Golf Genius ::

WHY LOCAL RULES?

The Committee’s goal is to establish clear, concise TPGL Local Rules of Play covering situations specific for our league. These TPGL Local Rules are additions or modifications, not substitutions, for the USGA Rules of Golf. Any TPGL Local Rules are meant to promote fairness of play within the League, to protect the field since we are competing for awards, to improve the pace of play, and to augment the USGA Rules due to local conditions. It will make every TPGL Member’s golf experience more enjoyable to be familiar with the basic Rules of Golf, basic Golf Etiquette, and the TPGL’s expectations for Pace of Play.

WHAT RULES DO THE TPGL PLAY BY?

The USGA Rules of Golf apply for all events, supplemented with the following TPGL LOCAL RULES and modifications.

LOCAL RULES OF THE TPGL

2019 SEASON

HAZARD STAKES

Yellow Regular water hazard stakes, red Lateral water hazard stakes, and green topped yellow and red stakes identifying Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) are plentiful, but sometimes can be irregular or missing. Since the options vary for each type of hazard, it is important that we are all playing by the same rules.

Stakes IDENTIFY hazards or areas, while Lines DEFINE hazards or areas. In the absence of a line on the ground that DEFINES the hazard, we will generally use the consistent cut of the grass bordering the obvious hazard as where the defining line would be. A straight line between consecutive, viewable Stakes may not always be the intended DEFINITION of a hazard due to missing or misplaced stakes. Use consensus agreement of competitors and, if in doubt, play two balls as per the USGA protocol and inform the committee at the end of the round. In the rare event that there is strong disagreement about establishing the status of the ball, and a second ball is played, please mark the location of the original ball with a tee and a Committee member will check the location after the round and make a ruling.

All Stakes and Lines are in the hazard and the hazard begins at ground level and extends straight up. A ball is in the hazard when it lies in or any part of it touches the hazard (i.e. a ball touching the hazard line is IN the hazard). Full relief for stance and swing is allowed for a ball adjacent to an ESA hazard. Note that with a ball touching an Out of Bounds line the rule is different, i.e. if any part of the ball is in play it is NOT Out of Bounds.

SAME HAZARD WITH DIFFERENT IDENTIFYING STAKES

Occasionally, one may find different colored stakes identifying the same hazard (i.e. a yellow stake then a red stake, or a green top red stake and then a normal red stake). Normally, at the point where the definition of the type of hazard changes there will be two adjacent stakes, one of each type. Sometimes, these different stakes are not immediately adjacent to each other and can be some distance apart. If there is no line DEFINING the type of hazard (red line, yellow line, etc.) there can be confusion about where the type of hazard changes. For TPGL play, a RED IDENTIFYING STAKE will always be assumed to exist immediately adjacent to a sequence of YELLOW STAKES or GREEN TOPPED STAKES where a transition from a series of Red stakes to a series of another type of stake occurs. Similarly, a GREEN TOPPED RED STAKE will always be assumed to exist immediately adjacent to a YELLOW STAKE OR A GREEN TOPPED YELLOW STAKE where this transition takes place. If in doubt, play two balls as per the USGA protocol and inform the committee at the end of the round to make a ruling.

LINE OF FLIGHT ENTERING HAZARD

It is very important that we all play with the same rules regarding where a ball enters a hazard. The point at which a ball crosses the hazard line is critical in determining which option the player will use with the subsequent shot. The player and competitors should be in close agreement as to where this point is and should attempt to establish this point at the time any shot appears to be entering a hazard.

LIFT, CLEAN AND PLACE

If the course is declared CART PATH ONLY, lift, clean and place will apply to ALL areas on the course through the green (fairways, sand traps, rough, hazards). The ball may be placed within one club length no nearer the whole but not onto a green, outside of a sand trap, or outside of a hazard. This rule or a modification of this rule may also be applied in special conditions by the Committee for any event.

DROP AREAS

MAY be used as an option with tee shots that enter a hazard marked as a Regular Water Hazard (Yellow/Yellow Green Topped stakes).

ONE BALL RULE

One ball rule is not in effect in the TPGL. However, we are requesting that ALL players place a suitable marking on their ball and all players identify their ball to fellow competitors on the first tee. Likewise, when a ball is taken out of play in accordance with USGA rules, we ask that players mark and identify the replacement to competitors. There are specific rules for taking a ball out of play while playing a hole. Members should be familiar with this rule. Any ball may be replaced at the beginning of a hole, but should be marked and identified to competitors as on the first tee. This should speed up play when searching for balls as well as decrease the incidences of playing a wrong ball.

SCORECARDS & ELECTRONIC SCORING

The TPGL requests all players utilize LIVE scoring via the Golf Genius mobile app throughout the round - scores for each player of the foursome should be entered after each completed hole. In addition, the TPGL requires a written scorecard from each group. It must be legible and initialed or signed by each player having scores on that card. Players are not responsible for addition. If a second ball has been played questioning a rule, the card should not be signed until the Committee has made a rule decision. Signing a wrong scorecard may result in disqualification. Please note the time ON THE SCORECARD when your group is leaving the first tee and the time when your group has cleared the 18th green.

IDENTIFYING BALL

If a ball cannot be identified without lifting the ball, the correct protocol is as follows: (1) Declare to a competitor your intention to lift the ball to identify, (2) Mark the position of the ball, (3) Under observation of the competitor lift the ball and identify, (4) Return the ball to the original position.

PROVISIONAL BALL VS. SECOND BALL

A provisional ball must be announced as such prior to striking the ball, and is played if there is any doubt as to the playable location of the original ball (out of bounds, lost, obstruction, etc). If a second ball is played without announcing that it is a "provisional" ball, the first ball is considered abandoned and if subsequently played would create a penalty for playing a wrong ball. In the TPGL, as a local rule, a provisional ball can be played if there is doubt about clearing a regular water hazard as an option as well. A provisional ball can be played until it is clearly beyond the point where the original ball is thought most likely to be. Once a stroke is made with a provisional ball that is clearly beyond the point where the original ball was thought most likely to be (and the original ball is not found) it becomes the ball in play and the original ball is abandoned and cannot be played if later found to be in play.

A second ball should be played along with the original ball and announced as such if there is a question about a rule. The correct procedure is to: (1) announce that you are playing a second ball, (2) announce which score is to count if the rules permit, (3) complete the hole with each ball as if two separate players, (4) record both scores, (5) report details to Committee for ruling prior to signing scorecard.

LOST BALL ON COURSE

If a ball is inexplicably lost on the course and is unequivocally not in a hazard, out of bounds, or in an obstruction, and a provisional ball was NOT played, the player may drop a ball at the spot where the ball was most likely to be with agreement from playing competitors. This ball will be played as if it was a provisional ball hit from the location of the previous stroke and incur the same scoring (previous stroke, penalty, provisional stroke) as if the lost ball was hit out of bounds. This is part of the TPGL “NEVER GO BACK” policy. It is a significant reason to distinctively mark your ball so that another golfer does not “lose” your ball for you.

LATE ARRIVAL AT FIRST TEE

If, for ANY reason, a player is late arriving at the tee area for his tee time and all other players in his group have hit and left the tee area the player has 3 options:

Option 1.

IF his group is playing the first hole or has not yet cleared the 1st green area (i.e. if they are visible from the tee box) AND all players of the subsequent group have not teed off he may play through this group and play to join his group. A TWO STROKE PENALTY is added to the score made by playing the hole within the rules. Example: if the player holes out in 4 strokes, his Marker will record a 6 on the scorecard.

Option 2.

IF his group is not visible on the 1st hole from the tee box (out of sight beyond the 1st hole green area) OR his group is visible but the subsequent group have all teed off, the player MAY NOT tee off and play through the subsequent group. He is welcome to join his original group on the course and play the round as practice. The player is not eligible for any purses or prizes. If the player was scheduled for a Head to Head match, he forfeits the match along with the merchandise credit available to the winner of the match. In addition, the player will have violated the NO SHOW policy of the TPGL and will be subject to the consequences of the policy. The round does not count towards the player's minimum requirement.

Option 3.

Not play. It is the Course’s decision regarding refunding greens fees paid. If the player was scheduled for a Head to Head match, he forfeits the match along with the merchandise credit available to the winner of the match. In addition, the player will have violated the NO SHOW policy of the TPGL and will be subject to the consequences of the policy.

STONES OR ROCKS IN SAND TRAPS

In the TPGL you are allowed to remove stones or rocks in sand traps that present a risk of injury during the act of making a stroke.

PACE OF PLAY

The low handicap member in any group is requested to assume the non-judgmental responsibility of maintaining the group’s satisfactory pace by being mindful of the group’s position on the course and encouraging faster play if necessary.

It must be every Member’s objective to play at a pace that keeps their group:

within 1 holesof the group ahead throughout the round
finish 18 holes in 4 hours 20minutes OR LESS
finish within 15 minutes of the group ahead

In order to maintain good relationships among the Members and with the Course, the Committee may from time to time request Members to improve their pace of play if it is clear they are affecting the quality of the League as a whole.

TPGL

OF PLAY