Rules Corner

StoneWater Golf Club

LOCAL RULES

• All StoneWater rocks OUTSIDE of hazard lines are played as man-made obstructions. You are entitled to free relief from these rocks by taking one club length from the nearest point of relief and no closer to the hole. You are not entitled to free relief from Rocks INSIDE of hazard lines, even if your ball lies outside of the hazard line.

• OUT OF BOUNDS:  Defined by inside edge of white stakes and/or property fence at ground level (Rule 27). 

• LATERAL WATER HAZARD:  Defined by red stakes and/or lines.  When both stakes and lines are present, the lines govern the margin of the hazard (Rule 26).  

• GROUND UNDER REPAIR:  Defined by white lines (Rule 25).

• OBSTRUCTIONS:  All cart paths, service roads, restrooms and the like may be treated as obstructions. You are entitled to free relief by taking one club length from the nearest point of relief and no closer to the hole (Rule 24).

• EMBEDDED BALL:  Anywhere “through the green” a ball which is embedded in its own pitch mark (except in loose sand) may be lifted without penalty, cleaned and dropped as near as possible to the spot where it lay but not nearer the hole (Rule 25).

• CULTIVATED AREAS:  A ball lying within cultivated areas such as a flowerbed or mulch may be lifted and dropped without penalty within one club length of the nearest point of relief and no closer to the hole. 

• STAKED TREES:  If your stance and/or area of intended swing is interfered with by a staked tree, the stake and/or rope or wire as well as the tree is treated as an immovable obstruction. You are entitled to free relief by taking one club length from the nearest point of relief and no closer to the hole. 

• STONES IN BUNKERS:  Stones in bunkers are movable obstructions (Rule 24-1).  You may remove these stones without penalty, provided your ball does not move.

• DISPUTES & DECISIONS:  In stroke play only, during play of a hole, if a competitor is doubtful of his rights or a procedure he may, without penalty, play a second ball (Rule 3-3).  Players shall refer any disputes to the Golf Staff, whose decision shall be final. 

Unless otherwise provided, penalty for breach of a local rule is:

Match Play – Loss of Hole / Stroke Play – Two Strokes