TERMS OF THE COMPETITION & LOCAL RULES
Play is governed by the Golf Canada Rules of Golf (effective January 2019), and, where applicable, by the following Local Rules and Terms of the Competition, subject to changes, additions or deletions for particular competitions. Complete text of Local Rules may be found in the Golf Canada Official Guide to the Rules of Golf (effective January 2019).
Unless otherwise noted, the penalty for a breach of a Local Rule is the General Penalty. Match play – Loss of hole; Stroke play – Two strokes
1. Out of Bounds(Rule 18.2) – Defined by the course-side points at ground level of white dots, lines, stakes and posts of fences defining out of bounds. A ball is out of bounds when it is beyond any wall defining the boundary of the course.
2. Specifications of Clubs and the Ball a. List of Conforming Driver Heads: Model Local Rule G-1 is in effect. Penalty for making a stroke with a club in breach of this Local Rule: Disqualification. b. List of Conforming Golf Balls: Model Local Rule G-3 is in effect. Penalty for making a stroke with a ball in breach of this Local Rule: Disqualification. c. Replacing Club that is Broken or Significantly Damaged – Model Local Rule G-9 is in effect. When replacing a club, the player must immediately take the broken or significantly damaged club out of play, using the procedure in Rule 4.1c(1). Penalty for Breach of Local Rule – See Rule 4.1b. Note: An updated List of Conforming Clubs and Balls is available via golfcanada.ca/rules.
3. Ball Played from Outside Relief Area When Taking Back-On-the-Line Relief – Model Local Rule E-12 is in effect. This applies in the application of Rules 16.1c(2), 17.1d(2), 19.2b, 19.3b.
4. Modified Rules for Players with Disabilities – Specified clause(s) of the Modified Rules for Players with Disabilities are in effect for a player when both are approved by the Tournament Committee.
5. Pace of Play (Rule 5.6b(3)) – Golf Canada’s Group Pace of Play Policy is in effect at all amateur competitions. Players must ensure that they complete groups of holes and the round within the times established by the Tournament Rules Committee. The full policy is available online at golfcanada.ca/rules, in the Golf Canada Tournament Office and at the starting tee. Note: Rule 5.6a (Unreasonable Delay of Play) is still applicable. Note: Rule 5.6a (Unreasonable Delay of Play) is still applicable.
6. Stopping and Resuming Play (Rule 5.7) – Model Local Rule J-1 is in effect as follows: a. Immediate suspension (Dangerous Situation): One prolonged note of the air horn. b. Normal Suspension (Non-Dangerous situation): Three short notes of the air horn. c. Resume Play: Two short notes of the air horn. Note: During an immediate suspension for a dangerous situation, all practice areas are closed until the Tournament Committee has declared them open. Players who practice on closed practice areas will be asked to stop practicing. Players who fail to do so will be subject to penalties under the Code of Conduct.
7. Practice (Rule 5.2 and 5.5) a. Before or between rounds in Stroke Play – Model Local Rule I-1.1 is in effect and Rule 5.2b is modified in this way: A player must not practise on the competition course before or between rounds. Penalty for first breach: General Penalty (applied to the player’s first hole). Penalty for second breach: Disqualification. b. Between holes in Stroke Play – Model Local Rule I-2 is in effect and Rule 5.5b is modified in this way: 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, or • Test the surface of that putting green by rubbing the putting green or rolling a ball.
8. Abnormal Course Conditions (Including Immovable Obstructions) (Rule 16) – Ground Under Repair – Rule 16.1 includes: a. Areas defined by white lines; b. French drains filled with stones; c. Seams of Cut Turf – Model Local Rule F-7 is in effect. 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 the 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. That 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. d. Immovable Obstructions – White-lined areas of ground under repair and the artificially surfaced road or path or other identified obstruction they tie into are treated as a single abnormal course condition when taking relief under Rule 16.1.
9. Wood Chips and Mulch – Wood chips and mulch are loose impediments.
10. Integral Objects – The following are integral objects from which free relief is not allowed: a. The portion of cables, wires, wrappings and other similar objects closely attached to trees; b. Artificial retaining walls and/or pilings when located within penalty areas or which are adjacent to the edge of bunkers; c. Bunker liners in their intended position. Interference by a liner with a player’s stance is deemed not to be, of itself, interference under this Rule; d. Closed gates attached to objects defining out of bounds.
11. Flagsticks – Players are required to avoid touching the flagstick for any reason. A warning will be given for the first breach of this rule. A second breach will result in the general penalty and a third breach will result in disqualification.
12. Permanent Elevated Power Lines or Cables – Model Local Rule E-11 is in effect and is modified as follows: If it is known or virtually certain that a player’s ball hit a permanent elevated power line or cable in bounds the stroke does not count. The player must play a ball without penalty from where the previous stroke was made in accordance with Rule 14.6.
13. Temporary Immovable Obstructions – Model Local Rule F-23 is in effect. Temporary Immovable Obstructions include, but are not limited to, starting and scoring tents.
14. Penalty Areas (Rule 17) – When a red penalty area is defined on only one side, it is deemed to extend to infinity. When a red penalty area adjoins a boundary, the penalty area edge extends to and coincides with the boundary.
15. Code of Conduct (Rule 1.2) – B.C. Golf has adopted the Local Rule under Rule 1.2b setting standards of player conduct on the golf course during all competitions. The full policy is available online at http://britishcolumbiagolf.org/conductpolicies?highlight=WyJjb25kdWN0Il0= The B.C. Golf Rules Committee may assess any or all of the following penalties outlined below, based on the severity and frequency of the violation: • Warning • One penalty stroke • General Penalty • Disqualification Note: Under Rule 1.2a, the B.C. Golf Tournament Committee may suspend a player for serious misconduct for acting contrary to the spirit of the game during the balance of the entire competition and whether at or away from the host club facility. Any player found to be in breach of B.C. Golf’s or the host facility’s policies as they relate to the Covid -19 pandemic could be suspended from the event and from entering future events conducted by B.C. Golf and/or Golf Canada. Scorecard Returned – A scoring area will be defined where players can verbally confirm their scores with their markers while observing physical distancing. The player will set the scorecard on a table for the scoring official to take a picture and then place the scorecard in a designated box. Once the scorecard is put into the box it will be considered returned.
16. When Result of Competition is Final – The competition is final when all scores have been validated in the scoring system and approved by the Committee.
RULES AND AMATEUR STATUS COMMITTEE – BC GOLF