Local Rules of Play

WCSGA Local Rules of Golf
June 15, 2017

The following rules will apply to all tournaments. These rules have been reviewed and approved by the Board of Officers and may be amended as necessary by the Board. Current USGA rules of Golf will apply during play with the following exceptions as per Rule 33.8, which allows Local Rules that provide for abnormal conditions.

Violation of Rules. Any questions concerning these rule interpretations will be addressed with other members of the playing group at the time of occurrence. Any unresolved disputes should be noted and brought to the attention of the Committee, or their representatives, immediately following play.    

1. NO MULLIGANS ARE PERMITTED.
2. FOURTEEN (14) CLUB RULE IS WAIVED.
3. MAXIMUM STROKES. Maximum of three (3) strokes over Par are to be taken and recorded on any hole, except in Match Play, where the hole is played out until it is either won, halved or conceded
4. BALL SEARCH TIME. The time allowed to search for a ball is limited to 3 minutes.
5. PUTTING.
   1. Putting Out. The final putt on a hole must be holed out. No Gimmees.
   2. Green Imperfections. Any imperfections (spike marks, ball markers, etc.) can be repaired without penalty, prior to putting.
   3. Unattended Flagstick. There is no penalty if a ball played from the putting green hits a flagstick in the hole; players may putt without having the flagstick removed.
   4. A “putting ball” cannot be substituted unless the original ball is lost or damaged.
6. MOVING AND CLEANING THE BALL. The ball may be moved one club length in either the fairway or the rough, through the green, but not in a hazard, and no closer to the hole. The ball cannot be moved from the rough to the fairway. The ball may be cleaned after each shot, except in a hazard.
7. HITTING THE WRONG BALL. In Stroke Play, if a competitor makes a stroke or strokes at a wrong ball, he incurs a penalty of two strokes. In Match Play, if a player makes a stroke at a wrong ball, he loses the hole.
8. CASUAL WATER AND /OR GROUND UNDER REPAIR . Casual water is any temporary accumulation of water on the course that is not in a water hazard and is visible before or after the player takes his stance. Ground Under Repair is marked with white lines. It also includes areas where work is in progress, but not marked, such as dirt piled up in the areas scraped to bare earth. A player gets relief by dropping a ball one club length of and not nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief. (ref USGA Rule #25-1-b-i).
9. WATER HAZARDS AND LATERAL WATER HAZARDS. (Ref USGA Rule #26-1). Note if a hazard is not marked, then per USGA 33, it is up the player, with help from his playing group, to determine where the yellow or red stakes/lines would be placed and play from that location. 

   Important Note: After taking relief, and putting the ball in play, the player is entitled to move the ball one club length in accordance with Rule 6.  

   1. WATER HAZARD (YELLOW STAKES/LINES). Players options (relief) are:
      1. Play the ball as it lays, NO PENALTY.
      2. Under penalty of one stroke, play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played
      3. Drop a ball behind the water hazard, keeping the point at which the original ball last crossed into the water hazard directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit on how far behind the water hazard the ball may be dropped.
   2. LATERAL WATER HAZARDS (RED STAKES/LINES).
      As additional options available only if the ball last crossed the margin of a lateral water hazard:
      1. Drop a ball outside the water hazard within two club lengths of and not nearer the where the original ball last crossed the margin of the lateral water hazard or
      2. Drop a ball at a point on the opposite margin of the water hazard equidistant from the hole.
10. LOST BALL AND OUT OF BOUNDS. This Local Rule is used to speed up play. If a ball goes out of bounds, the player may advance to the point where the ball is presumed to have gone out and under penalty of one stroke, drop a ball within two club lengths of where the ball went out of bounds, not nearer the hole.

    If a ball is lost (outside a hazard) and has not been found within 3 minutes, the player is entitled to drop a ball in the vicinity where the ball was lost, no closer to the hole, under penalty of one stroke.

    Important Note: After taking relief, and putting the ball in play, the player is entitled to move the ball one club length in accordance with Rule 5.  

11. BUNKERS. Play the ball as it lies, EXCEPT if the ball is in an abnormal ground condition such as a footprint, divot, eroded area, mud, or standing water.  A player may pick up the ball and place it in another area of the bunker, no closer to the hole.  As a last resort, the player may lift the ball, rake, and place the ball as close to the original position, without penalty.  Stones may be removed without penalty.
12. DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICES. Distance measuring devices are authorized. Devices that measure other conditions such as ground slope, wind speed and temperature are not authorized (USGA Rule 14-3).
13. DROP AREAS.
    
    1. Drop Zones. Drop Zones are available on par 3 holes #3, #9, and #16, as well as Hole #6.
    2. Hole #6 Rule. The player must attempt a shot to the green (across the creeks) before moving to the drop area.
14. HOLE #6 OUT OF BOUNDS. The “island” in the middle of the hazard is out of bounds and not in play.
15. SCORE KEEPING. Players are responsible for confirming their scores on each hole. Scorecards should always be exchanged before start of play. Scores should be recorded by two members of the group and at the end of play, scores reconciled for accuracy. Each member is responsible for assuring his score is correct before it is turned in to the official scorer.