2026 Illawarra Junior Masters

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Links Shell Cove – Additional Local Rules

To be read in conjunction with the Rules of Golf. The JNJG and Golf NSW Rules Hard Card applies, but in the case of any inconsistency, these Supplementary Local Rules apply. The club local rules do not apply.

Penalty for Breach of Local Rule – General Penalty (Match Play – Loss of Hole)

 

JNJG TOURNAMENT OFFICIALS

Players may call the following numbers and an official will attend as soon as possible:

1. Daniel Smyth – 0423 953 533
2. Ethan Keane – 0435 033 255
3. Greg Watkinson – 0407 422 112

 

In the case of a player being unable to gain assistance from one of the officials, the player may proceed in accordance with the procedure outlined in Rule 20.1 of the Rules of Golf and play a second ball before seeking clarification on the rule with the official after the round.
 

 

1. Ground under Repair

 

1.1 All maintained gardens and mulch / woodchip covered areas.

1.2 Any roped off areas.

1.3 Bare patches on closely mown areas (fairway).

1.4 Exposed tree roots on closely mown areas (fairways).

1.5 Clearly defined vehicle and machinery tracks (through the green).

1.6 New drainage / excavation works (through the green).

1.7 Artificially surfaced roads and paths (through the green).

1.8 Aeration Holes on the Putting Green. Any ball that comes to rest in or on an aeration hole may be lifted, without penalty, and placed at the nearest spot no nearer the hole that avoids the aeration hole.

1.9 Relief on Greens – line of putt relief can be taken to avoid putting over bare patches / ground under repair on the green. Relief must be the nearest point of relief, which gives a clear line of putt to the hole, taking into account the anticipated path of travel of the putt.

1.10 Areas in bunkers where sand has been removed by movement of water resulting in deep furrows through the sand.

 

2. Immovable Obstructions

1. 1. The artificial surfaces and artificial edges or borders of roads and paths (includes gravel paths, wood-chipped paths, etc).
   2. When two artificially-surfaced paths are adjoining, they are treated as the one path.
   3. When white-lined areas tie into an immovable obstruction, the two conditions are treated as a single abnormal course condition.
   4. Landscaped garden areas and everything growing in them that are surrounded by an immovable obstruction are treated as a single abnormal course condition.
   5. Mats that are secured and all ramps covering cables.

3. Returning of Scorecard

3.1 In a situation where a player has returned an incorrect scorecard, a specific mistake will be treated as a ‘committee error’ (which means the player will be exempt from any penalty for this mistake under Rule 3.3b and this mistake must be corrected on the scorecard, regardless of whether the error is discovered before or after the competition has closed) when ALL of the following are true:

• Where the committee in charge of the competition had appointed a ‘scorecard return official/s’.
• Where the ‘scorecard return official’ would reasonably be expected to have identified the mistake.
• Where the player left the scoring area only after having received some sort of advice from the ‘scorecard return official’ to the effect that the scorecard was returned in full compliance with Rule 3.3b.

3.2 In a situation where Hard Card Local Rule 20.a does not apply, Rule 3.3b(2) is modified in this way: if a player returns a scorecard without the hole scores being certified either by the player, the marker or both, the player gets two penalty strokes. The penalty applies to the last hole of the player’s round.

4. Immovable Obstructions (e.g. Sprinkler Heads) Close to Putting Greens – Line of Play Interference

4.1 Rule 16.1b applies to immovable obstructions close to putting greens. In addition to the types of interference described in Rule 16.1a, at the player’s discretion, interference under 16.1a is considered to also occur with an immovable obstruction when all of the following are true:

• It is on the player’s line of play, AND
• It is within two club-lengths of the putting green, AND
• It is within two club-lengths of the ball.

(Exception: There is no relief under this Local Rule if the player chooses a line of play that is clearly unreasonable.)

5. Out of Bounds

 

5.1 All ground beyond white stakes with black tops or out of bounds signs. Boundary fencing (excluding fencing in wetlands). If a players ball is out of bounds then they are to take stroke and distance relief under Rule 18-2(b), adding one penalty stroke and playing a ball from where the previous stroke was played.

 

6. Protected Trees and Shrubs

 

6.1 These are marked with stakes. Relief must be taken according to Rule 24–2 for interference with stance or swing.

 

7. Course Information

1. 1. Tees
      • Boys – Brickyard (1^st hole back at Quarry distance)
      • Girls – Steelworks (8^th and 17^th holes at Railyard distance)

 

1. 2. Distance Markers (all to centre of green)

 

1. 3. Penalty areas

All penalty areas at Links Shell Cove are RED Penalty Areas. The edge of the penalty area is defined by;

• RED pegs,
• or; a chemically applied “kill” line,
• or: an unmown line of long, unmaintained grass,
• or; line of rocks.

 

8. Drop Zone – 3^rd Hole

 

8.1 If a player’s tee shot on the 3^rd hole fails to cross the margin of the hazard on the far side of the dam, the player has the option to use the drop zone which is located on the far side of the dam near the green.

 

 

9. Waste areas – 4^th and 12^th Holes

 

1. 1. These areas are not penalty areas and are maintained as an integral part of the course. A ball played into these areas may be;
      • Played as it lies
      • Treated as unplayable and relief with penalty taken under rule 19.2
      • If a ball is lost in these areas, it is to be treated as a lost ball and the player should proceed under rule 18.2b

 

10. Penalty area – 5^th Hole – Long unmaintained grass mound

10.1 This area is to be treated as a penalty area defined by “an unmown line of long, unmaintained grass”

A ball in this area may be;

• • • Played as it lies or;
    • Relief with penalty taken under rule 17.1d

11. Provisional ball – 16^th hole

11.1 A provisional ball is allowed to be played on the 16^th tee if a player is not certain their original ball has crossed the hazard.

12. Long Unmaintained Kikuyu & Native Grasses
 

All areas of long UNMAINTAINED native grass (including areas of long unmaintained kikuyu grass) are to be treated as “Penalty Areas” and relief may be taken, with penalty, following rule 17.1d