1. OUT OF BOUNDS (Rule 18)

The boundaries of the course are the designated white markers or fences surrounding it. A ball is out of bounds when all of it lies over this line.

The following areas are out of bounds:

a) Beyond any boundary fence or hedge or any part of the course so marked by the Committee
b) On or over the far bank of the River Shuttle when playing the 2nd and 11th holes.
c) In or over the River Shuttle beyond the bridge leading to the 8th and 17th teeing areas when playing the 2nd and 11th holes.

2. PENALTY AREAS (Rule 17)

A penalty area is defined as:

• Any body of water on the course marked by the Committee), including a pond, ditch, surface drainage ditch or other open watercourse (even if not containing water), and
• Any other part of the course the Committee defines as a Penalty Area.

a) When playing the 2nd and 11th holes the River Shuttle is a penalty area until the bridge leading to the 8th and 17th teeing area (see out of bounds 1c).
b) When playing the 6th and 15th holes the area right of the fairway (adjacent to Burnt Oak Lane) is a penalty area. If there is doubt whether the ball is in or lost in the penalty area, the player must proceed under any of the applicable options in rule 17.1d. The red penalty area extends and coincides with the out of bounds edge.

3. TEES

Relief must be taken from areas and surrounding banks unless playing in a competition. The ball should be dropped within one club length at the nearest point of relief no nearer the hole without penalty.

4. PATHS (Rule 16)

All artificially covered areas are designated as paths.

5. TREES (Rule 16)

A ball lying so close to a STAKED tree that the player’s stance and/or area of intended swing is impaired MUST be lifted and dropped within one club length of the nearest point of relief, not nearer the hole, without penalty.

6. BRIDGES (Rule 17)

All bridges and parts thereof and irrigations building, and parts thereof are deemed to be integral parts of the course. All other man-made objects are deemed to be immovable objects.

7. IMMOVABLE OBSTRUCTIONS – SPRINKLER HEADS (Rule 16)

If a ball lies off the putting green, but not within in a hazard and sprinkler head, within two club lengths of the putting green and within two club lengths of the ball, intervenes in the line of play between the ball and the hole, the player may take relief.

8. 8th/17th HOLES

When playing the 8th/17th holes a ball coming to rest on the 5th/14th green or within two clubs length of the green on any closely mown area must be lifted and dropped at the nearest point of relief, no nearer the hole, without penalty and outside bunkers surrounding the 5th/14th holes.

9. DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICES

R&A approved measuring devices may be used.

10. PROVISIONAL BALLS 1ST/10th & 9th/18th HOLES

If there is doubt whether a ball is in or lost in the penalty area at the 1st/10th & 9th/18th holes, the player may play another ball provisionally under any of the applicable options in rule 17. If the original is found outside the penalty area, the player must continue play with it. If the original ball is found in the penalty area, the player may either play the ball original ball as it lies or continue with the provisional ball. If the original ball is not found or identified within the three-minute period, the player must continue with the provisional ball.

11. PREFERRED LIES

When a player's ball lies in a part of the general area cut to fairway height, the player may take free relief once by placing the original ball or another ball in and playing it from this relief area:

• Reference Point: Spot of the original ball.
• Size of Relief Area Measured from Reference Point: Six inches from the reference point, but with these limits:
• Limits on Location of Relief Area:
1. Must not be nearer the hole than the reference point, and
2. Must be in the general area.

In proceeding under this Local Rule, the player must choose a spot to place the ball and use the procedures for replacing a ball under Rules 14.2b(2) and 14.2e

When conditions warrant it, 'pick and place' will be within one length to any part of the general area cut to fairway height. In severe course conditions, 'pick and place and 'pick and drop' (within one length) sometimes are extended to all parts of the general area. A notice will be posted on the Local Rules board when this in effect.

12. AERATION HOLES

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

(a) Ball in General Area. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b. If the ball comes to rest in another aeration hole the player may take relief again under this Local Rule.
(b) Ball on Putting Green. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1d – When a ball is on the putting green and there is interference by an abnormal course conditions, free relief may be taken by placing a ball on the of the nearest point of complete relief. 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.

But interference does not exist if the aeration hole only interferes with the player's stance or, on the putting green, on the player's line of play.

Please note “damage on the putting green” does not include any damage or conditions that result from normal practices for maintaining the overall condition of the putting green (such as aeration holes and grooves from vertical mowing (Rule 13.1c)

13. ABNORMAL COURSE CONDITIONS

Abnormal course conditions are any of these four defined conditions,

• Animal Hole,
• Ground under Repair,
• Immovable Obstruction, or
• Temporary Water.

Unless otherwise stated, interference from an Abnormal Course Condition exists when any one of these is true:

• The player’s ball touches or is in or on an Abnormal Course Condition, or
• An Abnormal Course Condition physically interferes with the player’s area of intended stance or area of intended swing or,
• Only when the ball is on the Putting Green, an Abnormal Course Condition on or off the Putting Green intervenes on the line of play.

The following are Abnormal Course Conditions from which free relief is allowed under Rule 16.1 anywhere on the course unless the ball lies in a Penalty Area:

• Ground under repair, whether marked or not
• Holes made by greenkeeping staff in maintaining the course, including ruts and tracks made by maintenance vehicles
• Artificial mats
• Artificially surfaced paths and roads
• Distance marker discs, waste bins, benches, bells and sign posts
• Stakes and distance marker posts (but not Out of Bounds stakes). Stakes and distance marker posts (except O.B. stakes) may be removed as an alternative to taking relief.

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULE:

Match Play - Loss of Hole;
Stroke Play - Two Strokes.