under rule 16.1f.
• If the ball lies in a penalty area, and interference to the player's stance or area of intended swing exists from such a tree, the player must take relief with penalty under Rule 17.1e.
• Staked trees bearing plastic tree protectors only are  not classed as staked trees.
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3. ABNORMAL COURSE CONDITIONS/IMMOVABLE OBSTRUCTIONS/GUR
a) Ground Under Repair is defined by any area encircled by a white line and relief may be taken in accordance with Rule 16.1b.
b) Stop taps, drainage inspection covers, seats and artificially-surfaced paths are immovable obstructions – Rule 16.1b applies.
c)  All fixed sprinkler heads are immovable obstructions and relief may be obtained under Rule 16.1.

Ball in General Area. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b if an immovable obstruction is:
• On the line of play, and is:
    ❖ Within two club-lengths of the putting green, and
    ❖ Within two club lengths of the ball.

Exception - No Relief If Line of Play Clearly Unreasonable. There is no relief under this Local Rule if the player chooses a line of play that is clearly unreasonable.

4. SUSPENSION OF PLAY
a) Immediate suspension of play for reasons of danger will be signalled by ONE PROLONGED BLAST on a siren which will signify immediate suspension of play & players must mark their balls & return to the clubhouse straight away without playing any further strokes.
b) Suspension of play for other reasons will be signalled by THREE SHORT BLASTS on a siren.  Players may complete the hole they are playing or they mark the balls where they lie.  A player must not start playing the following hole.
c) Resumption of play is signalled by TWO SHORT BLASTS, REPEATED.  Play will be resumed immediately from where play ceased or the next tee if the hole was completed.

5. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE DUE TO HEAVY RAIN AND TRAFFIC

Purpose. When heavy rain has resulted in many areas of unusual damage to the course (such as deep ruts caused by vehicles or deep footprints caused by spectators), and it is not feasible to define them with stakes or lines, the Committee has the authority to declare such unusual damage to be ground under repair and as such the local rule is :-

"Ground under repair includes areas of unusual damage, including areas where traffic has combined with wet conditions to alter the ground surface materially"

6. Relief from Aeration Holes

If a player's ball lies in or touches an aeration hole:

a) Ball in General Area. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b. If the ball comes to rest in another aeration hole the player may take relief again under this Local Rule.

b) Ball on Putting Green.The player may take relief under Rule 16.1d.

But 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.

Penalty for Breach of Local Rule

Match play – loss of hole: Stroke play – General penalty ( 2 strokes)- (Rules 1 to  3 and 5 to 7)
Rule 4 - Disqualification

Please note that during the current Covid-19 situation, where bunker rakes are not permitted to be in use, the following local bunker rule is now in place and replaces the older local rule, in addition we also have a local rule to cover not touching touching markers.

The following rules are approved by CONGU and the R&A.

7. When a player’s ball lies in a bunker the player may take free relief once by placing the 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:

Limits on Location of Relief Area: Must not be nearer the hole than the reference point and Must be in the same bunker.

The area CANNOT be smoothed before placing

In proceeding under this Local Rule, the player must choose a spot to place the ball and use the procedures for replacing a ball under Rules 14.2b(2) and 14.2e.

Please refer to the Official Guide to the Rules of Golf. Unless otherwise noted, the penalty for breach of a Local Rule is the General Penalty

Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Local Rule: General Penalty (2 strokes) Under Rule 14.7a.

8. The following are all classed as Temporary Immovable Obstructions: -

Pentaly Area (Yellow) markers
Penatly Area (Red) markers
150-yard markers
Fairway Marker Posts

A TIO is different from an immovable obstruction and this Local Rule provides additional relief from interference by a TIO. This means that the player can choose to take relief by using either:

The procedure for taking relief from an abnormal course condition in Rule 16 as if the TIO were an immovable obstruction (this relief is also available when the ball lies in a penalty area), or
The additional relief option available under this Local Rule.

a.    When Relief Is Allowed

Relief from a TIO is normally allowed when there is physical interference or line of sight interference from the TIO.

Interference under this Local Rule means that the player has:

Physical interference,
Line of sight interference, or
Both physical and line of sight interference.

Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Local Rule: General Penalty (2 strokes) Under Rule 14.7a.  

9. Abnormal Ground Condition (Rule 16.1b) Drainage Channels in the General Area.

There has been substantial drainage work carried out resulting in many areas of unmarked ground under repair, primarily in the form of drainage channels. The drainage channels and associated workings within the General Area are classed as abnormal ground conditions. The infill will start to settle down leaving uneven furrows.

Interference is now deemed to occur when the player’s ball touches or is in the condition.
Additionally if the player’s stance or area of intended swing is affected, that is also classed as interference under this Rule.

• Reference Point: Spot of original ball.
• Size of Relief Area Measured from Reference Point: one club length from the reference point, but with these limits:
• Limits on Location of Relief Area: 

                      Must not be nearer the hole than the reference point, and 

                      Must be in the general area (not be in a penalty area or on a putting green)

If further interference arises, the ball may be re-dropped

The ball may be cleaned when lifted under this Local Rule.

Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Local Rule: General Penalty (2 strokes) Under Rule 14.7a.