Tournament Rules

 

1.      The Tournament is conducted under the Summer Rules and Regulations as set out in the RCGA handbook with the exception of LOCAL and CLUB RULES in effect on tournament day.  Depending on the weather condition Winter Rules / Preferred Lies can be invoked upon declaration by majority of the Officers at the start of the tournament.  Unless otherwise stated, tournament is conducted under stroke play Summer Rules.

 

2.      All balls must be played where they lie.  Touching of the golf ball will count as a stroke (except where golf ball is already on the green or upon declaration to other members of the group for the purpose of identification only).  Relief for plugged balls is allowed on the fairways and greens but must first be discussed with the nearest golfer in the group.

 

3.      All rulings regarding play (e.g., movable obstructions, ground under repair, casual water, plugged balls, etc.) should be decided by a majority vote of the remaining golfers in your group.  If a consensus cannot be reached within your group, then you may play two (2) balls using the two different options in question; record both scores for the hole and a Tournament Rules Committee will decide a final ruling.  No member(s) of the committee or players can participate in the decision if he/she is involved in the dispute.

 

4.      A reasonable time (maximum of 3 minutes) will be allowed to search for lost balls without impeding the next group. 

 

5.      To speed up pace of play:

 

a.      Always play a provisional ball when in doubt about the landing position of your ball.

b.      When you have reached 12 strokes, pick up the ball 

 

6.      Tee off markers will be determined before each tournament by the Officers of the Club.

 

7.      In case of a tie, Low Gross winner is determined by most number of BIRDIES and most number of PARS respectively.  Low Net winner is determined by lowest handicap index.  If Low Gross or Low Net cannot be determined by the above tie-breaking rules whoever scores the best gross score for the last 9 holes will win.  If still tie after last nine holes, use the first nine holes, if needed.

 

8.      Longest drive competition if applicable is awarded to a player with longest drive inside and proper fairway.

 

9.      Closest to the hole competition if applicable is awarded to a player whose ball is most closest to the hole inside and proper green.

 

10.  Common situations, resolutions and penalties:

 

a.      Out of Bounds: If a ball comes to rest out of bounds the player shall have following options:

 

1)      Option 1: Play the next stroke as near as possible to the spot where the original ball was last played. Penalty: One stroke

2)      Option 2: A player opts to play the next stroke near or around the point where the ball last crossed the out-of-bounds marker.  Penalty: Two strokes (stroke and distance).  At any case, a provisional ball is always advisable to save time.

 

b.      Lost Balls: A ball is lost if:

 

1)      It is not found or identified as the by the player within 3 minutes after the player begun to search for it; or

2)      The player has put another ball into play under the Rules, even though he may not have searched for the original ball; or

3)      The player has played any stroke with a provisional ball from the place where the original ball is likely to be or from a point nearer the hole than that place, whereupon the provisional ball becomes the ball in play.

 

Ball lost outside of water or lateral hazards:

 

1)      Option 1:  Player shall play the next stroke as near as possible at the spot from where the original ball was last played.  Penalty: One stroke

2)      Option 2:  Play the provisional ball.  Penalty: One stroke  

3)      Option 3:  In the absence of a provisional ball a player shall drop a ball two club lengths around the area where the ball was supposed to have been lost; or

4)      Option 4:   Drop a ball behind the point where the ball lay keeping that point directly between the hole and the spot in a straight line on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind that point the ball may be dropped.  Penalty: Two strokes (stroke and distance).

 

Note: (Club rule) If the majority members of the group agree that the ball was lost in the fairway and cannot be found after exhausting the allowable time limit of searching a player shall drop a ball around the area where the ball was supposed to have been lost.  Penalty: One stroke

 

Ball lost inside water or lateral hazards:

 

1)      If a ball is in or is lost in a water hazard (whether the ball lies in the water or not) Rule 10.d applied.

 

c.       Balls Unplayable: The player may declare his ball unplayable at any place on the course except when the ball is in a water hazard. He may pursue any one of the following options for relief:

 

1)      Option 1:  Play the next stroke as near as possible to the spot where the original ball was last played.

2)      Option 2:  Drop a ball within two (2) club lengths from the spot where the ball lay, equidistant but no closer to the hole.

3)      Option 3:  Drop a ball behind the point where the ball lay, keeping that point directly between the hole and the spot in a straight line on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind that point the ball may be dropped.  Unplayable ball in bunkers must be dropped back into the bunker (farthest from the hole).  If a ball cannot be dropped farthest from the hole inside the bunker, majority members of the group must agree a spot inside the bunker even if it results on a ball drop closer to the hole.

4)      Option 4:  Drop a ball within two (2) club lengths from the point of entry where the ball last crossed the hazard.

 

All options result in One Stroke penalty.

 

d.       Water Hazards:

 

A “water hazard” is any sea, lake, pond, river, ditch, surface drainage ditch or other open water course (whether or not containing water) and anything of a similar nature. All ground or water within the margin of a water hazard is part of the water hazard.  The margin of a water hazard extends vertically upwards and downwards.  Stakes and lines defining the margins of water hazards are in the hazards.  Such stakes are obstructions.  A ball is in a water hazards when it lies in or any part of it touches the water hazard.

 

Red stakes or lines define lateral water hazards.  Yellow stakes or lines define other water hazards.

In the absence of stakes or lines, a hazard is considered water hazards (yellow stakes) for the purpose of this rule.

 

A Player whose ball falls into a water hazard the player has the following options whether the ball is lost in or not in the water.

 

1)      Option 1:  Play the next stroke as near as possible to the spot where the original ball was last played.

2)      Option 2:  Drop a ball two club lengths from the point of entry where the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard not nearer to the hole (lateral water hazards – red stakes).

3)      Option 3:  Drop a ball behind the water hazards (yellow stakes), keeping the point at which the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind the water hazard the ball may be dropped.

 

All options above result in a One Stroke penalty.

 

If a player opts to play the ball in or around the water hazards or sand trap he must not ground the club for the purpose of testing the texture of the hazards. Violation of this rule results in a two strokes penalty.

 

e.      Provisional Ball:

 

If a player determines that the ball may be lost or not sure where the ball landed, he may play another ball provisionally to save time.  The player shall inform the other players that he intends to play a provisional ball by declaring the number and brand name of the ball, and shall play it before searching for the original ball.  If the player fails to do so and plays another ball, such ball is not a provisional ball and becomes the ball in play under penalty of stroke and distance; the original ball is deemed to be lost.

 

The player may play a provisional ball until he reaches the place where the original is likely to be. If he plays a stroke with the provisional ball from the place where the original ball is likely to be or from a point nearer the hole than that place, the original ball is deemed to be lost and the provisional ball becomes the ball in play under penalty of stroke and distance.

 

If there is reasonable evidence that the original ball is lost in a water hazard, the player shall proceed in accordance with Rule 10.d.

 

A player is allowed to play as many provisional balls as he wants but must count the strokes retroactively from the ball that he intends to use as ball in play.

 

If a player fails to play a provisional ball and determine later that the ball is lost
or out of bounds you are not allowed to go the area where the original ball was last played for the purpose of this rule. Drop a ball around the area where the original ball was lost or crossed the margin of out of bounds with Two Strokes penalty.

 

f.        Loose Impediments:

 

Loose impediments are natural objects such as stones, leaves, twigs, branches and the like, worms, insects and the like, provided they are not fixed or are not solidly embedded and do not adhere to the ball.

 

Sands and loose soil are loose impediments on the putting green, but not elsewhere. Snow and natural ice, other than frost, are either casual water or loose impediments, at the option of the player.  Dew and frost are not loose impediments.

 

Relief: 

 

1)      If both the loose impediment and the ball does not lie in or touch the same hazard, any loose impediment may be removed without penalty. If the ball moves accidentally during the process of removing such impediment the ball is replaced and no penalty is incurred.

 

2)      When a ball is in motion, a loose impediment which might influence the movement of the ball shall not be removed.  Penalty for breach of rule is Two Strokes.

 

g.      Obstructions:

 

An obstruction is anything artificial, including the artificial surfaces, sides of roads and paths.

 

Movable Obstruction:  A player may obtain relief from movable obstruction as follows:

 

1)      If the ball does not lie in or on the obstruction, the obstruction may be removed. If the ball moves, it shall be replaced without penalty provided that movement of the ball is directly attributable to the removal of the obstruction.  Otherwise, a penalty of One Stroke is assessed.

 

2)      If the ball lies in or on the obstruction, the ball may be lifted, without penalty, and the obstruction removed.

 

Immovable Obstruction:  Interference by an immovable obstruction such as abnormal ground condition, wrong putting green occurs when a ball lies in or on the obstruction, or so close to the obstruction that the obstruction interferes with the player’s stance or the area of his intended swing.  If the player’s ball lies on the putting green, interference also occurs if an immovable obstruction on the putting green intervenes on his line of putt.  Otherwise, intervention on the line of play is not, of itself, interference under this Rule.  A player may obtain relief from interference by an immovable obstruction without penalty.

 

Bare patches (without grass), car paths, roads including area with gravel in the golf course outside of the hazards are considered immovable obstructions.  Ball should be removed under provision of rule

 

Relief:  The nearest point of relief is the reference point for taking relief from interference by an immovable obstruction. It is the point on the course, nearest to where the ball lies, which is not nearer the hole and at which, if the ball were so positioned, no interference would exist.

 

Note:  The player should determine his nearest point of relief by using the club (two club lengths) which he expects to play his next stroke to simulate the address position and swing for such stroke.

 

h.      Preferred Lies or Winter Rules

 

Winter Rules/Preferred Lies as invoked by the majority officers of the Club allow players to lift, clean and place the ball in its original position or one club length away from the hole throughout the golf course except when the ball lies outside of the defined fairway or inside the margin of red or yellow stakes hazard.

 

11.  Additional Club Tournament Rules:

 

a.      Player must identify his ball to the other members of the group before teeing off or start of the tournament.  If a player intends to change his ball during the game he must indicate without delay to anyone member of the group before using the ball.

b.      Player is entitled to a free lift if the ball lands in the divot inside the fairway. Place the ball 6 inches from the divot mark away from the hole.

c.       After being verbally warned once of not declaring his number of strokes before the first putt on the green, any member of the foursome may file a complaint to the rules committee within three hours of the completion of the foursome's game. After investigation, the rules committee will determine if a two (2) stroke penalty will be given to the player in question..

For example: playing four or putting five.

 

d.      A Player must finish his last stroke in each green by putting out.  No gimme is allowed.  If violated, a player must replay the stroke and assess one stroke penalty.

 

e.      Honor system at tee-off is waived off in favor of “Ready” golf to help speed up the game.

 

f.        Two score cards must be kept by each group with 3 or more players. Scorers are determined by the first and the last members to tee off on the first hole.  All scorecards must be verified, dated and signed.  Once the scorecard is signed and submitted to the Official Scorer is final unless it is indicated on the scorecard in writing as "submitted under protest".   Scorecard submitted without signature, date or verification is considered signed and binding for this purpose.

 

g.      Members are neither allowed to request a preferred tee-off time nor selecting players in his group.  This job is the sole responsibility of a designated Officer of the Club who prepares the roster prior to the tournament.  Unless an emergency has occurred, we strongly discourage members from making this request.

 

h.      A player or players upon determining that such ruling of a disputed play is not acceptable in whole or in part shall do the following on the day of the tournament.

 

i.        Inform the Tournament Committee verbally or in writing the day of the tournament that he is filing a protest to be heard by the Committee at earliest possible time.  Protest received by the Committee after the day of the tournament will not be considered for review by the Committee.

 

j.        An aggrieved player is allowed to bring a maximum of three witnesses if so desire during the hearing of the case.

 

k.       Decision by the majority members of the Tournament Committee is final and binding to all parties involved in the dispute.

 

l.        What constitutes an "Official Game?"

 

A game is deemed Official for the purpose of the tournament if it is scheduled and played to its completion unless cancelled due to unforeseen events such inclement weather, unavailability of alternative golf course or circumstances beyond the control of the Club Officers.  Such tournament can be rescheduled or cancelled all together by the majority decision of the Officers. Attendance points are awarded to golfers who showed up prior to cancellation. Player who did not finish the game due to emergency, illness, etc. is awarded attendance points.

 

m.    Any dispute or doubtful point on the Rules shall be referred to the Tournament Rules Committee whose decision shall be final.  In the absence of the Committee it shall refer the dispute or doubtful point to the Officers of the Club.  Application of any rules must be done according to this sequence - Club Rules, Local Rules and RCGA Rules - respectively.  The Tournament Rules Committee has the right to exercise discretionary ruling if determines that such rule is not applicable within the Club Rule, Local and RCGA.

 

Revision Made: 2014 Sep 22