HPMC LOCAL RULES and RULES OF EMPHASIS 

 

All Harbour Pointe Men’s Club tournaments shall be governed by USGA Rules and the Local  Course Rules. 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.

2. 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. The entirety of the long grass and wooded area behind the  11^th green from the out of bounds stake west of the bridge to the wooded area  right of the green is now a lateral penalty area and the drop options for red penalty  areas now apply.

3. 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.

4. Slow Play

Golf Genius summary emails will be used for all weekend tournaments using tee times. 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 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 any  penalty for failing to finish a round in 4 hours 30 minutes, or within 15 minutes of the  prior group. 

For Shotgun Start events, 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.

 

 

 

5. Golf Genius

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

● All scores must be entered after every hole. This helps the pro shop monitor  pace of play through Golf Genius, and there are golfers who enjoy watching the  leader board. Waiting to enter all scores at the end of the round, or purposely  entering incorrect scores during the round, is prohibited.

● All scores must be entered within 15 minutes of completing the round and are  final.

● The group shall 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.  Any discrepancies between the two posts for a particular hole will appear  highlighted in “Scorecard View”.

● It is up to the group to verify all scores.

The penalty for a player or group that doesn't follow the posting requirements  listed          above is; First offense, a verbal warning shall be issued. Second offense, each player in the group shall be issued a two stroke penalty on their final hole.

6. Inaccurate Score

After scores are final, scoring errors will be handled as follows: if a posted score for a  hole is higher than what the player actually scored, the higher score stands. If a posted  score for a hole is lower than what the player actually scored, the player is disqualified.

7. 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 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.

8. Music Devices

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

9. 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

 

10. 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. 

 

11. 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.

● Winter Season Sand Bunker Rule. During winter tournament events (November  to March) this rule shall be in effect: A player may lift, clean, rake, and place the  ball as close as possible to its original position without penalty. This rule may be  deemed necessary outside the “Winter Season” by the course management  depending on the conditions of the course at the time of the Men’s Club event.  During Covid-19, a player may elect not to use a rake and use their foot to “rake”  an area.

12. Rules Committee

The HPMC Rules Committee consists of the Head Pro, Tournament Chairman and Handicap Chairman. 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 (look it up  using the new USGA Rules App you just downloaded). 

Adopted by the HPMC BOD November 12, 2024