Local Rule Introduction
Posted on: 5 March
Dear Members,
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we have undertaken repair work on the 15th Green from foreign grasses that have been introduced to the putting surface.
With this in mind, to keep “In the Spirit of Links” we are re-introducing a local rule as of Wednesday, 6th March 2024 that if the patched area is between your golf ball and the hole while you are on the putting green you may lift and place your golf ball so that you have a clear line to the hole and DO NOT have to putt your golf ball over the repair work.
This is for the 15th and 13th Green ONLY.
Please see below for clarity.
16 Relief from Abnormal Course Conditions (Including Immovable Obstructions), Dangerous Animal Condition, Embedded Ball
16.1a When Relief Is Allowed
Only when the ball is on the putting green, an abnormal course condition on or off the putting green intervenes on the line of play.
16.1d Relief for Ball on Putting Green
If a player’s ball is on the putting green and there is interference by an abnormal course condition on the course, the player may take free relief by placing the original ball or another ball on the spot of the nearest point of complete relief, using the procedures for replacing a ball under Rules 14.2b(2) and 14.2e.
The nearest point of complete relief must be either on the putting green or in the general area.
If there is no such nearest point of complete relief, the player may still take this free relief by using the point of maximum available relief as the reference point, which must be either on the putting green or in the general area.
DIAGRAM 16.1D: FREE RELIEF FROM ABNORMAL COURSE CONDITION ON PUTTING GREEN
The diagram assumes the player is left-handed.
When a ball is on the putting green and there is interference by an abnormal course condition, free relief may be taken by placing a ball on the nearest point of complete relief.
The nearest point of complete relief must be either on the putting green or in the general area.
Penalty for playing a ball from a wrong place in breach of Rule 16.1
Stroke Play – 2 strokes
Match Play – Loss of hole