Local Rules

LOCAL RULES

Applicable on Main and Northcliffe Course

1. Out of Bounds (Rule 18.2)

        a) The course-side edge of any wall, fence, hedge or line of white stake defines the boundary of the course.

        b) On or beyond any white line defining the boundary of the course.

        c) On a road or any part of the course which is separated from the hole in play by a road or boundary fence.

2. Penalty Areas (Rule 17.3)

Where stakes and lines are used, the edge of the penalty areas is the course side edge of the line and the stakes are solely for visibility to players; Where stakes alone are used, the edge of the penalty area is defined by the line between the course side edge of the stakes at ground level and the stakes themselves are in the penalty area; Where there are no stakes or lines, the edge of the penalty area is, on both sides, the natural margin of the ditch concerned. North Foreland Local Rules Main & Northcliffe Course 1. a. b. c. 2. All penalty areas are Red Penalty Areas from which relief may be taken under rule 17.3. The edges of the penalty areas are defined as follows: a. b. c. 3. Ground Under Repair (Rule 16.1) - Players must take relief from GUR a. Any area encircled by a white or blue line. 4. Immovable Obstruction Abnormal Course Conditions (Including Immovable Obstructions) This Rule covers free relief that is allowed from interference by animal holes, ground under repair, immovable obstructions or temporary water: ·These are collectively called abnormal course conditions, but each has a separate Definition. ·This Rule does not give relief from movable obstructions (a different type of free relief is allowed under Rule 15.2a) or boundary objects or integral objects (no free relief is allowed). When Relief Is Allowed (1) Meaning of Interference by Abnormal Course Condition. Interference exists when any one of these is true: ·The player’s ball touches or is in or on an abnormal course condition, ·An abnormal course condition physically interferes with the player’s area of intended stance or area of intended swing, or ·Only when the ball is on the putting green, an abnormal course condition on or off the putting green intervenes on the line of play. If the abnormal course condition is close enough to distract the player but does not meet any of these requirements, there is no interference under this Rule.

16.1

Abnormal Course Conditions (Including Immovable Obstructions)

This Rule covers free relief that is allowed from interference by animal holes, ground under repair, immovable obstructions or temporary water:

These are collectively called abnormal course conditions, but each has a separate Definition.
This Rule does not give relief from movable obstructions (a different type of free relief is allowed under Rule 15.2a) or boundary objects or integral objects (no free relief is allowed).

When Relief Is Allowed

(1) Meaning of Interference by Abnormal Course Condition. Interference exists when any one of these is true:

The player’s ball touches or is in or on an abnormal course condition,
An abnormal course condition physically interferes with the player’s area of intended stance or area of intended swing, or
Only when the ball is on the putting green, an abnormal course condition on or off the putting green intervenes on the line of play.

If the abnormal course condition is close enough to distract the player but does not meet any of these requirements, there is no interference under this Rule.

DIAGRAM 16.1a: WHEN RELIEF IS ALLOWED FOR ABNORMAL COURSE CONDITION

The diagram assumes the player is right-handed. Free relief is allowed for interference by an abnormal course condition (ACC), including an immovable obstruction, when the ball touches or lies in or on the condition (B1), or the condition interferes with the area of intended stance (B2) or swing. The nearest point of complete relief for B1 is P1, and is very close to the condition. For B2, the nearest point of complete relief is P2, and is farther from the condition as the stance has to be clear of the ACC.

(2) Relief Allowed Anywhere on Course Except When Ball Is in Penalty Area. Relief from interference by an abnormal course condition is allowed under Rule 16.1 only when both:

The abnormal course condition is on the course (not out of bounds), and
The ball is anywhere on the course, except in a penalty area (where the player’s only relief is under Rule 17).

(3) No Relief When Clearly Unreasonable to Play Ball. There is no relief under Rule 16.1:

When playing the ball as it lies is clearly unreasonable because of something other than an abnormal course condition (such as, when a player is standing in temporary water or on an immovable obstruction but is unable to make a stroke because of where the ball lies in a bush), or
When interference exists only because a player chooses a club, type of stance or swing or direction of play that is clearly unreasonable under the circumstances.