Local Rules

To be read in conjunction with the Rules of Golf and Temporary Local Rules.
Rules of Golf are found on the Royal & Ancient Golf Club, St Andrews website

Out Of Bounds

  1. Those areas beyond the course-side points at ground level of the club’s boundary fence posts;
  2. Those areas beyond the course-side points of white stakes with black tops and/or connecting white lines;
  3. The course-side edge of the high-water marks of Narara Creek.

ROADS & PATHS

All artificially formed/graded roads and paths on the course, are treated as immovable obstructions from which free relief is allowed under Rule 16.1.

HOOPS AND STAKES

All hoops are moveable obstructions; however, they must be replaced.

All stakes are immovable obstructions, except stakes indicating out of bounds which are Boundary Objects (see Definitions).

PREFERRED LIES

When a local rule is “preferred lie on the general area cut to fairway height or less” or “play the ball as it lies”, a preferred lie may be taken on the unmown portion of the drain across the 10th, 11th and 18th fairways.  You may also prefer your lie on the access pathway running across the 15th fairway,

BUNKER RAKES

After raking bunkers, please return rakes to the middle of the bunker with the handle laying in the direction of play.

PROVISIONAL BALL

A provisional ball must be played on the 3rd, 11th and 17th holes if the ball is struck from the teeing ground toward, and may be lost in or near, the Red Penalty Areas which are hidden from view from the tee as you will not have virtual certainty that the ball will have finished in the Penalty Area.  If the original ball is found in the Penalty Area, then rule 17.1 applies and the provisional ball is abandoned.

GROUND UNDER REPAIR

  1. All areas encircled by white lines and/or white stakes;
  2. Wheel Marks – Clearly defined indentations or ruts made by a mower, tractor, or motor vehicle;
  3. All formed garden beds identified by white stakes with green tops.

G.U.R. TYING INTO ARTIFICIALLY SURFACED ROADS OR PATHS

White-lined areas of ground under repair and artificially surfaced roads or paths they tie into are treated as a single abnormal course condition when taking relief under Rule 16.1.

17.1 Abnormal Course Conditions (Including Immovable Obstructions)

  1. Relief for Ball in General Area

If a player’s ball is in the general area and there is interference by an abnormal course condition on the course, the player may take free relief by dropping the original ball or another ball in this relief area (see Rule 14.3):

  • Reference Point: The nearest point of complete relief in the general area.
  • Size of Relief Area Measured from Reference Point: One club-length, but with these limits:
  • Limits on Location of Relief Area:
    • Must be in the general area,
    • Must not be nearer the hole than the reference point, and
    • There must be complete relief from all interference by the abnormal course condition.

The ball must be dropped in the relief area. The player may stand either inside or outside the relief area when dropping the ball.

The ball must come to rest in the relief area.

CORELLA DAMAGE TO GREENS

If your line of putt is affected by damage to the greens by birds, you may take free relief under Rule 16.1d below:

RULE 16 Relief from Abnormal Course Conditions (Including Immovable Obstructions), Dangerous Animal Condition, Embedded Ball

16.1d – Relief for Ball on Putting Green

If a player’s ball is on the putting green and there is interference by an abnormal course condition on the course, the player may take free relief by placing the original ball or another ball on the spot of the nearest point of complete relief, using the procedures for replacing a ball under Rules 14.2b(2) and 14.2e.

  • The nearest point of complete relief must be either on the putting green or in the general area.
  • If there is no such nearest point of complete relief, the player may still take this free relief by using the point of maximum available relief as the reference point, which must be either on the putting green or in the general area.

FIXED SPRINKLER HEADS:

All FIXED sprinkler heads are immovable obstructions. Rule 16.1b applies. In addition, to the types of interference described in Rule 16.1a, interference also exists if an immovable obstruction is: on the player’s line of play, and is within two club-lengths of the putting green, and is 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.)

BUNKERS

All bunkers marked by white stakes are ‘No Play Zones’

  • All bunkers marked by white stakes are ‘No Play Zones’.  Free relief MUST be taken from interference by a no play zone under Rule 16.1f. As the Committee has now determined the bunker to be in the ‘General Area’ you then must use Rule 16.1b.
  • Exposed bunker matting impacting on the player’s ball, swing or stance is to be treated as Interference by a No Play Zone in Abnormal Course Condition in the bunker where free relief must be taken in accordance with Rule 16.1c.
  • Any washout areas in bunkers are to be treated as interference by an abnormal course condition with free relief available in the bunker under Rule 16.1c

AERATION HOLES

If a player’s ball lies in or touches an aeration hole:

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

TREE ROOTS

If a player’s ball is in the general area and there is interference from exposed tree roots that are in a part of the general area cut to fairway height or less, or in the rough within one of club-length of the edge of the ground cut to fairway height or less, the tree roots are treated as ground under repair. The player may take free relief under Rule 16.1b.

PATHS WITH MESH NETTING

The grass-protection mesh that lies under and protects the grass at the end of the cart paths on the 1st and 10th tees, as well as the cart path near the green on the 18th are treated as immovable obstructions in the general area and are part of the cart path. A player may take free relief under Rule 16.1b.

Reference Point:                  The nearest point of complete relief in the general area

Size of Relief Area:               One club-length, but with these limits:

  • Limits on Location of Relief Area:
  • Must be in the general area
  • Must not be nearer the hole than the reference point, and
  • There must be complete relief from all interference by the abnormal course condition.

PENALTY AREAS

Yellow Penalty Areas are defined by yellow stakes/lines.

Red Penalty Areas are defined by red stakes/lines.

MOBILE PHONES

Mobile phones to be kept on silent/vibrate at all times while on the course.