LOCAL RULES AND TERMS OF COMPETITION FOR 2019 OGA AND OJG CHAMPIONSHIPS AND EVENTS
The Rules of Golf as approved by the USGA and The R&A govern play. These Local Rules and Terms of the Competition are in effect at all OGA and OJG competitions, along with additional Local Rules or Terms as provided on the applicable Notice to Players, Entry Application and OJG Code of Conduct. Complete text of Rules and Model Local Rules may be found in the Official Guide to the Rules of Golf, effective January 2019.
UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, THE PENALTY FOR BREACH OF A LOCAL RULE IS THE GENERAL PENALTY
LOCAL RULES
1. OUT OF BOUNDS – Defined by the line between the course-side points, at ground level, of white stakes and fence posts. Additionally, a ball which crosses a public 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 course. Model Local Rule A-3.
2. PENALTY AREAS – When a penalty area is defined on only one side, it extends to infinity. When a penalty area is connected to the out of bounds edge, the penalty area extends to and coincides with the out of bounds.
3. BALL PLAYED FROM OUTSIDE RELIEF AREA WHEN TAKING BACK-ON-THE-LINE RELIEF: Model Local Rule E-12 is in effect.
4. GROUND UNDER REPAIR – Defined by white lines. French drains are ground under repair.
5. SEAMS OF CUT TURF - Local Rule as prescribed in Section 8 of The Committee Procedures is in effect. Model Local Rule F-7.
6. WHITE-LINED AREAS TYING INTO ARTIFICIALLY SURFACED ROADS AND PATHS – White-lined areas of ground under repair and the artificially surfaced roads, paths or other identified obstructions that they are connected to are a single abnormal course condition when taking relief under Rule 16.1.
7. INTEGRAL OBJECTS – Include cables, rods, wires and wrappings when closely attached to trees, and artificial walls and pilings when located in penalty areas and bunkers unless otherwise provided for in the Notice to Players.
8. WOOD CHIPS AND MULCH – are loose impediments.
9. TEMPORARY POWER LINES AND CABLES – Local Rule as prescribed in Section 8 of the Committee Procedures is in effect. Model Local Rule F-22.
10. TEMPORARY IMMOVABLE OBSTRUCTIONS – Local Rule as prescribed in Section 8 of the Committee Procedures is in effect. Model Local Rule F-23.
11. LIST OF CONFORMING DRIVER HEADS – Local Rule as prescribed in Section 8 of the Committee Procedures is in effect. Model Local Rule G-1.
12. LIST OF CONFORMING GOLF BALLS – Local Rule as prescribed in Section 8 of the Committee Procedures is in effect. Model Local Rule G-3. Exception - in OJG events, Pee-Wees and Intermediate divisions are not required to play a ball on the conforming list.
13. REPLACEMENT OF BROKEN OR SIGNIFICANTLY DAMAGED CLUB – Model Local Rule G-9 is in effect.
14. PROHIBITED USE OF AUDIO EQUIPMENT – Rule 4.3 is modified in this way: During a round, a player is not allowed to use an electronic device to listen to music or other audio (such as podcasts or the like), including by using headphones or earbuds. Penalty for breach of Local Rule - see Rule 4.3.
15. STOPPING AND RESUMING PLAY – Local Rule as prescribed in Section 8 of the Committee Procedures is in effect. Model Rule J-1. An immediate suspension of play for a dangerous situation will be signaled by one prolonged airhorn note. All other types of suspension will be signaled by three short consecutive airhorn notes. Resumption of play will be signaled by two short airhorn notes. All practice areas are closed during suspension for a dangerous situation until the Committee has declared them open. Players who practice on closed practice areas will be asked to stop practicing; failure to stop practicing might result in disqualification.
16. PRACTICE – Rule 5.2b covering practice in stroke play is modified in this way: A player may not practice on the competition course before or between rounds. Penalty for breach of Local Rule, see Rule 5.2.
17. PACE OF PLAY – See OGA Pace of Play Policy which is in effect for all adult championships. For OGA Tour events, all scorecards must be returned within 5 hours – if a player returns a score card after 5 hours he/she may forfeit his/her right to both prizes and points earned in the event. For OJG Tournaments, see Notice to Competitors.
18. MOTORIZED TRANSPORTATION – Unless prohibited on the entry application, players are permitted to use motorized transportation for all adult championships and OGA Tour events. During all OJG Tournaments, motorized transportation is prohibited. In cases where motorized transportation is prohibited, the Local Rule prescribed in Section 8 of the Committee Procedures is in effect. Model Local Rule G-6. In all events, Spectator Carts are prohibited except for individuals with a permanent or temporary DMV disabled person placard, or if approved by the OGA or OJG Tournament Director.
19. PROHIBITING USE OF CERTAIN TYPES OF SHOES – Shoes with traditionally-designed spikes or where metal may come in contact with the course are prohibited during a round. Local Rule as prescribed in Section 8 of the Committee Procedures is in effect. Model Local Rule G-7.
20. USE OF CADDIE PROHIBITED – For Oregon Junior Golf competitions only, Rule 10.3 is modified in this way: A player must not have a caddie during the round.
TERMS OF THE COMPETITION
21. TIME OF STARTING / OFFICIAL TIME – A player is at his/her starting area when he/she is within the roped area of the starting tee, including the starter’s tent. If a roped area is not present, the starting area will be defined in the Notice to Players. If a player has previously checked in with the starter, he/she is still required to be at the starting area at his/her designated starting time scheduled by the Committee, or adjusted time. The Official Time is defined by the clock located at the tee where a player is scheduled to begin the round. Exception: For OGA Tour events, see the Notice to Players.
22. SCORING AREA – A player has officially returned his/her scorecard when he/she leaves the scoring area. At OGA Adult Championships the scoring area is defined by ropes, stanchions, or in their absence, the outside edge of the scoring tent. At OJGA and OGA Tour events, no official scoring area exists and the scorecard has been officially returned when it has been dropped in the “scoring box” by the player even if he has not left the immediate area. In all events, if a site requires different conditions, the scoring area will be defined in the Notice to Players.
23. CODE OF CONDUCT – See separate Code of Conduct policies for OGA and OJG which specify standards of conduct and resulting penalties, including disqualification for serious misconduct violations.
24. DRESS CODE – All players and caddies must adhere to the OGA or OJG and Host Club Dress Code through the Close of Competition. Any player or their caddie in violation of this Dress Code will not be permitted to start the competition. Player violation of the Dress Code during the competition may result in revoking of the player’s entry if the violation is not corrected.
25. NO SHOW/WITHDRAW – A player failing to appear for an OGA Adult Championship without prior notification to tournament officials will be suspended for one (1) year from the date of the infraction. A player who starts and withdraws prior to the close of the competition and has not turned in his scorecard personally to a tournament official will result in the same one-year suspension as a no show. Please see the OJG Code of Conduct and the OJG Withdrawal Policy for additional junior golf guidelines.
26. TIES – In stroke play events, in the event of a tie for champion in any division, a hole-by-hole play-off is used to determine the champion. However, in Oregon Junior Golf events, where this is not practicable, and OGA Tour events, matching scorecards is used per the USGA recommended method. Should this method still result in a tie, the champion will be determined by lot. Additionally, in Oregon Junior Golf events, all ties not for champion where a trophy is awarded are decided by matching scorecards.
27. WHEN COMPETITION IS FINAL – The competition is final when the trophy or, in absence of a trophy, when the prize has been presented to the winner at the awards ceremony. In the absence of an awards ceremony, the competition is final when all scores have been approved by the Committee. In stroke play qualifying followed by match play, the competition is final when the player has teed off to start his/her first match (Rule 20.2e (2)). The result of a match is final when the Committee has approved the result as posted on the public scoreboard.
REVISION – May 29, 2019| Please direct e-mails to rules@oga.org or call (503) 981-4653