2022 TERMS OF COMPETITION & LOCAL RULES

Play is governed by the 2019 Golf Canada Rules of Golf and where applicable, by the following Local Rules and Terms of Competition, subject to changes, additions or deletions for particular championships by the Kelowna Golf & Country Club. Complete Local Rules may be found in the current Golf Canada Official Guide to the Rules of Golf. Unless otherwise noted, the penalty for breach of a Local Rule is loss of hole in match play or two (2) strokes in stroke play.

 

  1. OUT OF BOUNDS (Rule 18.2)
    1. Defined by course-side points of white stakes and/or posts at ground level. A ball is out of bounds when it is beyond any wall defining the boundary of the course.
    2. 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.
  2. CLUBS AND BALLS
    1. List of Conforming Driver Heads: Model Local G-1 is in effect. Penalty for making a stroke with a club in breach of the Local Rule: Disqualification
    2. Limitation on Length of Club (MLR D-10). In making a stroke, the player must not use a club, except for a putter’ which exceeds 46 inches in length. There is no penalty under this Rule for carrying but not making a stroke with a club not conforming to this Local Rule. Penalty for breach of this Local Rule: Disqualification
    3. List of Conforming Balls: Model Local Rule G-3 is in effect. Penalty for breach of the Local Rule: Disqualification
  3. USE OF GREENS READING MATERIAL (Rule 4.3) Handwritten notes may be added to approved yardage books or approved hole location sheets before or during a round by the player or the player’s caddy only and are limited to information gathered by the player or their caddy only and must be based on the player’s or caddy’s experiences and observations of a ball rolling on the green, or through the player’s or caddy’s feel or general observations of the green. Use of a level or other device to gather information is not allowed.
  4. DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICES. (Rule 4.3a 1). The use of a measuring device that is designed to gauge or measure any condition other than distance (wind, elevation changes, etc.) is not permitted regardless of whether such an additional function is used.
  1. MODIFIED RULES FOR PLAYERS WITH DISABILITIES Specified clause (s) of the Modified Rules for Players with Disabilities are in effect for a player when approved by the Kelowna Golf and Country Club.
  2. PACE OF PLAY (Rule 5.6) A player is subject to penalty if they unduly delay play in breach of the posted KGCC Pace of Play Guidelines.
  1. SUSPENSION OF PLAY (Rule 5.7) The course and all practice areas are closed when play is suspended for a dangerous situation until the Tournament Committee has declared them open. A player practicing in these areas when closed will be a subject to a penalty of disqualification under Rule 5.7. Note: A suspension for a dangerous situation will be signaled by one prolonged air horn note. All other types of suspension will be signaled by three consecutive air horn notes. Resumption of play will be signaled by two short air horn notes.
  2. PRACTICE (Rules 5.2 & 5.5) Before and between rounds in stroke play, Rule 5.2b is modified as: A player must not practice on the competition course before or between rounds. Penalty for first breach: General Penalty. Penalty for second breach: Disqualification. During a round in stroke play, Rule 5.5b is modified as: Between the play of 2 holes, a player must not:
  • Make any practice strokes on or near the putting green of the hole just completed, or
  • Test the surface of that putting green by rubbing the putting green or rolling a ball

In Match Play, on any day of a competition, practice on the championship course is prohibited before the player’s first match and between matches.

Note: All designated practice areas within the bounds of the course may be used by players for practice on any day of the competition.

  1. ABNORMAL COURSE CONDITIONS (Including Immovable Obstructions) (Rule 16) Ground Under Repair includes:
    1. Areas defined by white lines (excluding out of bounds)
    2. French drains filled with stones
    3. Seams of cut turf – if a players ball lies in or touches a seam of cut turf or a seam interferes with the player’s area of intended swing (does not include the player’s stance):
      1. Ball in the General Area: The Player may take relief under Rule 16.1b.
      2. Ball on Putting Green: The Player may take relief under Rule 16.1d.

All seams within the area of cut turf are treated as the same seam in taking relief.

IMMOVABLE OBSTRUCTIONS – White lined areas of ground under repair and the artificially surfaced road or path or other identified obstruction they tie into are treated as a single abnormal course condition when taking relief under Rule 16.1. In addition:

  1. Hole 7 – The gravel road to the left of the hole and the cart path behind the green. Relief from road or path will not be granted if the boundary fence interferes with a player’s stance or stroke.
  2. Hole 9 – The tennis courts to the right of #9 green.
  3. Hole 12 – The pump house, electrical boxes, maintenance buildings and roadways.

 NO PLAY ZONE (Rule 2.4 & MLR-E8) Hole 6, left hand side of fairway below the cliff face: a mandatory, free drop for a ball coming to rest in the area defined by green topped white stakes. Your ball must be found and identified. One club length from nearest point of relief, not closer to the hole.

OBSTRUCTIONS (MLR F-5 & Rule 16 – 1b) In the general area, a player may take relief if an immovable obstruction is: On the line of play, and is within 2 club lengths of the putting green and is within 2 club lengths of the ball.

  1. WOOD CHIPS AND MULCH Wood chips and mulch are loose impediments
  2. TEMPORARY IMMOVABLE OBSTRUCTIONS Model Local Rule F-23 is in effect. This may include and are not limited to starting and scoring tents.
  3. PENALTY AREAS (Rule 17) When a Red Penalty Area is defined on one side, it is deemed to extend to infinity. When a Red Penalty Area adjoins a boundary, the penalty edge extends to and coincides with the boundary.
  4. INTEGRAL OBJECTS The following are integral objects from which relief is not allowed:
    1. Wrappings, wires, cables and other similar objects when closely attached to trees
    2. Rock or artificial retaining walls and/or pilings which are adjacent to teeing areas or located within penalty areas.
    3. Interference by bunker liners in their intended position with a player’s stance is not itself, interference under this rule.
  5. DAMAGED CLUB Rule 4.1B (3) is modified in this way: If a player’s club is “broken or significantly damaged” during the round by the player or caddie, except in cases of abuse, the player may replace the club with any club under Rule 4.1b (4). When replacing a club the player must immediately take the broken or damaged club out of play, using the procedure in Rule 4.1c (1). For the purposes of this Local Rule, a club is “broken or significantly damaged” when:
      1. The shaft breaks into pieces, splinters or is bent (but not when the shaft is only dented)
      2.  The club face is visibly deformed (but not when only scratched)
      3. The club head is visibly and significantly deformed
      4. The club head is detached or loose from the shaft, or:
      5. The grip is loose
      6. Exception: A club face or club head is not “broken or significantly damaged” solely because it is cracked
  6. CODE OF CONDUCT (Rule 1.2) The Kelowna Golf & Country Club has adopted the Local Rule under Rule 1.2b setting standards of player conduct on the golf course during play at all championships.

 

  1. RETURNING OF SCORECARD In stroke play competitions, a player’s scorecard has been returned to the Committee when the player has completely exited the defined scoring area, unless the player, prior to leaving, verbally informs the Committee of their intention to leave the scoring area and receives the Committee’s permission to do so.
  2. HOW TO DECIDE TIES In the event of a tie for first place in a stroke play competition, there will be a hole by hole playoff to determine the winner immediately following the last stipulated round (15, 16, 17, 18). All other ties will be broken by USGA Retrogression (Single round events) or Modified USGA Retrogression (multi round events).
  3. CLOSE OF COMPETITION
    1. Match Play – The result of a match is deemed officially announced when it has been recorded in the Championship Office.
    2. Stroke Play – The competition is deemed to have closed when all scores have been posted on the Official Scoreboard and approved by the Kelowna Golf & Country Club Rules Committee.

PACE OF PLAY GUIDELINES

The maximum allowable time to complete an 18 hole tournament round is 4 hours and 30 minutes. All players are encouraged to play without delay and in the spirit of the game (Rule 1,) be mindful of their actions, conduct and pace.

A group is considered to be out of position if, when starting a par 4 or par 5 hole, there is a clear hole ahead or the elapsed time per hole averages more than 15 minutes. Players will receive a verbal warning regarding their position relative to the group ahead. The Rules Committee reserves the right to time a group or individual players when deemed necessary. A player has 40 seconds to play a stroke when it is reasonably their turn, with an additional 10 seconds if they are the first to play.

Penalties to be applied:

  1. First Offense (2 bad times): Verbal warning, no penalty
  2. Second offense (3 bad times): One (1) stroke penalty
  3. Third offense (4 bad times): Two (2) penalty strokes
  4. Fourth Offense (5 bad times): Disqualification

“Timings” will carry through from one hole to the next until the end of the stipulated round. Penalty strokes will be added to the hole at which the breach occurred. In the case of a group being over the allotted 4 hours and 30 minutes and exceeding the 12 minute gap, the penalty will be added to the score of the last hole played.

 

Kelowna Golf & Country Club Tournament Rules Committee

Rob Anderson, Jason Jurimae, Kat Kennedy