Local Rules

MOUNT OSMOND GOLF CLUB LOCAL RULES

To be read in conjunction with The Rules of Golf

OUT OF BOUNDS
Stroke and distance penalty (Rule 18.2).
All areas beyond and including boundary fence.
All internal areas defined by white stakes with black tops. These stakes are treated as Boundary Objects (no free relief allowed)

PRACTICE AREA BETWEEN CLUBHOUSE AND PRO SHOP
The outer limit of the practice area adjacent to the clubhouse and pro shop, consisting of the practice green and surrounding chipping area, is defined by yellow caps.
During play, the practice chipping area is designated as General Area and the yellow caps defined as immovable obstructions. If interference to a player’s stance or swing exists from such caps, free relief may be taken under Rule 16.1b.
The practice putting green itself is a Wrong Green. If this area interferes with the player’s stance or swing, free relief MUST be taken under Rule 13.1f.
Penalty for playing ball from a Wrong Place in breach of Rule 13.1f: General Penalty under Rule 14.7a.

RED PENALTY AREAS
Relief may be taken under Rule 17.1d from areas marked by red stakes including defined areas along the boundary of the 1st, 3rd, 6th, 14th holes and 12th tee.

ABNORMAL COURSE CONDITIONS

Ground Under Repair
Defined by white lines or stakes. If a player’s ball lies in the area or it interferes with a player’s stance or intended swing, free relief MAY be taken under rule 16.1. 

Washouts in Bunkers
Areas in bunkers where sand has been removed by the movement of water resulting in deep furrows through the sand (washouts) are to be treated as ground under repair under Rule 16.1c.
If a player’s ball is in a bunker and there is interference from a washout area, the player may take (1) free relief in the bunker under Rule 16.1b, or (2) for one penalty stroke, the player may take back-on-the-line relief outside the bunker.

Animal prints in bunkers
If a player’s ball lies in damage caused by animal prints in a bunker, relief may be taken in accordance with Rule 16.1c.
Free relief may be taken by dropping a ball within one club length of the nearest point of complete relief, not nearer the hole and within the bunker. If complete relief is not possible, the point of maximum available relief is used as the reference point. Back-on-the-line relief may be taken outside the bunker under penalty of one stroke.
Relief is not allowed if the damage only interferes with the player’s stance.

Areas damaged by birds
In the general area, areas of damage caused by birds either scratching or pecking at the grass are treated as ground under repair from which free relief is allowed under Rule 16.1b.
But interference does not exist if the damage only interferes with the player’s stance.

Drains
Free relief from drains marked by blue stakes may be taken under Rule 16.1.
All other unmarked furrows of water drainage are part of the general area from which free relief is not allowed.

No Play Zones
The young trees and grasses identified by stakes:
If a player’s ball lies anywhere on the course other than in a penalty area and it lies on or touches such a tree or such a tree interferes with the player’s stance or area of intended swing, the player MUST take free relief under Rule 16.1f.

Areas marked by white stakes with green tops:

  1. Garden beds surrounding Halfway Hut:
    If a player’s ball lies in, or interference exists from, the staked area surrounding the garden beds and the Halfway Hut on the 9th and 10th  holes, free relief must be taken within one club-length of the dropping stake situated between the 9th forward tee block and 10th fairway under Rule 16.1f.
  2. Lost Retreat near 9th green:
    If a player’s ball lies in, or interference exists from, the staked area surrounding the Lost Retreat, Free Relief under 16.1f must be taken within one club-length of the nearer of the two drop stakes.  

All dropping zones are relief areas under Rule 14.3. A dropping zone may be nearer the hole.

Immovable Obstructions (Relief without penalty may be taken under Rule 16.1)
Blue dropping stakes and all coloured stakes denoting penalty areas, no play zones, ground under repair, drains.
All artificially surfaced man-made paths and roadways including any area of damaged ground due to water washout right next to such paths and roadways.
Distance markers, seats, signs, and rubbish bins.
All items of watering and irrigation equipment including tap covers, hoses, artificial drains, drainage grates.

NB: All other stakes, ropes and metal hoops used to control traffic are movable obstructions and MUST be reinstated to their original location if moved.

Immovable obstructions close to putting green In addition to the types of interference described in Rule 16.1a, when a ball lies in the general area, interference also exists if an immovable obstruction is: on the player’s line of play, is within two club-lengths of the putting green and is within two club-lengths of the ball. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b. (Exception – There is no relief under this Local Rule if the player chooses a line of play that is clearly unreasonable).

SUSPENSION OF PLAY
An immediate suspension of play for a dangerous situation such as fire, lightning or other emergency will be signalled by one blast of the siren. Resumption of play will be signalled by two blasts of the siren. See Rule 5.7b

UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, THE PENALTY FOR A BREACH OF A LOCAL RULE IS THE GENERAL PENALTY
(stroke play – two strokes, match play – loss of hole)

Note: Distance markers are to the centre of the green

 

Updated: 23rd April 2025

 

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