New Jersey National Golf Club is governed by the USGA Rules of Golf except when local abnormal conditions apply:

 

-LOCAL RULES-

 

431 is the code for the restrooms at #5 green and #13 green.

 

  • #1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14:  The property lines on these holes are marked by white stakes and are out of bounds. Please do not retrieve your golf ball from the neighboring property. All players are responsible for any damage done to the property.

 

  • #1: The gravel drain that is in bounds is considered an Obstruction.

 

  • #7: If a ball is in or it is known or virtually certain that a ball that has not been found is in the penalty area on #7, the player may:
    • Proceed under Rule 17; or
    • As an additional option, drop a ball, under penalty of one stroke, in the dropping zone

 

  • #9: The posts, which hold the driving range net mark out of bounds, therefore no relief is given for interference by the posts or the net.

 

  • The cart path, that borders the back of #9 and #18 is out of bounds, therefore no relief is given for interference.

 

  • The No Play Zone (formerly Environmentally-Sensitive Area) on #13 & #17 is defined as a Penalty Area and the following Local Rule applies:

 

    • Definition
      • A no play zone is a part of the course where the Committee has prohibited play.  On #17, the reason is to protect an environmentally sensitive area.  These areas may be defined as abnormal ground condition or a penalty area.
    • Ball in No Play Zone
      • Penalty Area
        • If it is known or virtually certain that a ball that has not been found is in a No Play Zone defined as a penalty area, the player must, under a penalty of one stroke, proceed under Rule 17, or as additional option, drop a ball, in the Dropping Zone.
          • #17 Dropping Zones:  When teeing off from the Black or Blue tees, the dropping zone is located at the Gold tee box.  When teeing off from the White or Gold tees, the dropping zone is located at the Red tee box.
        • If there is doubt whether a ball is lost in the penalty area (#17 ONLY), the player may play another ball provisionally under any of the options listed above. 
          • If the original ball is found outside the penalty area, the player must continue play with it.
          • If the original ball is found in the penalty area, the player will continue with the ball played provisionally.
    • Interference with Stance or Area of Intended Swing
      • Interference by a no play zone occurs when the no play zone interferes with the player’s stance or the area of his intended swing.  If interference exists, the player must take relief as follows:
        • Through the green: If the ball lies through the green, the point on the course nearest to where the ball lies must be determined that (a) is not nearer the hole, (b) avoids interference by the no play zone and (c) is not in a hazard or on a putting green.  The player must lift the ball and drop it, without penalty, within one club-length of that point so determined on a part of the course that fulfills (a), (b) and (c) above.
        • The ball may be cleaned when lifted under this clause of this Local Rule.
        • Exception: A player may not take relief under this clause of this Local Rule if (a) it is clearly unreasonable for him to make a stroke because of interference by anything other that a no play zone or (b) interference by a no lay zone would occur only through use of an unnecessarily abnormal stance, swing or direction of play.
    • Penalty for Breach of Local Rule
      • General Penalty (Match Play-Loss of Hole; Stroke Play-Two Strokes)

 

  • Stones in bunkers are movable obstructions.

 

  • Relief from sprinkler heads close to putting green with conditions *NEW LOCAL RULE*
    • Immovable Obstructions Close to Putting Greens
      • Purpose. When a ball lies anywhere other than on the putting green, an immovable obstruction on the player’s line of play is not, of itself, interference under Rule 16.1. Free relief is normally not allowed. But if the aprons or fringes of putting greens are cut short enough that putting from off the green is likely to be a common choice of stroke, immovable obstructions that are close to the putting green may interfere with such strokes.
      • Immovable Obstruction defined as a Sprinkler Head
      • The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b if an immovable obstruction is:
        • On the line of play, and is:
        • Exception –. There is no relief under this Local Rule if the player chooses a line of play that is clearly unreasonable.
      • Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Local Rule:

 

Updated April 2023