LOCAL RULES & COURSE RATINGS

LOCAL RULES

1. OUT OF BOUNDS (RULE 18.2a)

a) Beyond the course-side points at ground level of any white stake markers or fence posts defining out of bounds of the golf course and beyond any hedge, wall, fence or ditch bounding the course.
b) Internal out of bounds are beyond the course-side points at ground level of any white stake or fence posts defining the internal out of bounds including: -

i) The Practice Area and Driving Range including the Building bounded by the 8th, 9th and 11th holes as delineated by white posts. Note there is also no line of sight relief from the building.
ii) 6th hole out of bounds defined by white posts which includes the 14th green, its surrounds and fairway up to the last post and to the white post on the opposite side of the 14th fairway.
iii) When playing the 11th hole the 12th fairway/semi rough (and beyond) as delineated by the line of white posts up to the last post and then across the 12th fairway to the white post opposite.
iv) Beyond the back of the 7th green, and the hedge to the rear of the 14th tee box and 15th green as delineated by white posts.
v) To the right of the 8th fairway extending behind the tee box continuing onto the rear of the 15th green all delineated by white posts.

c) On or beyond the road leading from High Beech Lane to the car park, the car park and the buggy park. To the side of the 18th green this separation is delineated by a combination of white posts and white lines.

2. ABNORMAL COURSE CONDITIONS (RULE 16)

a) Immovable Obstructions (Rule 16.1): -

i) Markers defining Out of Bounds on the 6th when playing the 14th and on the 11th hole when playing the 12th.

ii) Any artificial construction other than a movable obstruction. These include shelters, protective nets, seats, garden retaining boards, sleepers, bins, ball washers, roads and paths of tarmac, shell, wood chips or any foreign material, notices, drinking fountains and manhole covers. Note: The concrete support to the road leading from High Beech Lane to the car park is an integral part of the course and free relief under Rule 16.1 is not available.

iii) The fixed metal rods which support the yellow and black indicator posts beside the pond at the 8th hole. The yellow and black posts can be lifted out of the metal rod holders if required.

iv) Fixed Sprinkler Heads - In addition to free relief as from an immovable obstruction (Rule 16.1a) free relief is also available where a sprinkler head that is on or within two club-lengths of the putting green is directly on the intended line of play and the ball lies within two club-lengths of that sprinkler head. In this case the ball may be lifted, cleaned and dropped at the nearest point to where the ball lay which (a) is not nearer the hole, (b) avoids such intervention and (c) is not in a Penalty Area or on the putting green.

v) Fences running behind the 11th and 13th greens. These fences will be treated as immovable obstructions with drop zones either side of the greens for free relief to be taken. Relief can be taken when the obstruction either interferes with the player's stance or the area of their intended swing OR when a ball lies in or on the obstruction. There is no relief for line of sight. Be aware of the out of bounds markers beyond the 11th fence.

3. PENALTY AREAS (Rule 17)

The Pond at the 8th hole is a Red Penalty Area The lifebuoy structure and the "Deep Water" sign situated within the boundaries of the Red Penalty Area are Integral parts of the course and no free penalty relief is available.
Open drainage ditches are penalty areas whether marked with stakes or not. Those marked by yellow stakes are Yellow Penalty Areas, those marked by red stakes are Red Penalty Areas with additional lateral relief.

4. COURSE PROTECTION

Staked Trees and Bushes and Variegated Holly Bush 150 yard markers - If any tree or bush with a stake adjacent to it (attached or not) or a 150 yard marker bush interferes with a player's stance or the area of their intended swing, the ball must be lifted, without penalty, and dropped in accordance to Rule 16.1. Please note: Unattached 150-yard posts are movable obstructions. Rule 15.2
Ground Under Repair G.U.R. (Rule 16.1): -

All defined flower beds and fir tree planting on the course and other areas which have been covered by wood chippings including any retaining boards and sleepers are deemed G.U.R. from which play is prohibited.
All areas marked by a continuous white line are G.U.R.
If a player’s ball comes to rest under the fir trees or in the flower beds surrounding the 18th green, players must take free relief in accordance with 4b above and drop in the nearest of the two dropping zones marked by a white circle.
If a player’s swing is affected (makes contact) with a fir tree surrounding the 18th green, the player may take free relief and drop in the nearest of the two dropping zones marked by a white circle.

5. AERATION HOLES

If a ball comes to rest in an aeration hole, the player may, without penalty, lift the ball and clean it. In the General Area the player shall drop the ball as near as possible to where it lay, but not nearer the hole. On the putting green, the player shall place the ball at the nearest spot not nearer the hole which avoids such situation.

6. SUNKEN DRAINS

In the General Area if a ball comes to rest in a "sunken" drain (e.g., the gutter shaped depression across the 11th fairway adjacent to the 150 yard marker), it may be treated as "ground under repair". Before a player lifts the ball, they must announce their intention and give their opponents or marker an opportunity to inspect the lie. If the ball is lifted without announcing their intention or giving such opportunity, the player shall incur a penalty stroke. If it is decided that the ball lies in a sunken drain, then the player may proceed under Rule 16.

7. WINTER RULES - when in force the following rules will be operative:

a) Preferred lies

Available on Fairways and green fringes only. Players must mark the ball and place no more than 6 inches from original spot. A player may clean the ball once it has been marked. Note: Once placed the ball is in play and may not be placed again.

b) Vehicle tyre marks

Free relief from tyre marks is permitted throughout the golf course. A player may take 1 club length relief from the nearest point of relief, no nearer the hole.  Note: the ball must be dropped and remain within the relief area.

8. DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICES

For play at this course a player may obtain distance information by using a device that measures distance only, Rule 4.3 (1) and 4.3 (2)

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULES 1-8:

Match play - Loss of hole; Stroke play - Two strokes (except for Rule 7a)

COURSE RATINGS

Please find below the Course and Slope Ratings for each tee, along with the Course Handicap Charts.

Please Note the Reds have also been provisionally rated for men with:

Course Rating of: 67.1    Slope Rating of: 111