The following will be provided to all players at the start of their rounds.

 

 

Local Rules for Pine Tree Country Club – The “Hard Card”

 

Golf Ball and Club Specifications

 

1.  The Grooves and Punch Marks specifications condition of competition effective January 1, 2010 is NOT in effect.

2.  The "One Ball Rule" is NOT in effect.

3.  All golf balls and driver heads used to play a stroke must be on the most recent USGA/R&A list of conforming golf balls and driver heads respectively.  Penalty for breach of Rule: Disqualification.  Driver heads manufactured prior to 1999 are exempt.

4.  Proposed Model Local Rule G-10 (maximum driver shaft length of 46”) is NOT in effect. 

 

Model Local Rule G-6 – Walking Policy

 

During a round, no player may ride in any form of motorized transportation except as authorized or later approved by the Committee.  Note: a player operating under a stroke and distance penalty is always authorized.

 

Penalty for Breach of Rule:  General Penalty for each hole.

 

Model Local Rule H-1.1 – No Caddies

 

A player may not have a caddie during a round, as defined by the USGA definition of Caddie.

 

Penalty for Breach of Rule:  General Penalty for each hole.

 

Model Local Rule G-8 – Cell Phone/Electronics Usage

 

During a round, a player must not listen to or watch content of any nature on a personal audio or video device.

 

Penalty for Breach of Rule:  See Rule 4.3

 

Model Local Rule D-7

 

Exception 2 to Rule 11.1b applies, except that when a ball played from the putting green accidentally hits:

  • the player
  • the club used by the player to make the stroke or
  • an animal defined as a loose impediment (that is, worms, insects and similar animals that can be removed easily)

the stroke counts and the ball must be played as it lies.

 

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

 

Model Local Rule F-5

 

Relief from interference by an immovable obstruction may be taken under Rule 16.1.  The player also has these extra options to take relief when such immovable obstructions are close to the putting green and on the line of play:

 

Ball in General Area:  The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b if an immovable obstruction is on the line of play, AND is within two club-lengths of the putting green, AND within two club-lengths of the ball.

 

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:  General Penalty under Rule 14.7a.

 

Model Local Rule E-12  Ball Played From Outside Relief Area When Taking Back-On-the-Line Relief

 

Under this Local Rule, a player will not be penalized for playing from a wrong place so long as the ball is dropped in the relief area and comes to rest within one club-length of where it first touched the ground.  For example, a ball rolls slightly forward of the reference point after having been dropped in the right way and in the relief area, but is still within one club-length of where it first touched the ground when dropped. In such cases, the player can either proceed under Rule 14.3c(2) or the player can play the ball from where it came to rest.

This Local Rule is for use only in relation to the Back-On-the-Line relief procedure.

 

Model Local Rule F-19

 

Edging grooves around the aprons or fringes of putting greens are ground under repair. If a player’s ball lies in or touches a groove or a groove interferes with the area of intended swing:

  1. Ball in General Area:  The player may take free relief under Rule 16.1b
  2. Ball on the Putting Green:  The player may take free relief under Rule 16.1d

 

BUT interference does not exist if the edging groove only interferes with the player’s stance.

 

Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Local Rule:  General Penalty under Rule 14.7a

 

Definition of Integral Objects

 

Bridges, artificial walls, and birdhouses, and poles holding netting around the driving range when located in penalty areas are integral objects.  Poles located outside of penalty areas are obstructions.

 

 

Model Local Rule F-23

 

Green-side air circulation fans may be played as temporary immovable obstructions (TIO).  A player may take relief from the fan under Rule 16 as if the TIO were an immovable obstruction, or additional relief options are available under this Local Rule.  Relief from a TIO is normally allowed when there is physical interference or line of sight interference.

 

Physical Interference exists when

  1. The player’s ball touches or lies in or on a TIO, or
  2. The TIO interferes with the player’s area of intended stance or area of intended swing.

 

Line of Sight Interference exists when

  1. The player’s ball touches or lies in, on, or under a TIO, or
  2. The TIO is on the player’s line of sight to the hole (the TIO is located on the straight line between the ball and the hole), or

 

No relief under this Local Rule if any of the following applies:

  1. There is no relief for either physical or line of sight interference when playing the ball as it lies would clearly be unreasonable because of something other than the TIO (such as when the player is unable to make a stroke because of where the ball lies in a bush outside the TIO).
  2. There is no relief for either physical or line of sight interference when interference exists only because the player chooses a club, type of stance or swing or direction of play that is clearly unreasonable under the circumstances.
  3. There is no relief for line of sight interference when it is clearly unreasonable for a player to play the ball far enough that the ball will reach the TIO.
  4. There is no relief for line of sight interference when the player cannot show that there is a stroke that he could reasonably play that would both (a) have the TIO on the line of that stroke and (b) result in the ball finishing on a direct line to the hole.

 

Taking Relief from Interference for Ball in General Area

 

If the player’s ball is in the general area and there is interference by a TIO, the player may take free relief by dropping the original or another ball in and playing it from the relief area:

  • Reference Point:  The nearest point of complete relief where both physical and line of sight interference no longer exist.
  • Size of Relief Area from Reference Point:  The entire area within one club-length from the reference point, but (1) must be in the general area, (2) must not be nearer the hole that the reference point, and (3) there must be complete relief from both physical and line of sight interference by the TIO.

 

Taking Relief from Interference for Ball in Bunker or Penalty Area

 

If the player’s ball is in a bunker or penalty area and there is interference by a TIO, the player may take either free relief or penalty relief:

  1. Free Relief - Playing from Bunker or Penalty Area:  The player may take free relief as provided in the general area, EXCEPT THAT the nearest point of complete relief where interference no longer exists, and the relief area must be in that bunker or penalty area.  If there is no such point, the player may still take this relief using the point of maximum available relief in the bunker or the penalty area as the reference point.
  2. Penalty Relief - Playing from Outside Bunker or Penalty Area:  For one penalty stroke, the player may drop the original or another ball in and play it from this relief area:
    • Reference Point:  The nearest point of complete relief not nearer the hole where both physical and line of sight interference no longer exists that is outside that bunker or penalty area.
    • Size of Relief Area from Reference Point:  The entire area within one club-length from the reference point, but (1) must be in any area of the course other than in that bunker or penalty area or on any putting green, (2) must not be nearer the hole that the reference point, and (3) there must be complete relief from both physical and line of sight interference by the TIO.

 

Model Local Rule G-9:  Replacement of Club that is Broken or Significantly Damaged:

 

Rule 4.1b(3) is modified in this way:

If a player’s club is “broken or significantly damaged” during the round by the player or caddie, except in cases of abuse, the player may replace the club with any club under Rule 4.1b(4).  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).  For the purposes of this Local Rule:

A club is “broken or significantly damaged” when:

  • the shaft breaks into pieces, splinters or is bent (but not when the shaft is only dented)
  • the club face impact area is visibly deformed (but not when the club face is only scratched)
  •  the club head is visibly and significantly deformed
  • the club head is detached or loose from the shaft, or
  • the grip is loose.
  • Exception: A club face or club head is not “broken or significantly damaged” solely because it is cracked.
  •  

Penalty for Breach of Local Rule – See Rule 4.1b.” (Added 4/2019)

 

Close of Competition:  The Competition, defined as all players in a given age group, division, flight, etc. is final and closed once the following has taken place:

  1. All players have returned their scorecards for their final rounds.
  2. The Committee have determined the order of finish.
  3. The order of finish published on the official scoreboard.