These rules supplement / replace any

local rules found on the scorecard

 

 

In a bunker

Diggings or footprints from non-human animals are Ground Under Repair (GUR) if:

  1. The ball lies in the digging or footprint. Procedure: relief and drop according to GUR rules.
  2. The player is standing in a hole caused by digging only (not footprint).   Procedure: Player may fill and smooth the hole so that it is level with the surrounding sand. Improve only the stance.  Do not move the ball.

 

Waste Bunkers

The definition of "bunker" specifies that a bunker is a "specially prepared area of sand"

A Waste Bunker are regarded as prepared areas of sand and marked with Blue Stakes are part of the general area.

Many of the Waste Bunkers have many Love Grass ((Eragrostis curvula) plants. 

If your ball struck toward a waste bunker and it is known or virtually certain your ball has entered go into an area of Love Grass - you are to play a provisional ball (Rule 18.3) as it may not be found.

 

Drop Zones

Hole 2          No Drop Zone

Hole 3          No Drop Zone

Hole 4          No Drop Zone

Holes 6, 12  Drop Zones marked near the putting green

Hole 8          Drop Zone is over the Ravine

Holes 9, 17  Drop Zones are marked on the putting green

 

Flower beds

Hole 1: 200 Metres from the White Tee is a flowerbed separating the fairway from the cart path. This flower bed is part of the General Area and not a Penalty Area. A ball known or virtually certain to be in this area which is not found is to be considered a lost ball.  

Hole 3: left of the cart path are flower beds. If a ball in or lost in these flower beds players are to take relief in accordance with Red Penalty areas. As you would be dropping on the cart path players are to take the Nearest Point of Relief from the Penalty Area and the Cart Path (maximum relief 1 club length).

 

Some penalty areas are not marked with red stakes. With the exception of the “Alang Alang (Love Grass)” areas, flower beds are deemed to be Red Stake penalty areas. Penalty drops should be taken as per normal Red stake rules.

 

If the tyres of a vehicle have created a trench in the turf:

The trench may be treated as GUR. Minor turf depression does not qualify as GUR. It is recommended to ask fellow competitors to affirm the decision.

 

Ground Under Repair (GUR)

If an area of the course has been marked by the greenskeeper to protect new plantings, new turf, new tee boxes, new greens, etc;

RELIEF IS MANDATORY. You may not play from this GUR.  For Trees which are supported by stakes or wires:  Free relief is allowed from the tree, the stakes, and the wires (Nearest Point of Relief).  Relief is for the lie of the ball and the area of swing.  No relief is provided for the intended line of play.

 

Preferred lies

“Preferred lies” will only apply if explicitly allowed by that day’s Convener or Tournament Committee as announced at the competition briefing or on a written Tournament Condition.  The General rule is:  Play the ball as it lies. 

 

Sprinkler Heads

Sprinkler heads are "Immovable Obstructions" and the Rules provide for relief under that definition.

  1. In addition, free relief for "line of play" is permitted from Sprinkler heads near the green: Only if all of the following 3 conditions exist:
    • The sprinkler is within 2 club lengths (90” or 225cm) of the edge of the green
    • The ball is within 2 club lengths of the sprinkler.
    • The sprinkler interferes with the line of play.
  2. Procedure:  The ball must be lifted and dropped at the nearest point to where the ball lay that
    • is not nearer the hole,
    • avoids interference, and,
    • is not in a hazard or on a putting green.

 

Green Grooves / Verticutting

If a groove has been carved by the greenskeeper around the perimeter of the green:

  1. "Free relief” is permitted only if the ball is resting IN the groove.
  2. NO RELIEF is given for stance or area of swing affected by the groove.
  3. The ball should be PLACED outside the groove, as near as possible to the original position, not nearer the hole. This may be on or off the green.
  4. Follow the same procedure for any ‘verticut’ grooves or coring holes made by the greenskeeper anywhere on the course.)    

Note:  The described procedure should result in moving the ball a maximum of 2 inches.