Mid-Amateur Four-Ball North

   FLORIDA STATE GOLF ASSOCIATION

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.