CORAL COVE GOLF COURSE

LOCAL RULES – 1 July 2017

1. OUT OF BOUNDS – Rule 27-1
2. Golf Balls hit into resident’s private property are Out of Bounds (OOB). The Property owner’s verbal permission must be obtained prior to retrieving any golf balls. Entering a resident’s private property without permission is an offence under law.
3. OOB is defined by white stakes with black top or by the Golf course boundary fences.
4. WATER HAZARDS – Rule 25
5. Water hazards are defined by yellow stakes.
6. Lateral water hazards are defined by red stakes.
7. Bridges crossing within water hazards are deemed to be part of the hazard.
8. IMMOVABLE OBSTRUCTIONS – Rules 24-2
9. All stakes throughout the course are treated as immovable obstructions. Except when the ball is in a water hazard, a player may take relief from interference by an immovable obstruction without penalty, within one club-length of and not nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief.
10. If the ball is in a water hazard the stake becomes a part of that hazard and may not be moved. If the ball is deemed unplayable the player may take relief with a one stroke penalty.
11. Ground under repair (gUR) & LEAKING SPRINKLERS
12. All marked areas, roads and pathways within the course boundaries, all wheel marks made by course machinery, are to be treated as GUR and relief may be taken without penalty.
13. Leaking sprinkler heads and associated water sodden ground through the green is to be treated as GUR and relief may be taken without penalty.
14. gardenS & tree mounds – Rules 13 and 28
15. Garden beds with defined concrete curbing are classed as GUR.
16. From undefined gardens and tree mounds throughout the course a player must play the ball as it lies. If a ball is deemed unplayable a player may take a relief with a one stroke penalty.
17. PROTECTION OF YOUNG TREES

Protections of young trees are identified by white stakes.  The player may obtain relief, without penalty, 2 club lengths nearest point of relief no nearer to the hole. Rule 24-2 (b) applies

7. LOOSE & EMBEDDED ROCKS – Rule 23 & 24
8. Rocks, loose or embedded that may interfere with a players swing or stance identified on any closely mown area (fairways) are deemed as Obstructions. A player may take relief without penalty, within one club-length of and not nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief.
9. Loose rocks identified in the rough, in undefined gardens or tree mounds may be moved in accordance with rule 23 (Loose Impediments) and be played in accordance with Rule 13 Ball Played as It Lies. However, if a player does not choose to play from this lie, and the ball is deemed unplayable a player may take a relief with a one stroke penalty.
10. When the rock and ball lie in a hazard, the player must not touch or move any loose impediment lying in or touching the same hazard – see Rule 13-4c
11. Rocks in bunkers are movable obstructions. Note if a ball has to be moved to remove the rocks, the ball MUST be dropped back into the bunker and NOT placed.
12. SPRINKLER HEADS (Rule 24 – 2 applies)

All fixed sprinkler heads are immovable obstructions and relief from interference by them may be obtained under rule 24-2.  In addition, if such an obstruction on or within two club lengths of the putting green and the ball lies within two club length 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 per appendix 1 part b of the rules of golf.

9. EMBEDDED BALL – (Rule 25.2)

Course conditions, including mud and extreme wetness, may interfere with proper playing of the game and warrant relief for an embedded ball anywhere through the green.  Rule 25-2 provides relief, without penalty, for a ball embedded in its own pitch-mark in any closely-mown area through the green. On the putting green, a ball may be lifted and damage caused by the impact of a ball may be repaired (Rules 16-1b and c). When permission to take relief for an embedded ball anywhere through the green would be warranted, the following Local Rule is recommended:

Through the green, a ball that is embedded may be lifted, cleaned and dropped, without penalty, as near as possible to the spot where it lay but not nearer the hole. The ball when dropped must first strike a part of the course
 through the green.

Note: A ball is “embedded” when it is in its own pitch-mark and part of the ball is below the level of the ground. A ball does not necessarily have to touch the soil to be embedded (e.g. grass, loose impediments  and the like may intervene between the ball and the soil).

Exceptions:

1. A player may not take relief under this Local Rule if the ball is embedded in sand in an area that is not closely-mown.
2. A player may not take relief under this Local Rule if interference by anything other than the condition covered by this Local Rule makes the stroke clearly impracticable.
3. ACCIDENTAL MOVEMENT OF A BALL ON A PUTTING GREEN (eff 1/1/17)

Rules 18-2, 18-3 & 20-1 are modified as follows:

1. When a player’s ball lies on a putting green, there is no penalty if the ball or ball-marker is accidentally moved by a player, his partner, his opponent, or any of their caddies or equipment.
2. The ball or ball-marker must be replaced as provided in Rules 18-2, 18-3 & 20-1.
3. The local Rule applies only when the player’s ball or ball-marker lies on the putting green & any movement is accidental.

Note: If it is determined that a player’s ball on the putting green was moved as a result of wind, water or some other natural cause such as the effects of gravity, the ball must be played as it lies from its new location. A ball-marker moved in such circumstances is replaced.

11. MEASURING DEVICES

In competition, a player may obtain distance information by using a device that measures distance only. If, during a stipulated round, a player uses a distance-measuring device that is designed to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect his play (e.g. elevation changes, wind speed, etc.), the player is in breach of Rule 14-3

12. ABNORMAL GROUND CONDITIONS

If a ball lies in an area (Including Bunkers) damaged by non-burrowing animals (Wallabies, birds) it may be treated as ground under repair (Rule 25-1). Relief from interference with stance does not apply, (Rule 25-1a)

13. BARE PATCHES

If a ball lies on bare patches on closely mown area (fairways) the player may obtain relief, without penalty, 1 club length nearest point of relief no nearer to the hole.