LOCAL RULES

Out of Bounds

Outside the ordinary boundaries of the course.

On the car park.

On the practice putting green.

On, or over, any paths, gravel footings and flower beds surrounding the clubhouse and Professionals' shop.

In the gardens of Worth Hall.

Over the fence separating the 15th & 16th holes from the remainder of the course.

On, or over, the approach road to the clubhouse from the hole being played.

Wholly on, or over, the white line or beyond the white posts around the greenkeepers’ machine area.

Hole 18 – as defined by the white posts or white line.

Abnormal Course Conditions (Including Immovable Obstructions)

For the purpose of Rule 16.1 the following will be included as abnormal course conditions: Wheel ruts caused by machinery, buggies or golf trolleys.

For the purpose of Rule 16.1 the following will be included as immovable obstructions: shelters, immovable direction posts, immovable warning signs, seats, warning bells, drain covers, paths, staked trees, stiles – including the remnants thereof on the 18th fairway, protective screens, plastic sheeting placed by the greenkeepers to protect areas of the course, sprinkler heads, the centenary wall and the practice nets. In addition, if such an obstruction on, or within two club-lengths of, the putting green of the hole being played intervenes on the line of play between the ball and the hole, the player may obtain relief, without penalty, as follows: If the ball lies off the putting green, but not in a bunker or penalty area, and is within two club-lengths of the intervening obstruction it may be lifted, cleaned and dropped at the nearest point of relief to where the ball lay which is a) not nearer the hole, b) avoids such intervention and c) is not in a bunker, penalty area or on a putting green. The original position of the ball must be marked before lifting. Penalty for breach; Match Play – Loss of Hole, Stroke play – Two Strokes.

Stakes defining out of bounds must not be removed as these are boundaries.

Stakes defining out of bounds having no significance on the hole being played shall be deemed immovable obstructions. Relief may then be taken under Rule 16.1. For example, when playing the 1st the stakes that define the out of bounds for the 18th are immovable obstructions and relief can be taken.

Movable Obstructions

Bunker rakes, movable direction posts, tee repair mixture boxes and course signs (e.g. direction post on the 9th, GUR and Next Tee Signs). Rule 15.2 applies.

Penalty Areas

The ponds on both the 9th and the 17th/18th are Red Penalty areas and Rule 17 applies.

No Play Zone

The wild flower are between the 5th and 7th holes is defined as a No Play Zone. The area is marked by stakes. A ball played into the area must not be retrieved. If it is known, or virtually certain, that the ball is in the No Play Zone then the ball may be dropped, without penalty, under rule 16.1b, using the ball last crossed the boundary of the No Play Zone as the reference point.

Temporary Local Rules

We are currently playing under the following Model Local Rules (MLR)

MLR E3 - Preferred Lies (Lift, Clean & Place)

When a player’s ball lies in a part of the general area cut to fairway height or less, the player may prefer the lie within 6" of the original spot (not nearer the hole).

MLR E2 - Cleaning Ball (Lift, Clean & Replace)

When a player’s ball lies in the general area (non fairway height cut), the ball may be marked, lifted, cleaned and replaced without penalty. The ball must be replaced on the original spot, there is no 6" relief in this scenario. 

Under both of these Model Local Rules, players may submit a score for handicap purposes.

In addition to these 2 rules, we are currently also operating a policy of raking and placing in bunkers. This additional rule is only applicable in non-qualifying rounds.