Rule of the Week 19th June - Changes To The Local Rules

Changes to the Local Rules have been included on the new scorecards.

It is amazing how often I am asked questions by Members after they have played a round of golf about a situation that is in the Local Rules on the back of the scorecard. These rules are there for to help you, it is in your best intrest to know these rules, it could save you a couple of shots if you do. We have just had another batch of cards printed which include a few changes which are listed below.

 

• The Clubhouse precinct, cart sheds, the car park area & driving range are now OUT OF BOUNDS. The area that this change will affect most is behind the 9th & 18th greens, therefore if you do hit the ball over the back of the green and you think it may have gone out of bounds the main thing to remember is to hit a provisional ball to save time going back if the ball is indeed out of bounds.

• An area we have problems sometimes is the toilet block between the 15th green and the 16th tee. Although this is rare it does cause problems if a ball lands near this area. With this in mind, we have now classed it as an IMMOVABLE OBSTRUCTION. This mean if the building is interfering with your swing or stance you are entitled to relief under rule 24.2b.
• We have redone the wording for relief from abnormal ground conditions caused by vehicles. This is the wording recomended by the PGA & Golf Australia for this situation. For too long now, player have been going deep in the scrub and taking relief from bare areas because a greenkeeper has been in the area with a mower or tractor. To be entitled to relief your ball must be in a rut or a drepression, not simply sitting on a bare patch. The rule now reads All wheel ruts and depressions created by a mower, tractor or other motor vehicles, through the green are G.U.R.
• We have also included: all new irrigation and construction work otherwise unmarked, is G.U.R. This means any area such as burst irrigation pipes, new turf being laid, trees being removed etc that the greenstaff are working on is G.U.R and you are entitled to relief.
• Two new drop zones have been included. the first is located behind the 10th green. This is to be used if relief is required for a ball entering the hazard between the blue posts. If relief is required from this area this will incur a one shot penalty. The same drop zone is to be used for balls coming to rest on the path behind the green. This is a free drop. The second drop zone is located behind the bunker close to the 12th green. This is to be used if relief is required for balls entering the hazard between the blue posts, again this will cost you a one shot penalty.

• The last area we have changed is the area behind the 2nd green. The drop zones still remain, but we have extended the hazard to take in the pump shed.

All of these changes have been made to try and make the game fairer for all players. These are areas we know cause many problems and many different interpretaions of the rules. Hopefully these changes will fix the problems we have been having.

 

While we are on about the Scorecard, we seem to be having a problem of late with players taking on themselves to ignore the Club Rule about calling up on holes 1, 4 7 & 16. We have tried many different call up options over the years and through experience, we know this one works best. The rule is quite simple, if the group behind is on the tee you must stand behind the screens provided and call the group up. Penalties apply to players who refuse to abide with this rule.