LOCAL RULES

Temporary Local Rules:

Model Local Rule E-3 - “Leaf Rule”

For the purpose of play between now and 30th November 2024, on holes 4, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, and 18:

If a ball is known or virtually certain to be lost in fallen leaves in any mown area within the general play area, including mown rough, the player may drop another ball in the estimated area where the original ball was lost without penalty.

The spot of the drop must be agreed upon by the player’s marker or playing partner and should be within one club length of the estimated location, but no closer to the hole.

This rule is strictly limited to the specified holes and only applies when the loss of the ball is due to the accumulation of fallen leaves. The original ball is considered lost and is no longer in play if this option is used.

Video explanation  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQHvv8NfYv0

Local Rule Update: Ropes and Posts as Movable Obstructions

Effective immediately, all ropes and posts on the course are classified as movable obstructions under Rule 15.2.

Players are permitted to move ropes and posts that interfere with their stance, swing, or intended line of play.

If a rope or post is removed and subsequently interferes with another player’s play, it must be replaced in a similar position after use.

No penalty will be applied for moving these objects, provided it does not breach any other rules of play.

This update is intended to improve course navigation and ensure fair play without obstruction interference.

Irrigation Works

The areas of the course that are being affected by the installation of the new irrigation system (areas of the course not yet healed) are no play zones that are to be treated as abnormal course conditions. Free relief must be taken from interference by the no play zones under Rule 16.1b. Please play from your nearest point of relief.  It is difficult to define all areas that are abnormal course conditions with white lines or markings. Golfers should use their own best judgment to determine if free relief must be taken as per the rule above. 

D-2
Status of Putting Green When Temporary Putting Green Is Used
Purpose. There may be times when a putting green for a hole cannot be used for some reason, for example due to bad weather, or for reasons related to repair or maintenance. When this is the case, the Committee may wish to prepare a temporary putting green and put a Local Rule in place to define this as the putting green used for that hole. The putting green that has been replaced by a temporary putting green automatically becomes a wrong green because it is no longer the putting green for the hole the player is playing.

Model Local Rule D-2

Any putting green that has been replaced by a temporary putting green is a wrong green and free relief from interference must be taken under Rule 13.1f.

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

Preffered Lies:

When any part of a player's ball touches part of the general area cut to fairway height or less, the player may take free relief once by placing the original ball or another 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 general area.

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. But for the purposes of applying Rule 14.2e, the player has only chosen the spot on which to place the ball once the ball has been set down, and the player has let the ball go with the intent for that ball to be in play.

EMBEDDED BALL

Free relief allowed under Rule 16.3 if a player’s ball is embedded in the general area.

Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Local Rule: General Penalty Under Rule 14.7a

GROUND UNDER REPAIR

Heavy rain has resulted in in many areas sustaining damage, such as deep ruts caused by vehicles. These areas are to be defined as “Ground Under Repair” and free relief MUST be taken under Rule 16.1

Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Local Rule: General Penalty Under Rule 14.7a

November 2024