Local Rules

The USGA’s Rules of Golf govern play. Unless otherwise noted, the penalty for breach of a Local Rule or condition of competition is loss of hole in match play and two strokes in stroke play.

Ground under Repair

Is defined by white lines.

Seams of Cut Turf (Sod Seams)

If a player’s ball lies in or touches a seam of cut turf or a seam interferes with the player’s area of intended swing:

(a) Ball in General Area. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b.
(b) Ball on Putting Green. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1d.
But interference does not exist if the seam only interferes with the player’s stance.

All seams within the area of cut turf are treated as the same seam in taking relief. This means that if a player has interference from any seam after dropping the ball, the player must proceed as required under Rule 14.3c(2) even when the ball is still within one club-length of the reference point.

Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Local Rule
General Penalty Under Rule 14.7a.

Alternative to Stroke and Distance for Lost Ball

When a player’s ball has not been found, the player may proceed as follows rather than proceeding under stroke and distance.

For two penalty strokes, the player may take relief by dropping the original ball or another ball in this relief area (see Rule 14.3):

Two Estimated Reference Points:
a. Ball Reference Point: The point where the original ball is estimated to have come to rest on the course.
b. Fairway Reference Point: The point of fairway of the hole being played that is nearest to the ball reference point, but is not nearer the hole than the ball reference point.

For purposes of this Local Rule, “fairway” means any area of grass in the general area that is cut to fairway height or less.

If a ball is estimated to be lost on the course short of the fairway, the fairway reference point may be a grass path or a teeing ground for the hole being played cut to fairway height or less.

Size of Relief Area Based on Reference Points: Anywhere between:

• A line from the hole through the ball reference point (and within two club-lengths to the outside of that line), and
• A line from the hole through the fairway reference point (and within two club-lengths to the fairway side of that line).

But with these limits:

Limits on Location of Relief Area:

• Must be in the general area, and
• Must not be nearer the hole than the ball reference point.

Once the player puts a ball in play under this Local Rule:

• The original ball that was lost is no longer in play and must not be played.
• This is true even if the ball is found on the course before the end of the three-minute search time (see Rule 6.3b).

But the player may not use this option to take relief for the original ball when:

• That ball is known or virtually certain to have come to rest in a penalty area, or
• The player has played another ball provisionally under penalty of stroke and distance (see Rule 18.3).

A player may use this option to take relief for a provisional ball that has not been found or is known or virtually certain to be out of bounds.

Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Local Rule
General Penalty Under Rule 14.7a.

Discontinuance of Play

An immediate suspension of play for a dangerous situation will be signaled by one prolonged note of the siren. All other suspensions will be signaled by three consecutive notes of the siren. In either case, resumption of play will be signaled by two short notes of the siren. See Rule 5.7b

Footwear

Rule 4.3a is modified in this way:

During a round, a player must not wear shoes with:

• Traditional spikes – that is, spikes having single or multiple points designed to penetrate deeply into the surface of the ground (regardless of whether made of metal, ceramic, plastic or other materials); or
• Spikes of any design that are entirely or partially made of metal, if such metal may come in contact with the course.

Penalty for Breach of Local Rule
See Rule 4.3