STANDARD LOCAL RULES

EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1^st, 2009

 

Play is governed by the 2008 Rules of Golf of the Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) and where applicable, by the following Local Rules and definitions, subject to changes, additions or deletions for Particular Championships by the Rules of Golf Committee of the NBGA. The player’s attention is drawn to Conditions of the Competition as printed on the forms accompanying applications for entry. Appendix I refers to Appendix I (Local Rules) in the 2008 Rules of Golf of the RCGA.

 

Unless otherwise provided, penalty for breach of a Local Rule is:

 

1.      EMBEDDED BALL THROUGH THE GREEN: Local Rule as prescribed in Appendix I, page 107, shall be in affect. The ball, when dropped, must first strike a part of the course through the green.

2.      GOLF BALLS: The ball the player uses shall be named on the current List of Conforming Golf Balls recognized by the Royal Canadian Golf Association. Penalty for breach of condition: Disqualification

3.      TIME OF STARTING: If the player arrives at his starting point, ready to play, within five minutes after his starting time in the absence of circumstances which warrant waiving the penalty of disqualification as provided in Rule 33-7, the penalty for failure to start on time is the loss of the first hole to be played in match play or two strokes at the first hole in stroke play. Penalty for lateness beyond five minutes: Disqualification.

4.      SLOW PLAY: A player shall be subject to penalty if he unduly delays play. The Local Rule for Pace of Play is in effect and posted at all tournaments.

5.      PRACTICE: In a stroke play competition a player shall not play any practice stroke on or near the putting green of the hole last played. If a practice stroke is played on or near the putting green of the hole last played, the player shall incur a penalty of two strokes at the next hole, except in the case of the last hole of the round, he incurs the penalty at that hole.

Practice on the competition course before a match or between stroke play qualifying followed by match play is prohibited on any day of a match play competition. Penalty: Disqualification.

6.      OUT OF BOUNDS: Defined by the nearest inside points of white stakes or fence posts at ground level. When out of bounds is defined by a white line on the ground, the line itself is out of bounds.

7.      GROUND UNDER REPAIR SHALL INCLUDE:

(a)    Areas defined by white lines, including those marked for gallery crosswalks.

(b)   French drains which are exposed trenches filled with rocks or stones.

8.      OBSTRUCTIONS:

9.      Stones in bunkers are movable obstructions (Rule 24-1 applies).

10.     WOOD CHIPS and MULCH are loose impediments.

11.     For all NBGA-administered events, 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 their play (such as gradient, wind speed, or temperature), the player is in breach of Rule 14-3, for which the penalty is Disqualification, regardless of whether any such additional function is actually used.

12.     WATER HAZARDS: Defined by yellow lines and/or yellow stakes.

13.     LATERAL WATER HAZARDS: Defined by red lines and/or red stakes.

14.     INTEGRAL PARTS OF THE COURSE:

(a)    Tree Wrappings, Electrical Wires, Cables, and other objects when closely attached to trees

(b)   Artificial Walls and/or pilings when located within water hazards or when used to define the margin of bunkers.

15.     TEMPORARY IMMOVABLE OBSTRUCTIONS. Local Rule as prescribed in Appendix I, pages 110-115, shall be in effect.

16.     ENVIRONMENTALLY–SENSITIVE AREA: Local Rule as prescribed in Appendix I, page 104, shall be in effect.

17.     SUSPENSION OF PLAY FOR A DANGEROUS SITUATION: When play is suspended by the Committee for a dangerous situation, if the players in a match or group are between the play of two holes, they shall not resume play until the Committee has ordered a resumption of play. If they are in the process of playing a hole, they shall discontinue play immediately and shall not thereafter resume play until the Committee has ordered a resumption of play. If a player fails to discontinue play immediately, he shall be disqualified unless circumstances warrant waiving such a penalty as provided in Rule33-7.

The signal for suspending play due to a dangerous situation shall be a prolonged note of a siren or horn.

All practice areas shall be closed during suspension for a dangerous situation until the Committee has declared them open again for use.

Note: A suspension for a dangerous situation shall be signaled by one prolonged siren or horn note. All other types of suspension shall be signaled by three consecutive notes of siren or horn, repeated. Resumption of play shall be signaled by two short notes of a siren or a horn, repeated.

18.     TRANSPORTATION: Except when specifically permitted by the NBGA Rules Committee, players shall walk at all times during a stipulated round.

Match play – At the conclusion of the hole at which the breach is discovered, the state of the match shall be adjusted by deducting one hole for each hole at which a breach occurred. Maximum deduction per round: Two holes.

Stroke pay – Two strokes for each hole at which any breach occurred; maximum penalty per round: Four strokes. In the event of a breach between the play of two holes, the penalty applies to the next hole.

Match or Stroke play – Use of any unauthorized form of transportation shall be discontinued immediately upon discovery that a breach has occurred. Otherwise, the player shall be disqualified.

19.     ELECTRONIC DEVICES: – The use of cellular telephones or other electronic communications devices during a stipulated round is prohibited. Penalty for breach of this local rule is: DISQUALIFICATION

 

 

 

2009 RULES OF GOLF COMMITTEE