All members are expected to become familiar with this online version of the 2010 Local Rules, as they may differ from the Local Rules appearing on the Club's Fixture Card, and on the McCleery Score Card.  When in doubt, these 2010 Local Rules shall apply.

1.      Water Hazards - Lateral water hazards are marked by red lines or stakes. Players virtually certain that a ball not found is in a lateral water hazard may use options under Rule 26-1 (under penalty of one stroke):

a)      Play a ball as near as possible from where the original ball was last played. If the last ball played was from the tee box, the subsequent ball may also be teed.

b)      Drop a ball as far back as desired behind the water hazard, as long as the point at which the ball last crossed the water hazard remains directly between the hole and the spot where the next ball is dropped.

c)      Drop a ball within two club-lengths (not nearer the hole) from (i) the spot where the ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard or (ii) a point on the opposite margin of the water hazard, equidistant from the hole.

Water hazards are marked by yellow lines or stakes. Players virtually certain that a ball not found is in these water hazards must follow Rule 26-1 (under penalty of one stroke) – however only options a) or b) (above) apply. 

Note: The boundary of the hazard is defined by stakes or lines, and these markers are considered to be inside the hazard. A ball is in a hazard when it lies in or any part of it touches the hazard (note – this differs from the rule for ball out of bounds – the entire ball needs to be out of bounds to be considered out of bounds). When lines and stakes are present, the lines represent the margin of the hazard, and the colour of the stake determines the type of hazard. When both stakes and lines are absent, the natural boundary of the hazard defines the hazard.  

Note: The wooden edging of the pond left of the 5^th green is considered an immovable obstruction and you are entitled to drop the ball within one club-length from the nearest point of relief under Rule 24-2 (no penalty).  Keep in mind that if your drop ends up on the cart path, you are also entitled to relief from the path as well.

2.      Out of bounds are defined by white stakes, perimeter fences, the wooden perimeter around the bottom of the driving range, protective netting on holes 8 and 16, the paved areas of the parking lot and the clubhouse and the right edge of the lateral water hazard to the right of holes 12 and 13.

Balls coming to rest anywhere in these out of bounds areas, or virtually certain to have come to rest in these areas (5 minutes search time allowed) are to be considered lost balls, and the player must proceed according to Rule 27-1, playing another ball from as near as possible from where the ball was last played, under penalty of one stroke (ie. stroke and distance). Balls coming to rest against the perimeter fence, protective netting on holes 8 and 16, the paved area of the parking lot or clubhouse shall be played as they lie or played as unplayable under Rule 28 (under penalty of one stroke). 

The driving range wooden perimeter, its protective netting, and its posts and support wires are all to be considered immovable obstructions, and if they interfere with the natural stance or swing of the golfer, the ball may be dropped within one club-length from the nearest point of relief (no closer to the hole) - without penalty.

3.      #4 Drop Zone.  When playing from the back (Blue) tee of hole number four, if it is known, or virtually certain, that the ball hit from this tee has been hit into the water hazard (and cannot be found), the player may proceed under Rule 26 – or as an additional option may drop a ball, under penalty of one stroke, anywhere on the red tee box. 

4.      Provisional ball - If a ball is suspected to be lost outside of a hazard or out of bounds, please play a provisional ball before going forward to search for the original ball - Rule 27-2 a).  This applies on all holes but, in particular, beyond the second and fifth greens, right side of holes 6 and 8, left side of holes 10, 13 and 15. The majority of the players in your group must agree that the ball may be lost, and the player must declare he is playing a provisional ball. Provisional balls are to be played up to the point where the ball is thought to be lost or out of bounds before beginning to search for the ball (5 minutes maximum).  If the ball is lost, or found out of bounds, the provisional ball becomes the ball in play (under penalty of stroke and distance).  If the ball is found in play or in a hazard, the original ball is still considered as the ball in play, and the provisional ball may be picked up (or left where it lies, to be considered a gift to some lucky, unsuspecting fellow member).

5.      Any flowerbeds and maintained planted areas throughout the golf course are ground under repair and relief must be taken under Rule 25-1 b) - no penalty.

6.      Stones in bunkers are movable obstructions under Rule 24-1.  If the ball moves when the obstruction is removed, it shall be replaced as close to the spot where it originally came to rest, without penalty.

7.      Embedded ball - Anywhere through the green, a ball which is embedded in its own pitch mark, may be lifted without penalty, cleaned and dropped as near as possible to where it lay but not nearer the hole, according to Rule 25-2.

8.      Plugged Ball and/or Leaf Rule – Unusually large accumulations of leaves or particularly marshy areas on the course will be considered Ground Under Repair (GUR) under the Abnormal Ground Conditions Rule.  If a ball is found in one of these areas, the player may take relief from this area under Rule 25-1 b) without penalty (one club-length from nearest point of relief from the GUR).  Furthermore, if the ball is known to have landed in, or virtually certain it has landed in, one of these areas but cannot be found (within a 5-minute search), the player is also allowed relief without penalty, but according to Rule 25-1 c), relief is taken within one club-length from the nearest point of relief compared to where the ball last crossed the margin of the GUR, not from where the ball was assumed to come to rest.  Note: since these areas around the course may change from day to day, in order for this rule to take effect, the majority of the players in your group must agree that the area in question may be considered GUR under this rule, and that the ball has almost certainly landed in one of these particularly marshy or leafy areas.

9.      Distance Measuring Devices – A player may obtain distance information by using a device that measures distance only. However, if a player uses a distance measuring device that is designed to gauge or measure other conditions, in addition to distance, that might affect his play, the player is in breach of Rule 14-3, for which the penalty is disqualification, regardless of whether any such additional function are actually used.

  PENALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULE:

Match Play – Loss of hole; Stroke play – Two strokes.

If you have a problem interpreting any rule of golf or local rule or resolving a particular golf situation during stroke play, you may choose to play a separate ball from the place of uncertainty, and keep two separate scores for each ball (under Rule 3-3).  You must select which ball will count in your score if the Rules permit before playing the first ball.  Then, check with someone from the Rules Committee or Match Committee immediately following your round before signing the scorecard.  Otherwise, you could be disqualified.  The rules and handicap committee, together with the match committee will endeavor to resolve your inquiry at their earliest convenience. Application of these rules is intended to ensure equity and reflect handicap accuracy.  Note that the process for resolving a situation is different during match play – see Rule 2-5 in the RCGA Rules of Golf.

“Temporary” Local Rules

The following Local Rules are only in effect if they are explicitly included in the Draw Sheet of the competition being played and announced on the 1^st tee.

1.      Lift, Clean & Place.  A ball lying anywhere through the green may be lifted without penalty and cleaned.  Before lifting the ball the player must mark its position.  Having

lifted the ball he must place it on a spot within 6 inches of and not nearer the hole than where it originally lay, that is not in a hazard and not on a putting green.  Take note that once your hand leaves the ball, it is considered in play – whether or not you have lifted your marker.

Conditions Of Play 

1.      RCGA Rules along with the preceding Local Rules govern all play.  All putts MUST be holed in individual stoke play.   In the interest of pace of play, a player should consider “picking up” if their score would not affect the team score in Team events or if their score would be “0” in an individual Stableford competition.  In such cases, record your score as your highest allowable score for that hole.

2.      Check In. A player signed up to play in a tournament shall report to the 1st tee 20 minutes prior to his scheduled tee time.  If the player fails to report 15 minutes prior to his scheduled tee time, he may forfeit his entry in the tournament if a spare player is available to play in his place.  Repeat offenders risk further disciplinary actions.  If you enter a tournament, be prepared to play in inclement conditions

3.      The Board of Directors shall discipline any member, who in the opinion of the majority of Directors, willfully infringes upon the by-laws or rules of the club, or is guilty of conduct injurious to the character, interest, or good order of the club, e.g. abusive behavior towards another member, member of the public or employee of the park board or pro-shop.  A member being disciplined may appear before the Board to appeal his case.

Breaking Of Ties

For major club events like the overall Club Championship and the overall Senior Championship, a sudden death playoff will be held at the discretion of the Pro Shop.

For Kelbert Match Play matches, the competitors should also attempt a sudden death playoff at the discretion of the Pro Shop.  In match play the playoff should begin at hole number 1 so stokes are given in the proper sequence.  If the playoff cannot be accommodated, the competitors involved should consult with the Club Captain to determine an agreeable solution.

All other ties will be determined by “matching score cards”.  The method used is based on the procedure currently described in the Appendix to the Rules of Golf under “How to Decide Ties” section (c).

The winner is determined on the basis of the best score for the last nine holes.  If the tying players have the same score for the last nine, the winner is determined on the basis of the last six holes, the last three holes and finally the 18^th hole.  For net competitions, one-half, one-third, one-sixth and finally one-eighteenth of the player’s handicap is used (with fractions of a stroke being considered).  In the unlikely event the procedure does not identify a winner, the winner will be chosen by lot. (talk to Walt Vanderryst and the rest of the Match Committee - they are the ones that would figure this stuff out)