HPMC LOCAL RULES and RULES OF EMPHASIS

2021

All Harbour Pointe Men’s Club tournaments shall be governed by USGA Rules and the Local Course Rules. The Local Rules have been updated for 2021.  Included with these Local Rules are a few regular rules relevant to pace of play.

 

IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EVERY GOLFER TO BE FAMILIAR WITH THE RULES OF GOLF.  IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT EVERY GOLFER DOWNLOAD TO THEIR SMARTPHONE THE USGA RULES OF GOLF APP

 

  1. Out of Bounds

In absence of stakes or lines, OB is defined by the inside edge of sidewalks on holes 3, 10, 13, 14, 15, 17, and 18.

 

  1. Long Grass and Wooded Areas

Long grass and wooded areas may be played as lateral penalty areas if not marked by white stakes or lines.

 

  1. Protection of Young Trees

A player must take swing and stance relief (full relief) from all newly planted trees on the golf course. These trees are so indicated with either stakes and wires or a tag in the tree. NO PENALTY.

 

  1. Slow Play

The punch clock will be in effect for all weekend tournaments using tee times.  When the punch clock is in effect, a member of the group shall inform the golf shop they have completed their round immediately upon completing the round (before verifying scores or putting equipment away).  The golf shop will note the time.

 

A 2 stroke penalty will be assessed to all members of a group finishing more than 15 minutes behind the prior group and taking more than 4 hours and 30 minutes to complete 18 holes.  If during a round a group is a hole or more behind the group in front and is on a pace that is greater than 4 hours 30 minutes to complete 18 holes, if the group does not regain position after being warned, the Rules Committee may in its discretion apply a 1 stroke penalty to all members of the group.  This penalty will be in addition to a penalty for failing to finish a round in 4 hours and 30 minutes, or within 15 minutes of the prior group.

 

For Shotgun Start events in 2021, the following shall apply during the round: a 2 stroke penalty will be assessed to all members of a group if the group is a hole or more behind the group in front and does not regain position after being warned.

 

  1. Golf Genius

HPMC will continue to use Golf Genius to keep score in 2021.  When keeping score using Golf Genius the following rules apply:

  • All scores must be entered regularly during play.  This helps the pro shop monitor pace of play through Golf Genius, and there are golfers who enjoy watching the leader board. 
  • All scores must be entered within 15 minutes of completing the round.
  • The group may keep a hard card (paper card) to verify scores at the end of the round.  Alternatively, two players in a group may independently post the scores to Golf Genius.  Any discrepancies between posts for a particular hole will appear highlighted in “Scorecard View”.
  • It is up to the group to verify all scores. 
  • All scores at the end of the tournament will be called final.

 

  1. Inaccurate Score

After scores are final, scoring errors will be handled in accordance with Rule 3.3(b).  If a posted score for a hole is higher than the actual score, the higher score stands.  If a posted score for a hole is lower than the actual score, the player is disqualified.

 

  1. Embedded Ball

Free relief shall be granted from an embedded ball in the general area.  If a player’s ball is not found but it is known, or it is virtually certain, that the ball came to rest in or on an abnormal course condition, the player may take free relief using the estimated point where the ball last crossed the edge of the abnormal course condition as the spot of the ball for purposes of finding the nearest point of complete relief.

 

  1. Music Devices

Music devices are allowed in accordance with Rule 4.3(a)(4).  In so doing, consideration should be shown to others in accordance with Rule 1.2. 

 

  1. Flower Beds

Free Relief (stance and swing) will be given for balls coming to rest inside the following maintained flower beds:

  • #1 Left of White Tee & approximately 50 yards in front and left of Red Tee
  • #2 Left of Green
  • #3 Right of Blue Tee
  • #3 Gravel Path to #4 Tee and Rocks defining path
  • #4 Left of Green
  • #5 Right of Men’s tees
  • #13 Around White Tee box

 

  1. Drop Areas

Holes with designated drop areas are options available to the player on the following holes:

  • #3 The drop area is the area on or adjacent to the mat on the Tee side of the cart path. Balls landing in the water penalty area in front of the green may use this area as an option. The Red Tee box may also be used as a drop area.
  • #4 The left side of the fairway until the water penalty area becomes out of bounds will be played as a lateral penalty area.
  • #7 The drop area is the Red Tee box.  Balls landing in the water penalty area short and right of the green may use this drop area as an option.
  • #8 The drop area is the Red Tee box. Balls landing in any part of the penalty area short of the fairway may use this drop area as an option.

 

 

  

  1. Winter Rules (Preferred Lies)

Harbour Pointe Golf Club Winter Rules policies will be as follows and will be in effect in all competitions where Preferred Lies a/k/a “Winter Rules” are played.

  • In closely mown areas in the general area of the golf course and the green, players may lift, clean, and place their ball within 36 inches of the original lie.  In non-closely mown areas in the general area, players may lift, clean, and place their ball within 6 inches of original lie. In placing the ball, the integrity of the lie must be maintained (cannot go from rough to fairway or fringe to green).
  • As long as you can make contact with the ball you are allowed 6 inches even if the ball lies within 6 inches of a tree, stump, brush, or anything fixed and growing.
  • When preferred lies are in effect, if a ball lies in a bunker, a player may lift, clean, rake, and place the ball as close as possible to its original position without penalty.  This rule may be implemented outside of “winter play” depending on course conditions as determined by course management.

 

  1. Bunkers and Covid-19

Until further notice by course management, due to Covid-19 concerns, a player may elect not to use a rake and use their foot to “rake” an area in a bunker.  Additionally, if a ball is found in an unraked area of a bunker, players may lift, clean, and rake the area in which the ball lies before replacing it.

 

  1. Rules Committee

The HPMC Rules Committee consists of Dave Castleberry, Ty Sullivan, and Robert Overdorf.  Robert can be reached by email (robert@golfmapping.com) or by text if he’s playing (425.879.8215).  If a group cannot resolve a rules situation, the group should contact the golf shop and ask for a ruling from a member of the Rules Committee.  A ruling by a member of the Rules Committee is final. Rule 20.2(b).  If a member of the Rules Committee cannot be reached, the player should proceed under Rule 20.1.