Local Rules
Issued April 2024

Out of bounds
a. In or beyond any boundary hedge or fence.
b. The car park, putting green and clubhouse buildings and surrounding footpaths.
c. In or over the trench delineating the practice ground right of the 18th hole or beyond the line of continuation from the end of the trench to the greenkeepers’ shed as defined by the white stakes.
d. Left of the white stakes bordering the 14th fairway.

Sprinkler heads, drains and drainage covers
a. All sprinkler heads, drains and drainage are immovable obstructions and relief without penalty may be taken under Rule 16.1 for interference with stance or swing.
b. If the ball lies on the putting green; if the obstruction interferes with the line of play, it may be lifted, cleaned and placed without penalty, not nearer the hole, at the nearest point at which intervention by the obstruction is avoided.
c. If the ball lies off the putting green; if the obstruction interferes with the line of play and the obstruction is within two club lengths of the green and the ball lies within two club lengths of the obstruction, it may be lifted, cleaned and dropped without penalty within one club length of the nearest point of relief, not nearer the hole.

Immovable obstructions
a. General: Wooden tee surrounds, winter tee mats/bases, course furniture and artificial paths are deemed to be abnormal course conditions and relief without penalty may be taken under Rule 16.1.
b. 5th green woodwork at green level: relief without penalty may be taken for interference with stance or swing solely by dropping within the drop zone on the apron. The drop zone is defined as being within one club’s length of the blue stake.
c. 5th green woodwork below green level: relief without penalty may be taken under Rule 16.1 for interference with stance or swing.

Ground under repair
All areas of the course marked in white paint, bunkers containing GUR signs, flower beds and all winter greens (when marked) are deemed as no play zones and relief without penalty must be taken under Rule 16.1.

Winter tee mats
Where present, winter tee mats comprise the teeing ground. When starting a hole from a tee mat, the player must stand on and play a ball from the mat. The front edge of the mat is deemed to be the front of the teeing ground irrespective of the location of the wooden tee markers at the side.