Local Rules and Conditions of Competitions

2018 Northern Junior Championship

 

The Rules of Golf as approved by the United States Golf Association and The R&A govern play.  See applicable event Notice to Players and Entry Application for additional Local Rules & Conditions.  Complete text of Rules and Appendix I may be found in the Rules of Golf, effective January 2018.

Unless otherwise noted, penalty for breach of a Local Rule/Condition is:   Match play – Loss of hole | Stroke play – Two strokes

 

LOCAL RULES

 

 

Out of Bounds—Defined by nearest inside points, at ground level, of white stakes and fence posts.  Rule 27-1b. Additionally, a ball which crosses a road defined as out of bounds and comes to rest beyond that road is out of bounds, even though it may lie on another part of the golf course.

 

Water and Lateral Water Hazard Stakes and Lines—When a water hazard or lateral water hazard is defined on only one side, it is deemed to extend to infinity.  When a water hazard or lateral water hazard is bounded by out of bounds, the hazard margin extends to and coincides with the out of bounds line.

 

Ground Under Repair—Defined by white lines.  Fire ant hills, sod-covered trenching for temporary cables and French drains are deemed to be ground under repair. Ground under repair may include areas of unusual damage, including areas where spectators or other traffic has combined with wet conditions to affect materially the ground surface, but only when so declared by an authorized member of the Committee.  When immediately adjacent to an obstruction such an area is part of the obstruction.

 

Embedded Ball —A ball embedded in its own pitch mark through the green may be lifted, cleaned, and dropped as prescribed in Appendix I.

 

Sod Seams —Local Rule as prescribed in Appendix I is in effect. 

 

Accidental Movement of a Ball on a Putting Green — When a player’s ball lies on the putting green, there is no penalty if the ball or ball-marker is accidentally moved by the player, his partner, his opponent, or any of their caddies or equipment. (NOTE: Full text of Local Rule available at http://www.usga.org/2017LocalRule).

 

Turf Plugs on the Putting Green —May be repaired even if they are not 4¼ inches.

Immovable Obstructions —Include plastic bumpers on roads and paths and mats secured to the ground with spikes when the bumpers or mats cover cables.

 

White Lined Area Tying Into Obstructions—Have the same status as the obstruction involved.

 

Wood Chips and Mulch—Are loose impediments, unless otherwise provided for in the Notice to Players.

 

Integral Parts of the Course —Include stone walls, cables, rods, wires or wrappings when closely attached to trees; artificial walls and pilings when located in hazards, unless otherwise provided for in the Notice to Players. 

 

Roads and Paths— Improved roads, paths and their extensions are deemed to be obstructions whether or not they are artificially surfaced.

 

Power Lines —If a ball strikes a power line during play of a hole, the stroke is cancelled and the player must play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was played in accordance with Rule 20-5.

 

Stones in Bunkers —Are considered movable obstructions (Rule 24-1 applies) and may be removed without penalty.

 

Wrong Score for Hole in Stroke Play —If a competitor returns a score for any hole lower than actually taken due to failure to include a penalty stroke that the player did not know he had incurred, the player is not disqualified.  The penalty for the applicable Rule is applied, but there is no additional penalty.  (NOTE: Full text of this Local Rule is available at http://usga.org/2018LocalRule).

 

CONDITIONS

 

List of Conforming Driver Heads & List of Conforming Golf Balls —Optional condition as prescribed in Appendix I is in effect.

 

Pace of Play —Refer to separate Northern Junior Pace of Play policy.

 

Transportation—Unless prohibited in the Letter to Competitors, players are permitted to use motorized transportation.

 

Spiked Golf Shoes —The use of traditionally designed spikes (regardless of composition) or spikes, regardless of design comprised of metal will not be allowed. Penalty for breach of this condition is disqualification.

 

Code of Conduct—Contestants and their caddies are reminded that at all times appropriate golf etiquette and dress is required and that any abuse or disrespect of fellow competitors, officials, hosts, sponsors, employees, or other persons conducting or attending Northern Junior sponsored or conducted events are grounds for immediate removal from the event and denial of entry for future events.  Such abuse or disrespect may be verbal or physical or threat thereof and includes, but is not limited to, the use of vulgar or obscene language, as well as physical damage to property

 

 Distance Measuring Devices — A player may obtain distance information by use of a distance-measuring device.  If, during a stipulated round, a player uses a distance-measuring device to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect his play (e.g., gradient, wind speed, temperature, etc.), the player is in breach of Rule 14-3.

 

Discontinuance of Play —Optional Condition as prescribed in Appendix I is in effect.  When play is suspended for a dangerous situation, all practice areas are closed until the Committee has declared them open.

 

Note: A suspension for a dangerous situation will be signaled by one prolonged air horn note.  All other types of suspension will be signaled by three consecutive air horn notes, repeated.  Resumption of play will be signaled by two short air horn notes, repeated.

 

Close of Competition —The competition is deemed to have closed when the trophy has been presented to the winner or, in the absence of a prize ceremony, when all scores have been approved by the Committee.  The result of a match is considered to have been “officially announced” when the Committee has approved the result as posted on the public scoreboard.