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Golf:

Local Rules

Effective January 2024 – To be read in conjunction with the Rules of Golf

Out of Bounds

  • Beyond any fence, council roads bordering the course (including boundary fences to residential properties)
  • Beyond any line of stakes or indicators with black tops and/or white lines.
  • Out of Bounds
    • Hole 2 - The ball is out of bounds on the 2nd hole once it has crossed the chain dividing fence to the left of the green, irrespective of whether it is through the green on the 3rd hole
    • Hole 4 -The ball is out of bounds on the 4th hole once it has crossed the road kerb to the left of the green, irrespective of whether it is through the green on the 5th hole. The extent of the OOB line is the inside of the kerb closest to the 4th green
    • Hole 16 -The ball is out of bounds if it comes to rest on any part of the island to the left of the teeing ground (unless advised otherwise)
    • Hole 18 - The ball is out of bounds if it comes to rest in the garden area immediately in front of the townhouses on the right hand side. The out of bounds is defined by white and black stripes on the timber edge

Lost Ball/Out of Bounds (Alternate Rule)

When a player’s ball has not been found or is known or virtually certain to be out bounds, the player MAY PROCEED UNDER THE ALTERNATE TO STROKE AND DISTANCE Local Rule MLR-E5 for a Penalty of Two strokes.  (This means a player may take a drop from the point of entry where the ball is lost or went out of bounds, and drop from knee height, within two club lengths to the nearest edge of the fairway, no nearer the hole and play their 4th shot from there). You may hit a provisional ball however the option to use the 2 shot stroke and distance rule is then not applicable to your original ball.

Penalty Areas

  • Holes defined as Penalty Areas and are identified by red stakes and red lines of which define the margin. Where no stake or line exists, the hazard is defined by its natural margin.
  • 7th Hole is defined as a Penalty area. If your ball finishes in the hazard you have 2 options: Your ball starting line is directly in line with green and does not cross any land other than teeing grounds you must drop at designated Drop Zone (Artificial Teeing Ground) or if your ball crosses land up the left hand side of hole past teeing grounds you are able to point of entry relief no nearer the hole.
  • 15th Hole is defined as a Penalty Area. If your ball finishes in the water you have 2 options: Your ball does not cross land you must take a drop at the designated Drop Zone (Artificial Teeing Ground) or if your ball crosses the hazard line on greenside but ends up in the water you MUST take a drop at one of the 2 designated drops zones left or right of the green, this is determined by the line of which your ball enters the hazard, from there you play from the nearest drop zone.

Immovable Obstructions

  • All artificially surfaced roads and paths including raised concrete edging.
  • Trees, shrubs (must have a trunk) identified by a stake or are under 2 club lengths in height. Relief MUST be taken.
  • All fixed sprinkler heads and drain grates are immovable obstructions and relief from interference may be obtained under Rule 16.1a. In addition, if such an obstruction on, or within two club lengths of the putting green of the hole being played intervenes on the line of play between the ball and the hole, the player may obtain relief, without penalty as follows – If the ball lies off the putting green but not in a hazard and is within two club lengths of the intervening obstruction, it may be lifted, cleaned and dropped at the nearest point to where the ball lay which (a) is not nearer the hole, (b) avoids such intervention and (c) is not in a hazard or on a putting green MLR F-5
  • All Stakes (excluding OOB stakes), distance indicators, sand bins, course rubbish bins, irrigation boxes and pipes, tee markers, tee signs, advertising signs, bench seats, buggy directional signs and ropes and tee screens (no line of sight applies).
  • Garden beds defined by wooden, concrete or stone boundaries on any side.

Temporary Immovable Obstructions

  • Includes but not limited to all advertising signs, sponsors marquees, leaderboards and tents within the boundaries of the course for the purpose of the competition.

Ground Under Repair

  • Includes all areas bounded by a white line or white stake.
  • Clearly visible Shrinkage cracks greater than 1cm in General Area
  • Marked or unmarked irrigation/construction, new works including sanded (top dressed) areas – not including divots (Compulsory)
  • Water erosion marks in bunkers
  • Bare Areas – Players may take free relief if their ball comes to rest on a bare patch (area devoid of grass a divot is not a bare patch) on closely mown areas of the fairway being played.
  • Loose gravel immediately adjacent to bitumen cart paths.
  • Yellow cart lines on closely mown areas.
  • Any boundary gardens through the course which are signed GUR.
  • White staked bunkers

Road and Paths

  • All artificially surfaced roads and paths including raised concrete edging are immovable obstructions. The ball may be played as it lies or relief taken as Rule 16.1a. All other roads, paths or tracks are an integral part of the course. (ie. No relief)

Exposed Mesh in Bunkers

  • Exposed mesh netting in bunkers is to be treated as GUR, relief maybe taken nearest point where netting does not interfere with the players swing. The ball must be placed as near as possible to the original position remaining in the bunker and recreating a similar lie.

Penalty for Breach of Local Rule: Stroke Play – Two Strokes: Matchplay – Loss of Hole