Local Rules and Conditions of Competitions - Effective
March 8, 2007
The current Rules of the United
States Golf Association govern play. See applicable Championship or qualifying
round Notice to Players and FSGA Championship Policies for
additional Local Rules and Conditions. Complete text of Rules and Appendix I
may be found in the current Rules of
Golf.
Disregard Local Rules printed
on club scorecards or posted at the course.
Unless otherwise noted, the
penalty for breach of a Local Rule or Condition is:
Match play -- Loss of hole; Stroke
play -- Two strokes.
LOCAL RULES
OUT OF BOUNDS:
a) Defined by inside points, at ground level, of white stakes and lines, perimeter fence posts.
b) When the inside edge of a paved road or curb defines out of bounds, a ball that is on or beyond the road or curb is out of bounds even though it may lie on another part of the golf course.
WATER HAZARDS AND LATERAL WATER HAZARDS:
When water hazards and lateral
water hazards are bounded by out of bounds, the hazard margin extends to and
coincides with the out of bounds line.
GROUND UNDER REPAIR:
Defined by white lines. Other
areas of ground under repair, even when not marked, include:
a)
French drains
(trenches filled with stones or the like)
b)
Fire ant beds or
mounds (Note: For a player whose ball is in a water hazard and is affected by a
fire ant bed or mound, see Decision 1-4/10)
SOD SEAMS: Through
the green, sod seams (not the sod itself) are deemed to be ground under repair,
and relief is available under Rule 25-1 if the ball lies in or touches a sod
seam or the sod seam interferes with the area of intended swing. All seams within the sodded area are
considered the same seam.
OBSTRUCTIONS AND
INTEGRAL PARTS OF THE COURSE:
a) When located within hazards; liners in bunkers and
artificial walls and pilings are integral parts of the course unless otherwise
specified on the Notice to Players.
b) White lined areas tying into obstructions are part of the obstruction.
c) When closely attached to trees, wrappings, electrical wire, and cables are integral parts of the course.
EMBEDDED BALL THROUGH
THE GREEN: Local Rule as prescribed in Appendix I is in effect.
LOOSE IMPEDIMENTS:
Wood chips and mulch are loose impediments.
DISTANCE MEASURING
DEVICES: In all FSGA Championship and qualifying
competitions (except Junior 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.
CONDITIONS OF COMPETITIONS
DRIVER HEADS: Only driver heads on the USGA's latest List of Conforming Driver Heads may be used. Penalty for Breach: Disqualification
GOLF BALLS: Only
brands of golf balls on the USGA's latest List
of Conforming Golf Balls may be used. Penalty for Breach: Disqualification
TIME OF STARTING: Optional Condition as prescribed in Appendix I is in effect.
PACE OF PLAY: See separate memorandum to players for pace of play guidelines, when applicable.
SUSPENSION OF PLAY DUE TO A DANGEROUS SITUATION: Optional Condition as prescribed in Appendix I is in effect. When play has been suspended for a dangerous situation, all practice areas are closed until the Committee has declared them open for use.
SIGNALS FOR
SUSPENSION OF PLAY:
a) Suspension for a dangerous situation: One prolonged siren or airhorn note.
b) All other types of suspension: Three consecutive airhorn notes.
c) Resumption of play: Two airhorn notes.
OFFICIAL EVENT: In all
FSGA Championships, an official event may be constituted by reverting to the
results of an earlier round. Eighteen holes may constitute an official event.
CLOSE OF COMPETITION:
The competition is deemed to have closed when the winner has been announced,
or, in the absence of a prize ceremony, when all scores have been approved by
the Committee.