2024 GHK Hard Card
Play is governed by the Rules of Golf effective January 2023, and where applicable, by the following Local Rules and Terms of the Competition. Committee Procedures refers to the Committee Procedures section in the current Official Guide to the Rules of Golf. The Committee refers to the Tournament Committee assigned to each event. Unless otherwise noted, the penalty for breach of a Local Rule is the general penalty (2-strokes in Stroke Play / Loss of Hole in Match Play).
Ground Under Repair (GUR): Areas marked in white (not including DROPPING ZONES or OUT OF BOUNDS) and as defined in the Rules of Golf. Reference Rule 16 for when relief is allowed.
Relief From Sod Seams/Cut Turf (MLR F-7): If a player’s ball in the general area lies in or touches a seam of cut turf or a seam interferes with the player’s area of intended swing, the player may take relief under Rule 16.1b. But interference does not exist if the seam only interferes with the player’s stance. All seams within the same area of cut turf in the general area are treated as the same seam in taking relief.
White-lined-areas tying into immovable obstructions are treated as a single abnormal course condition when taking relief under Rule 16.1. Railroad ties, curbing or other similar artificial edges adjoining cart paths are part of the same obstruction.
Temporary Immovable Obstructions (TIO): MLR F-23 Sect. 8 of the Committee Procedures is in effect.
Ball Deflected by Power Line (MLR E-11): If it is known or virtually certain that a player’s ball hit an overhead power line (or supporting structures), the player must replay a ball without penalty from where the previous stroke was made (see Rule 14.6 for replaying stroke). If the player does not replay the stroke, they get the general penalty and the stroke counts, but the player has not played from a wrong place.
Integral Objects (MLR F-1) (Free relief not allowed): Artificial retaining walls and/or pilings when located in penalty areas, wires, cables, wrappings, signs and lightning rods closely attached to trees or objects and bunker liners in their intended position. Note: An exposed bunker liner, not in its intended position, is ground under repair if it interferes with the lie of the ball or area of intended swing, but not if it ONLY interferes with stance.
Penalty Areas: When a penalty area is defined only on one side, it extends to infinity. When a penalty area is connected to the out-of-bounds edge, the penalty area extends to and coincides with out of bounds.
Animal Near Ball: MLR E-13 Sect. 8 of the Committee Procedures is in effect. (Currently this is in the rules app under “additional clarifications”.)
Out of Bounds (OB) and Course Boundaries: OB is defined by a straight line between the course-side points at ground level of white stakes and fence posts. When a white line is used for OB, the inside edge of the line defines the OB not any stakes or fence.
Stopping and Resuming Play: A suspension of play for a dangerous situation will be signaled by one prolonged note of a siren or horn. All other suspensions will be signaled by three consecutive notes of a siren or horn. In either case, resumption of play will be signaled by two short notes of a siren or horn. Note: All practice areas are closed during an immediate suspension for a dangerous situation until the Committee has declared them open.
Restrictions on Practice (MLR I-2): In stroke play, between the play of two holes a player must not make any practice stroke on or near the putting green of the hole just completed, test the surface of the putting green by rubbing the putting green or rolling a ball. Penalty: General Penalty applied to the next hole.
List of Conforming Driver Heads: MLR G-1 Sect. 8 of the Committee Procedures is in effect. Penalty: Disqualification.
List of Conforming Golf Balls: MLR G-3 Sect. 8 of the Committee Procedures is in effect. Penalty: Disqualification.
Scorecards: For the purpose of applying Rule 3.3b (2), a player’s scorecard is treated as returned when the player has first left the scoring area with both feet. MLR L-1 Sect. 8 of the Committee Procedures is in effect, if the player or marker fails to certify the score card.
When the Competition is Final: When all scores and match results have been officially posted and approved by the Committee, the competition is final.
Pace of Play: The pace of play policy as prescribed in registration agreement and/or Terms of the Competition is in effect.
Code of Conduct (CoC): The code of conduct policy as prescribed in registration agreement and/or Terms of the Competition is in effect.
Music (in CoC): During their round a player is prohibited from using a device to play and listen to music for ANY benefit to the player such as tempo, mood, relaxation, eliminating distractions, etc. (Penalty progression: Warning, 1 penalty stroke, 2 additional penalty strokes, DQ.)