FRGC/MGA

Forest Ridge Golf Club / Men's Golf Association

LOCAL RULES

 

USGA Rules shall govern the play of all FRGC/MGA events, except as modified by the Local Rules below.  Additional exceptions may be appropriate for individual events, depending on the format of the competition.  Such exceptions will be noted on the rules sheet distributed for each event.

 Local rules in effect unconditionally for all events:

  1. Slow Play - Any group that is playing at a pace slower than 15 minutes per hole, and has a green open ahead before they have reached the tee for that hole, will be warned for slow play.  Unless, within two holes, the group regains a pace of 15 minutes per hole or closes the gap, each player in the group will be assessed a two stroke penalty.
  2. Practice - Players may practice on the competition course before or after any round of a stroke play event scheduled for the same day.

This Local Rule specifically modifies Rule 7‑1b only.
This Local Rule does not alter Rule 7-2, governing practice during a round.

  1. Stones in Bunkers - Stones in bunkers are movable obstructions (Rule 24-1 applies).
  2. Portable Fans - All portable fans are to be played as temporary immovable obstructions.

The procedure concerning temporary immovable obstructions is documented in the USGA Rules in Appendix I, part B, item 6.  To comply, DO NOT MOVE THE FANS.  Instead, drop the ball, no nearer the hole, free of interference to the swing, stance, and line of flight.

  1. Aeration Holes - Through the green, a ball that comes to rest in or on an aeration hole may be lifted without penalty, cleaned and dropped, 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.


    2. On the putting green, a ball that comes to rest in or on an aeration hole may be placed at the nearest spot not nearer the hole that avoids the situation.

    PENALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULE:
    Match play — Loss of hole; Stroke play — Two strokes.

  2. Distance-Measuring Devices – In all FRGC/MGA competitions, a player may obtain distance information by using a device that measures distance only.  However, 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., gradient, wind-speed, temperature, etc, the player is in breach of Rule 14-3, for which the penalty is disqualification, regardless of whether any such additional functions are actually used.

LOCAL RULES (continued)

 Local rules in effect only when conditions are such that carts are restricted to cart paths:

  1. Preferred Lies - If a player's ball lies on a closely-mown area through the green the player may mark, lift and clean his ball without penalty.  Before lifting, he must mark the position of the ball. The player must then place the ball on a spot within one standard grip length of and not nearer the hole than where it originally lay, that is not in a hazard or on a putting green.

    A player may place his ball only once, and it is in play when it has been placed (Rule 20‑4).  If the ball fails to come to rest on the spot on which it was placed, Rule 20‑3d applies.  If the ball when placed comes to rest on the spot on which it is placed and it subsequently moves, there is no penalty and the ball must be played as it lies, unless the provisions of any other Rule apply.

    If the player fails to mark the position of the ball before lifting it or moves the ball in any other manner, such as rolling it with a club, he incurs a penalty of one stroke.


    *PENALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULE:
    Match play — Loss of hole; Stroke play — Two strokes

    *If a player incurs the general penalty for a breach of this Local Rule, no additional penalty under the Local Rule is applied

    Note:  Closely mown area refers to any area cut to fairway length, and includes tee areas and aprons around greens.  Relief under this rule does not require the ball to lie in the same fairway as the hole being played.
     

  2. Embedded Ball - Through the green, a ball which is embedded in its own pitch-mark in the ground, other than sand, may be lifted without penalty, cleaned and dropped as near as possible to where it lay but not nearer the hole.  The ball when dropped must first strike a part of the course through the green.

    Exception: A player may not obtain relief under this Local Rule if it is clearly unreasonable for him to play a stroke because of interference by anything other than this condition covered by this Local Rule.

    *PENALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULE:
    Match play — Loss of hole; Stroke play — Two strokes.

    Note:  As per the USGA definition, through the green refers to any area on the course that is not the teeing area, putting green or hazard.  The Rules make no distinction between fairway and rough.

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