Please check the course status before entering the course.  Mats are only required on closely mown areas when stated in the Course Status

 

Mats

Mats are optional through the green unless specified in the Course Status update each morning whereby if so, they are compulsory on closely mown areas.  You may mark your ball, lift clean and place on the mat no more than 6 inches no nearer the hole.

 

Through the Green

The whole course is now being played with preferred lies through the green.  You may mark, lift, clean and place the ball within 6 inches of its original spot all over the course when not in a penalty area or a hazard.  All other local rules apply when mats are not compulsory.

17th Hole – Compulsory Call on Hole

 

With the introduction of the new / old 17th Winter tee, it’s been decided that this hole is a compulsory call on hole. When you are putting on 17, please look back to the tee and call the players to tee off and stand aside, ideally out of range. This is to look after the safety of all players on the green as we are aware a lot more players can drive it onto the green with the tee further forward. If done correctly, the 18th tee should be free when people are teeing off on 17. We did think about making it an iron only tee but this was decided as the better option. Please look after the safety of all golfers and respect the rule in place. This is for everyone’s benefit.

 

Bunkers

All bunkers for the Winter will be lift clean and place. This is optional. Correct protocol for this is to –

Mark ball in the bunker

Rake bunker

Place ball as near to original spot no nearer the hole

This is designed to give all golfers the best possible chance in the bunkers and take the pressure off the green staff.

 

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Greens staff has priority at all times on the course. Await their signal that it is safe to play. The public crossing the 4th fairway have priority.  Wait for them to clear the area of danger before playing from the fourth tee.

 

1.  Pop Up Sprinklers And Associated Hydrant Covers

All pop up sprinklers and associated hydrant covers are immovable obstructions and relief from then is obtained under Rule 24-2. In addition, if the ball lies off the putting green (but not in a hazard) and is within two club lengths of such an obstruction, the player may obtain relief without penalty provided the obstruction is within two club lengths of the putting green and intervenes on the line of play between the ball and the hole. The ball may be lifted, cleaned and dropped at the nearest point where the ball lay which is not nearer than the hole, avoids such intervention, and is not in a hazard or on the putting green.

2.  Protection of Young Trees

 

Any young tree(s) that has a staked post, or marked out with white lines, interferes with a player’s stance or his intended swing, the ball may be deemed to be interfered with by ‘ground under repair’ and a player must take relief as provided by Rule 25-1b, i.e. one club length. Wires or stakes protecting young trees are immovable obstructions (Rule 25). Relief must be taken as provided by Rule 24-2b(i), i.e. one club length. A ball lying within any area of young trees surrounded by a white line must not be played from within this area. The ball must be lifted and dropped one club length not nearer the hole at the point of nearest relief to the white line.

3. Ground under Repair

 

Areas enclosed by white lines are deemed ground under repair and relief is available under Rule 25-1 Areas may from time to time be deemed “Ground Under Repair Play Prohibited” by the Committee in which case players MUST take relief under Rule 25-1 . Such cases will be subject to a Temporary Local Rule and will be displayed upon the notice board & as Local Rule 13 .

 

4.  Out Of Bounds (Rule 27-1)

 

4.1  General Out of Bounds

i. Beyond any wall or fence bounding the course.

ii. On or beyond the railed off public paths through the course except the path crossing the 4th fairway from the white posts.

iii. In or beyond any ditch, trench or furrow on the course.

iv. Beyond the post and wire fence behind and alongside the 17th green and 18th tee.

v. The practice putting green together with the adjacent garden area and paths.

 

4.2  11th Hole

i. Whilst playing the 11th hole the posts, marking the out of bounds for the 12th, are immovable obstructions and relief may be taken under Rule 24-2.

 

4.3  12th Hole

i. When playing the 12th hole, if a ball should land on the 11th fairway side of the white posts, keeping line of sight from one post to the next, the ball is deemed out of bounds.  If all of the ball is deemed to lie on the line of sight from one post to the next, the ball is deemed out of bounds

ii. When playing the 12th hole, if a ball failed to be past the last white post, which is in line with the white line displayed on a tree, positioned on the left side of the 11th fairway the ball is deemed to be out of bounds.

iii. When playing the 12th hole the posts defining the out of bounds for the 12th hole are deemed to be fixed and therefore no relief is allowed. (Rule 13-2).

 

5.  Unfenced Paths

i. The public path across the 4th fairway (delineated by white markers), the path leading onto and off the Centenary Bridge on the 1st hole, the path leading onto the bridge on the 14th hole and all artificially-surfaced (shale) paths on the course are declared to be an immovable obstruction from which relief without penalty (within one club length from the nearest point of relief, not nearer the hole) may be obtained under Rule 24-2.

ii. The bridges and surrounding flower beds throughout the course are an integral part of the course. The ball must be played as it lies or declared unplayable (Rule 28). under penalty of One Stroke.

iii. Should your ball land on the Huxley tees (Immovable Obstruction) , on all shots other than a tee shot, your ball is deemed to be lying on an artificial surface and you are entitled to relief under Rule 24-2.

 

6.  Stones in Bunkers

Stones in bunkers are moveable obstructions (Rule 24).

 

7.  Practice Area

Players should be aware or familiar with Rule of Golf No. 7. Practice areas are on the 1st and 15th holes. The competition course includes the practice areas. If the ball comes to rest in the marked area to the left of the fairway on the 1st hole, it may be lifted, cleaned and dropped within one club length not nearer the hole without penalty.

 

8.  Tractor Tyre Ruts

Ruts made by tractor or Greens Machinery tyres are “Ground Under Repairs” and relief may be taken under Rule 25-1

 

9. Ditch Back Right 13th Green

Should a ball land in the “Ground Under Repair” as defined by white lines to the back right of the 13th Green, it may be lifted, cleaned and dropped without penalty, in one of the two dropping zones nearest to the original position of the ball.

 

10. NOTIFICATIONS

If any notification is required during play . The following klaxon sounds will occur: –

Prolonged Single Blast : Play Abandoned  Make your way back to the clubhouse .
Five , 3 second bursts : Play Suspended​  Mark you ball and make your way back to the clubhouse .
One , 10 second burst : Safe to resume play .

 

11.  Use of Distance Measuring Devices

For all play at this course a player may obtain distance information by use of a distance-measuring device. If during a stipulated round, a player uses a distance-measuring device to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect his play (e.g. elevation changes, wind speed, etc.), the player is in breach of Rule 14-3.”

A multifunction device, such as smartphone or PDA, may be used as a distance-measuring device, but it must not be used to gauge or measure other conditions where doing so would be a breach of Rule 14-3

 

12.  Temporary Local Rules

In force only when declared by the Handicaps Committee by notices in the Clubhouse , email & on the clubs website.