Local Rules

Physical Features Defining Penalty Area Edge
- Large areas of “native” or unmowed grass containing red stakes and adjacent to regularly mowed areas should be considered penalty areas with the change in the grass height defining the edge of the penalty areas.
Immovable Obstructions Close to Putting Greens
- “Relief from interference by an immovable obstruction may be taken under Rule 16.1. The player also has these extra options to take relief when such immovable obstructions are close to the putting green and on the line of play:
  
  Ball in General Area
  The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b if an immovable obstruction is:
  
  On the line of play, and is:
  
  Within two club-lengths of the putting green, and
  
  Within two club-lengths of the ball.
  
  Exception – No Relief If Line of Play Clearly Unreasonable. There is no relief under this Local Rule if the player chooses a line of play that is clearly unreasonable.
Relief from Tree Roots in Fairway or First Cut of Rough
- “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 first cut of the rough], the tree roots are treated as ground under repair. The player may take free relief under Rule 16.1b.
  
  [But interference does not exist if the tree roots only interfere with the player’s stance.]
All Roads and Paths Treated as Obstructions
- All roads and paths on the course, even if not artificially-surfaced, are treated as immovable obstructions from which free relief is allowed under Rule 16.1.
Winter Wind Fences are Temporary Immovable Obstructions (TIO)
- If the Temporary Immovable Obstruction (TIO) interferes with your 1. swing, 2. stance, or 3. intended line of play, you may without penalty go to the nearest point no closer to the hole that gives relief from 1., 2., and 3. and from that “Nearest Point of Relief” drop within one club length (again, no closer to the hole). The ball may be cleaned as part of the relief process.
Greenside Cart Path Drop Areas Hole #13
- There are two optional drop zones to the west (left) of #13 green. If your ball comes to rest on the greenside cart path north of the bridge you may proceed under Rule 16.1 or you may take a drop in the drop zone nearest to where your ball lies, without penalty. If your ball comes to rest in the lateral hazard west (left) of the path, north of the bridge, you may proceed under Rule 17.1 for a red penalty area or with a penalty stroke, you may drop in the drop zone nearest to where your ball last crossed the margin of the hazard. The ball may be cleaned as part of the relief process. The pond in front of and to the east of the green is a yellow penalty area. You may not use the drop zone for balls that go into that pond.
  The bridge is not in a penalty area, proceed under Rule 16.1 and the drop zone may not be used.
Relief from Aeration Holes
- “If a player’s ball lies in or touches an aeration hole:
  
  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.
  
  Ball on Putting Green. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1d.
  
  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
Dropping Zone for Penalty Area on Left Side of Hole #3
- “If a ball is in the penalty area on the left side of the walking path on Hole #3, or when it is known or virtually certain that a ball that has not been found has come to rest in this penalty area, the player has these options:
  
  If the ball has been found, play it as it lies; or under one penalty stroke:
  
  Stroke-and-Distance Relief. The player may play the original ball or another ball where the previous stroke was made (see Rule 14.6).
  
  Back-On-the-Line Relief. The player may drop the original ball or another ball in a relief area that based on a reference line going straight back from the hole through the estimated point where the original ball last crossed the edge of the penalty area.
  
  Play From the Drop Zone. As an extra option, the player may drop the original ball or another ball in the dropping zone located on the green side of the ditch between the red tees and the north end of the walking path.
Alternative to Stroke and Distance for Lost Ball or Ball Out of Bounds
- https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/rules/rules-2019/rules-of-golf/rule-14.html#Rule%2014.3
  
  “When a player’s ball has not been found or is known or virtually certain to be out of bounds, the player may proceed as follows rather than proceeding under stroke and distance.
  
  For two penalty strokes, the player may take relief by dropping the original ball or another ball in this relief area (see Rule 14.3):
  Two Estimated Reference Points:
  
  Ball Reference Point: The point where the original ball is estimated to have:
  
  Come to rest on the course, or
  
  Last crossed the edge of the course boundary to go out of bounds.
  
  Fairway Reference Point: The point of the fairway of the hole being played that is nearest to the ball reference point, but is not nearer the hole than the ball reference point.
  
  For purposes of this Local Rule, “fairway” means any area of grass in the general area that is cut to fairway height or less. If a ball is estimated to be lost on the course or last crossed the edge of the course boundary short of the fairway, the fairway reference point may be a grass path or a teeing ground for the hole being played cut to fairway height or less.
  
  Size of Relief Area Based on Reference Points: Anywhere between:
  
  A line from the hole through the ball reference point (and within two club-lengths to the outside of that line), and
  
  A line from the hole through the fairway reference point (and within two club-lengths to the fairway side of that line).
  
  But with these limits:
  
  Limits on Location of Relief Area:
  
  Must be in the general area, and
  
  Must not be nearer the hole than the ball reference point.
  
  Once the player puts a ball in play under this Local Rule:
  
  The original ball that was lost or out of bounds is no longer in play and must not be played.
  
  This is true even if the ball is found on the course before the end of the three-minute search time (see Rule 6.3b).
  
  But the player may not use this option to take relief for the original ball when:
  
  That ball is known or virtually certain to have come to rest in a penalty area, or
  
  The player has played another ball provisionally under penalty of stroke and distance (see Rule 18.3).
  
  A player may use this option to take relief for a provisional ball that has not been found or is known or virtually certain to be out of bounds.