Local and Association Specific Rules of Golf
Updated April 28th, 2024
The following rules will apply to all tournaments. These rules have been reviewed and approved by the Board of Officers and may be amended as necessary by the Board. Current USGA Rules of Golf will apply during play with the following exceptions, which allows Local Rules that provide for abnormal conditions.
Violation of Rules. During play any questions concerning these rule interpretations will be addressed with other members of the playing group at the time of occurrence. Any unresolved disputes should be noted and brought to the attention of the Committee, or their representatives, immediately following play.
NEW RULES ENCOURAGE FASTER PACE OF PLAY. Affirmative encouragement of “READY GOLF” in stroke play. Search for lost ball is now limited to (3) three minutes and players should take no more than 40 seconds to play a stroke.
1. MULLIGANS. No mulligans are permitted.
2. CLUB LIMIT. The 14 club rule is waived.
3. MAXIMUM STROKES. Maximum of three (3) strokes over Par are to be taken and recorded on any hole, except in Match Play where the hole is played out until it is won, halved or conceded.
4. PUTTS. The final putt on a hole must be holed out. No GIMMES. Once a ball in play is on the green, a ”putting ball” cannot be substituted.
5. MOVING AND CLEANING THE BALL. The ball may be moved, with no penalty within one club length, in either the fairway or the rough, (“General Area”) (formally through the green), but not in a penalty area (formally hazard), and no closer to the hole. The ball cannot be moved from the rough to the fairway. The ball may be cleaned after each shot, except in a penalty area (hazard).
6. PENALTY AREAS. (Formally Water/Later Water Hazards). The Rules for Penalty Areas are well defined by USGA and will be played by Association members accordingly. Note that in addition to water hazards, the Committee may mark areas such as rock fields, waste areas, etc as Penalty Areas.
Determining penalty areas: Penalty areas are defined by standard USGA rules – marked boundary lines or projected lines between stakes. Sometimes the lines require some interpretation and players should consult and agree as a group if a line is in question. The tall growth around some of the water hazards (7,12, etc) may not be clearly marked but it is in the hazard and the ball can not be moved without penalty.
Special relief areas: The left penalty areas on Holes 2, 7, 12 and 18 are defined the same as all lateral hazards. However, if a player's ball enters these penalty areas where the ground is sloped severely toward the penalty area, he has the additional option (along with the normal relief options) to drop within two club lengths from the crest where the ground begins to slope, also under a one stroke penalty. If the ball lies below the crest but not in the hazard, it can only be moved based on Rule 5 or the USGA Unplayable Lie rule.
After taking relief and putting the ball in play, the player is entitled to move the ball one club length in accordance with Rule 5.
7. LOST BALL AND/OR OUT OF BOUNDS. This Local Rule is used to speed up play. If a ball goes out of bounds, the player may advance to the point where the ball is presumed to have gone out and under penalty of one stroke, drop a ball within two club lengths of where the ball went out of bounds, not nearer the hole. If a ball is lost (outside a penalty area (hazard)) and has not been found within 3 minutes, the player will drop a ball in the vicinity where the ball was lost, no closer to the hole, under penalty of one stroke.
After taking relief and putting the ball in play, the player is entitled to move the ball one club length in accordance with Rule 5.
8. BUNKERS. Due to lack of course maintenance and subjectivity of the previous rule, we are changing to rake and place for all bunker lies, starting June 29, 2023. Players may lift the ball, rake, and place the ball close to the original position without penalty. Loose impediments may be removed without penalty. An additional relief option can also be taken for an unplayable ball in a bunker, allowing the ball to be played from outside the bunker, using the “back-on-the-line” procedure, drop the ball within one club length of the bunker with a two-stroke penalty.
9. DROP AREAS. Drop Zones are available on par 3 holes - #3, #9, and #16, as well as on the par 4 - #6.
HOLE #6 Special Rules: The drop zone on #6 is available to use for any approach shot entering the hazard area, which includes the creek and island. The island is out of play and you are not allowed to play your ball if it lands on the island. An approach shot is defined as a shot after your tee shot, so you are not allowed to use the drop zone if your tee shot enters the hazard, you must play your next shot using USGA lateral hazard rules from where the ball entered the hazard.
10. ROPED OFF AREAS. Carts are not allowed in roped off areas, however, the ball is played, even if over-seeded, unless a sign says otherwise.
11. SCORE KEEPING. Players are responsible for confirming the correct score was recorded for each hole. Scores should be recorded by two members of the group and scores reconciled for accuracy at the end of play.