Local Rules and Conditions of Competitions
2018 Golf House Kentucky
The Rules of Golf as approved by the United States Golf Association and The R&A govern play. See applicable event Notice to Players and Entry Application for additional Local Rules & Conditions. Complete text of Rules and Appendix I may be found in the Rules of Golf, effective January 2018.
Unless otherwise noted, penalty for breach of a Local Rule/Condition is: Match play – Loss of hole | Stroke play – Two strokes
LOCAL RULES
Animal Hoof Damage – Other than on the putting green, damage that is clearly identifiable as having been caused by animal hoofs is ground under repair (Rule 25-1 applies). Such damage on the putting green may also be repaired (Rule 25-1 does not apply).
Ball Accidentally Moved On The Putting Green - When a player’s ball lies on the putting green, there is no penalty if the ball or ball-marker is accidentally moved by the player, his partner, his opponent, or any of their caddies or equipment.
The moved ball or ball-marker must be replaced as provided in Rules 18-2, 18-3 and 20-1.
This Local Rule applies only when the player’s ball or ball-marker lies on the putting green and any movement is accidental.
Note: If it is determined that a player’s ball on the putting green was moved as a result of wind, water or some other natural cause such as the effects of gravity, the ball must be played as it lies from its new
location. A ball-marker moved in such circumstances is replaced.
Distance Measuring Devices - For all GHK competitions, a player may obtain distance information by using a device measuring distance only. If, during a stipulated round, a player uses any other function such as to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect his play (e.g., gradient, wind-speed, temperature, etc.), the player is in breach of Rule 14-3.
Penalty for Breach of Condition: First Offense - Match Play | Loss of Hole; Stroke Play | Two Stroke Penalty. Subsequent Offense - Disqualification
Embedded Ball Through the Green - Through the Green a ball that is embedded in its own pitch-mark may be lifted, without penalty, cleaned and dropped as near as possible to the spot where it lay but not nearer the hole. The ball when dropped must first strike a part of the course Through the Green.
Exception: A player may not take relief under this Local Rule if the ball is embedded in sand in an area that is not closely-mown.
Exception to Rule 6-6d is modified as follows -
If a competitor returns a score for any hole lower than actually taken due to failure to include one or more penalty strokes that, before returning his score card, he did not know he had incurred, he is not disqualified. In such circumstances, the competitor incurs the penalty prescribed by the applicable Rule, but there is no additional penalty for a breach of Rule 6-6d. This Exception does not apply when the applicable penalty is disqualification from the competition.
Ground Under Repair - Defined by white lines. Fire ant hills and French drains are deemed to be ground under repair. Rule 25-1.
Note: For a player whose ball is in a water hazard and is affected by a fire ant hill --- see decision 1-4/10
Ground under repair may include areas of unusual damage, including areas where spectators or other traffic has combined with wet conditions to affect materially the ground surface, but only when so declared by an authorized member of the Committee. When immediately adjacent to an obstruction, such an area is part of the obstruction.
Integral Parts of the Course - Include cables, rods, wires, or wrappings when closely attached to trees, and artificial walls and pilings when located in hazards, unless otherwise provided for in the Notice to Players.
Seams of Cut Turf (Sod Seams) - Through the green, seams of cut turf (not the turf itself) are
deemed to be ground under repair. However, interference by a seam with the player’s stance is deemed not to be, of itself, interference under Rule 25-1. If the ball lies in or touches the seam or the seam interferes
with the area of intended swing, relief is available under Rule 25-1. All seams within the cut turf area are considered the same seam.
Stones in Bunkers – Stones in bunkers are movable obstructions (Rule 24-1 applies).
Temporary Immovable Obstructions - Local Rule as prescribed by Appendix I is in effect. See
Notice to Players for locations of Temporary Immovable Obstructions.
Temporary Power Lines and Cables - If a ball strikes an elevated power line or cable, the stroke
is canceled and the player must play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was
played in accordance with Rule 20-5 (making next stroke from where previous stroke made).
Turf Plugs on Putting Green - May be repaired even if they are not 4 ¼ inches.
Water and Lateral Water Hazard Lines - When a water hazard or a lateral water hazard is defined on only one side, it is deemed to extend to infinity. When a water hazard or lateral water hazard is bounded by out of bounds, the hazard margin extends to and coincides with the out of bounds line.
White-Lined Areas Tying Into Artificially-Surfaced Roads and Paths - Have the same status as the roads and paths, that of obstructions.
Wood Chips and Mulch - Are loose impediments, unless otherwise provided for in the Notice to Players.
CONDITIONS
Close of Competition - The competition is deemed to have closed when the trophy has been
presented to the winner or, in the absence of a prize ceremony, when all scores have been approved by the committee. The result of a match is considered to have been “officially announced” when the Committee has approved the result as posted on the public scoreboard.
Discontinuance of Play - All practice areas are closed during suspension for a dangerous situation until the Committee has declared them open.
Signals for discontinuance and resumption of play:
Suspension for dangerous situation: One (1) Prolonged air horn note (Discontinue Play Immediately)
Other Suspensions: Three (3) Consecutive air horn notes repeated
Resumption of Play: Two (2) Short air horn notes repeated
List of Conforming Driver Heads - Any driver the player carries must have a clubhead identified by model and loft that is named on the current List of Conforming Driver Heads issued by the USGA.
List of Conforming Golf Balls - The ball the player plays must be named on the current List of Conforming Golf Balls issued by the USGA.
Pace of Play - See separate memorandum for pace of play guidelines posted on the website and at the site of the competition.
Practice Between Holes – Between the play of two holes during Stroke Play, a player must not make
any practice stroke on or near the putting green of the hole last played and must not test the surface of the
putting green of the hole last played by rolling a ball.