Match play - Loss of
hole; Stroke play - Two strokes``
3. Temporary
Conditions - Mud, Extreme Wetness, Poor
Conditions and Protection of the Course
a. Relief
for Embedded Ball; Cleaning Ball
Rule 25-2 provides relief without
penalty for a ball embedded in its own
pitch-mark in any closely-mown area
through the green. On the putting green,
a ball may be lifted and damage caused
by the impact of a ball may be repaired
(Rules 16-1b and c). When permission to
take relief for an embedded ball
anywhere through the green would be
warranted, the following Local Rule is
recommended:
``Through the green, a
ball which is embedded in its own
pitch-mark in the ground, other than
sand, may be lifted without penalty,
cleaned and dropped as near as possible
to where it lay but not nearer the hole.
The ball when dropped must first strike
a part of the course through the green.
Exception: A
player may not obtain relief under this
Local Rule if it is clearly unreasonable
for him to play a stroke because of
interference by anything other than the
condition covered by this Local Rule.
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF
LOCAL RULE:
Match play - Loss of hole; Stroke play -
Two strokes.``
Alternatively, conditions
may be such that permission to lift,
clean and replace the ball will suffice.
In such circumstances, the following
Local Rule is recommended:
``(Specify area) a ball
may be lifted, cleaned and replaced
without penalty.
Note: The position of the ball shall be
marked before it is lifted under this
Local Rule - see Rule 20-1.
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF
LOCAL RULE:
Match play - Loss of
hole; Stroke play - Two strokes.``
b. ``Preferred Lies`` and
``Winter Rules``
The RCGA does not endorse ``preferred
lies`` or ``winter rules`` and
recommends that the Rules of Golf be
observed uniformly. Ground under repair
is provided for in Rule 25 and
occasional local abnormal conditions
which might interfere with fair play and
are not widespread should be defined as
ground under repair.
However, adverse
conditions are sometimes so general
throughout a course that the Committee
believes ``preferred lies`` or ``winter
rules`` would promote fair play or help
protect the course. Heavy snows, spring
thaws, prolonged rains or extreme heat
can make fairways unsatisfactory and
sometimes prevent use of heavy mowing
equipment.
When a Committee adopts a
Local Rule for ``preferred lies`` or
``winter rules`` it should be set out in
detail and should be interpreted by the
Committee, as there is no established
code for ``winter rules``. Without a
detailed Local Rule, it is meaningless
for a Committee to post a notice merely
saying ``Winter Rules today.``
The following Local Rule
would seem appropriate for the
conditions in question, but the RCGA
will not interpret it:
``A ball lying on a
closely-mown area through the green may,
without penalty, be moved or may be
lifted, cleaned and placed within
(specify area, e.g., six inches, one
club-length, etc.) of where it
originally lay, but not nearer the hole
and not in a hazard or on a putting
green. A player may move or place his
ball once and after the ball has been so
moved or placed, it is in play.
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF
LOCAL RULE
Match play - Loss of
hole; Stroke play - Two strokes.``
Before a Committee adopts
a Local Rule permitting ``preferred
lies`` or ``winter rules``, the
following facts should be considered:
1. Such a
Local Rule conflicts with the Rules of
Golf and the fundamental principle of
playing the ball as it lies.
2. ``Winter rules`` are
sometimes adopted under the guise of
protecting the course when, in fact, the
practical effect is just the opposite -
they permit moving the ball to the best
turf, from which divots are then taken
to injure the course further.
3. ``Preferred lies`` or
``winter rules`` tend generally to lower
scores and handicaps, thus penalizing
the players in competition with players
whose scores for handicaps are made
under the Rules of Golf.
4. Extended use or
indiscriminate use of ``preferred lies``
or ``winter rules`` will place players
at a disadvantage when competing at a
course where the ball must be played as
it lies.
c.
Aeration Holes
When a course has been aerated, a Local
Rule permitting relief, without penalty,
from an aeration hole may be warranted.
The following Local Rule is recommended:
``Through the green, a
ball which comes to rest in or on an
aeration hole may be lifted without
penalty, cleaned and dropped, as near as
possible to the spot where it lay but
not nearer the hole. The ball when
dropped must first strike a part of the
course through the green.
On the putting green, the
player shall place the ball at the
nearest spot not nearer the hole which
avoids such situation.
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF
LOCAL RULE:
Match play - Loss of
hole; Stroke play - Two strokes.``
4. Stones in Bunkers
Stones are, by definition, loose
impediments and, when a player`s ball is
in a hazard, a stone lying in or
touching the hazard may not be touched
or moved (Rule 13-4). However, stones in
bunkers may represent a danger to
players (a player could be injured by a
stone struck by the player`s club in an
attempt to play the ball) and they may
interfere with the proper playing of the
game.
When permission to lift a
stone in a bunker would be warranted,
the following Local Rule is recommended:
``Stones in bunkers are
movable obstructions (Rule 24-1
applies).``
5. Fixed Sprinkler
Heads
Rule 24-2 provides relief without
penalty from interference by an
immovable obstruction, but it also
provides that, except on the putting
green, intervention on the line of play
is not, of itself, interference under
this Rule.
However, on some courses,
the aprons of the putting greens are so
closely mown that players may wish to
putt from just off the green. In such
conditions, fixed sprinkler heads on the
apron may interfere with the proper
playing of the game and the introduction
of the following Local Rule providing
additional relief without penalty from
intervention by a fixed sprinkler head
would be warranted:
``All fixed sprinkler
heads are immovable obstructions and
relief from interference by them may be
obtained under Rule 24-2. In addition,
if a ball lies off the putting green but
not in a hazard and such an obstruction
on or within two club-lengths of the
putting green and within two
club-lengths of the ball intervenes on
the line of play between the ball and
the hole, the player may take relief as
follows:
The ball shall be lifted
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 hazard
or on a putting green. The ball may be
cleaned when so lifted.
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF
LOCAL RULE:
Match play - Loss of hole; Stroke play -
Two strokes.``
6. Temporary
Obstructions
When temporary obstructions are
installed on or adjoining the course,
the Committee should define the status
of such obstructions as movable,
immovable or temporary immovable
obstructions.
a. Temporary Immovable
Obstructions
If the Committee defines such
obstructions as temporary immovable
obstructions, the following Local Rule
is recommended:
1. Definition
A temporary immovable obstruction is a
non-permanent artificial object which is
often erected in conjunction with a
competition and which is fixed or not
readily movable.
Examples of temporary
immovable obstructions include, but are
not limited to, tents, scoreboards,
grandstands, television towers and
lavatories.
Supporting guy wires are part of the
temporary immovable obstruction unless
the Committee declares that they are to
be treated as elevated power lines or
cables.
2. Interference
Interference by a temporary immovable
obstruction occurs when (a) the ball
lies in front of and so close to the
obstruction that the obstruction
interferes with the player`s stance or
the area of his intended swing, or (b)
the ball lies in, on, under or behind
the obstruction so that any part of the
obstruction intervenes directly between
the player`s ball and the hole;
interference also exists if the ball
lies within one club-length of a spot
where such intervention would exist.
Note: A ball is under a
temporary immovable obstruction when it
is below the outer most edges of the
obstruction, even if these edges do not
extend downwards to the ground.
A player may obtain
relief from interference by a temporary
immovable obstruction, including a
temporary immovable obstruction which is
out of bounds, as follows:
(a) Through
the Green - If the ball lies through the
green, the point on the course nearest
to where the ball lies shall be
determined which (a) is not nearer the
hole, (b) avoids interference as defined
in Clause 2 and (c) is not in a hazard
or on a putting green. The player shall
lift the ball and drop it without
penalty within one club-length of the
point thus determined on a part of the
course which fulfils (a), (b) and (c)
above.
(b) In
a Hazard - If the ball is in a hazard,
the player shall lift and drop the ball
either:
(i) Without penalty, in the hazard,
on the nearest part of the course
affording complete relief within the
limits specified in Clause 3a above or,
if complete relief is impossible, on a
part of the course within the hazard
which affords maximum available relief;
or
(ii) Under penalty of one stroke,
outside the hazard as follows: the point
on the course nearest to where the ball
lies shall be determined which (a) is
not nearer the hole, (b) avoids
interference as defined in Clause 2 and
(c) is not in a hazard. The player shall
drop the ball within one club-length of
the point thus determined on a part of
the course which fulfils (a), (b) and
(c) above.
The ball may be cleaned when lifted
under Clause 3.
Note 1: If the
ball lies in a hazard, nothing in this
Local Rule precludes the player from
proceeding under Rule 26 or Rule 28, if
applicable.
Note 2: If the ball to be dropped
under this Local Rule is not immediately
recoverable, another ball may be
substituted.
Note 3: A Committee may make a
Local Rule (a) permitting or requiring a
player to use a dropping zone or ball
drop when taking relief from a temporary
immovable obstruction or (b) permitting
a player, as an additional relief
option, to drop the ball on the opposite
side of the obstruction from the point
established under Clause 3, but
otherwise in accordance with Clause 3.
Exceptions:
If a player`s ball lies in front of or
behind the temporary immovable
obstruction (not in, on or under the
obstruction) he may not obtain relief
under Clause 3 if:
1. It is
clearly unreasonable for him to play a
stroke or, in the case of intervention,
to play a stroke such that the ball
could finish on a direct line to the
hole, because of interference by
anything other than the temporary
immovable obstruction.
2. Interference by the
temporary immovable obstruction would
occur only through use of an
unnecessarily abnormal stance, swing or
direction of play; or
3. In the case of
intervention, it would be clearly
unreasonable to expect the player to be
able to strike the ball far enough
towards the hole to reach the temporary
immovable obstruction.
Note: A player not entitled to relief
due to these exceptions may proceed
under Rule 24-2, if applicable.
4. Ball Lost
If there is reasonable evidence that the
ball is lost in, on or under a temporary
immovable obstruction, a ball may be
dropped under the provisions of Clause 3
or Clause 5, if applicable. For the
purpose of applying Clauses 3 and 5, the
ball shall be deemed to lie at the spot
where it last entered the obstruction
(Rule 24-2c).
5. Dropping Zones (Ball Drops)
If the player has interference from a
temporary immovable obstruction, the
Committee may permit or require the use
of a dropping zone or ball drop. If the
player uses a dropping zone in taking
relief, he must drop the ball in the
dropping zone nearest to where his ball
originally lay or is deemed to lie under
Clause 4 (even though the nearest
dropping zone may be nearer the hole).
Note 1: A
Committee may make a Local Rule
prohibiting the use of a dropping zone
or ball drop which is nearer the hole.
Note 2: If the
ball is dropped in a dropping zone, the
ball shall not be re-dropped if it comes
to rest within two club-lengths of the
spot where it first struck a part of the
course even though it may come to rest
nearer the hole or outside the
boundaries of the dropping zone.
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF
LOCAL RULE:
Match play - Loss of hole; Stroke play -
Two strokes.”
b. Temporary Power Lines and
Cables
When temporary power lines, cables, or
telephone lines are installed on the
course, the following Local Rule is
recommended:
“Temporary power lines, cables,
telephone lines and mats covering or
stanchions supporting them are
obstructions:
1. If they are readily
movable, Rule 24-1 applies.
2. If they are fixed or not
readily movable, the player may, if the
ball lies through the green or in a
bunker, obtain relief as provided in
Rule 24-2b. If the ball lies in a water
hazard, the player may obtain relief
under Rule 24-2b(i) except that
the nearest point of relief must be in
the water hazard and the ball must be
dropped in the water hazard or the
player may proceed under Rule 26.
3. If a ball strikes an
elevated power line or cable, the stroke
shall be cancelled and replayed, without
penalty (see Rule 20-5). If the ball is
not immediately recoverable another ball
may be substituted.
Note: Guy wires
supporting a temporary immovable
obstruction are part of the temporary
immovable obstruction unless the
Committee, by Local Rule, declares that
they are to be treated as elevated power
lines or cables.
Exception: Ball striking elevated
junction section of cable rising from
the ground shall not be replayed.
4. Grass-covered
cable trenches are ground under repair
even if not so marked and Rule 25-1b
applies.”
Part
C: Conditions of the Competition
Rule 33-1 provides, ``The
Committee shall lay down the conditions
under which a competition is to be
played.`` Such conditions should include
many matters such as method of entry,
eligibility, number of rounds to be
played, etc. which it is not appropriate
to deal with in the Rules of Golf or
this Appendix. Detailed information
regarding such conditions is provided in
``Decisions on the Rules of Golf`` under
Rule 33-1.
However, there are seven
matters which might be covered in the
Conditions of the Competition to which
the Committee`s attention is
specifically drawn by way of a Note to
the appropriate Rule. These are:
1. Specification
of the Ball (Note to Rule 5-1)
The following two conditions are
recommended only for competitions
involving expert players:
a. List
of Conforming Golf Balls
The RCGA periodically recognizes a List
of Conforming Golf Balls which lists
balls that have been tested and found to
conform. If the Committee wishes to
require use of a brand of golf ball on
the List, the List should be posted and
the following condition of competition
used:
``The ball the player uses shall be
named on the current List of Conforming
Golf Balls recognized by the Royal
Canadian Golf Association.
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF
CONDITION
Disqualification.``
b. One Ball Condition
If it is desired to prohibit changing
brands and types of golf balls during a
stipulated round, the following
condition is recommended:
``Limitation on Balls Used During Round:
(Note to Rule 5-1)
(i) ``One Ball`` Condition
During a stipulated round, the balls a
player uses must be of the same brand
and type as detailed by a single entry
on the current List of Conforming Golf
Balls.
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF
CONDITION:
Match Play - At the
conclusion of the hole at which the
breach is discovered, the state of the
match shall be adjusted by deducting one
hole for each hole at which a breach
occurred; maximum deduction per round:
Two holes.
Stroke Play - Two strokes
for each hole at which any breach
occurred; maximum penalty per round:
Four strokes.
(ii) Procedure When Breach
Discovered
When a player discovers that he has used
a ball in breach of this condition, he
shall abandon that ball before playing
from the next teeing ground and complete
the round using a proper ball;
otherwise, the player shall be
disqualified. If discovery is made
during play of a hole and the player
elects to substitute a proper ball
before completing that hole, the player
shall place a proper ball on the spot
where the ball used in breach of the
condition lay.``
2. Time of
Starting (Note to Rule 6-3a)
If the Committee wishes to act in
accordance with the Note, the following
wording is recommended:
``If the player arrives
at his starting point, ready to play,
within five minutes after his starting
time in the absence of circumstances
which warrant waiving the penalty of
disqualification as provided in Rule
33-7, the penalty for failure to start
on time is loss of the first hole to be
played in match play or two strokes in
stroke play. Penalty for lateness beyond
five minutes is disqualification.``
3. Pace of Play
The Committee may lay down pace of
play guidelines to help prevent slow
play, in accordance with Note 2 to Rule
6-7.
4. Suspension of Play
Due to a Dangerous Situation (Note
to Rule 6-8b)
As there have been many deaths and
injuries from lightning on golf courses,
all clubs and sponsors of golf
competitions are urged to take
precautions for the protection of
persons against lightning. Attention is
called to Rules 6-8 and 33-2d. If the
Committee desires to adopt the condition
in the Note under Rule 6-8b, the
following wording is recommended:
``When play is suspended by the
Committee for a dangerous situation, if
the players in a match or group are
between the play of two holes, they
shall not resume play until the
Committee has ordered a resumption of
play. If they are in the process of
playing a hole, they shall discontinue
play immediately and shall not
thereafter resume play until the
Committee has ordered a resumption of
play. If a player fails to discontinue
play immediately, he shall be
disqualified unless circumstances
warrant waiving such penalty as provided
in Rule 33-7.
The signal for suspending
play due to a dangerous situation will
be a prolonged note of the siren.``
The following signals are
generally used and it is recommended
that all Committees do similarly:
Discontinue Play
Immediately: One prolonged note of
siren.
Discontinue Play: Three consecutive
notes of siren, repeated.
Resume Play: Two short notes of siren,
repeated.
5. Practice
a.
General
The Committee may make regulations
governing practice in accordance with
the Note to Rule 7-1, Exception (c) to
Rule 7-2, and Rule 33-2c.
b.
Practice Between Holes (Note 2 to Rule
7)
It is recommended that a condition of
competition prohibiting practice putting
or chipping on or near the putting green
of the hole last played is only
introduced in stroke play competitions.
The following wording is recommended:
`` A player shall not
play any practice stroke on or near the
putting green of the hole last played.
If a practice stroke is played on or
near the putting green of the hole last
played, the player shall incur a penalty
of two strokes at the next hole, except
that in the case of the last hole of the
round, he incurs the penalty at that
hole.``
6. Advice in Team
Competitions
If the Committee wishes to act in
accordance with the Note under Rule 8,
the following wording is recommended:
``In accordance with the
Note to Rule 8 of the Rules of Golf,
each team may appoint one person (in
addition to the persons from whom advice
may be asked under the Rule) who may
give advice to members of that team.
Such person (if it is desired to insert
any restriction on who may be nominated
insert such restriction here) shall be
identified to the Committee before
giving advice.``
7. New Holes
The Committee may provide, in accordance
with the Note to Rule 33-2b, that the
holes and teeing grounds for a single
round competition, being held on more
than one day, may be differently
situated on each day.
Other conditions of the competition
might include:
Transportation
If it is desired to
require players to walk in a
competition, the following condition is
recommended:
``Players shall walk at
all times during a stipulated round.
PENALTY
FOR BREACH OF CONDITION:
Match play - At
the conclusion of the hole at which the
breach is discovered, the state of the
match shall be adjusted by deducting one
hole for each hole at which a breach
occurred. Maximum deduction per round:
Two holes.
Stroke play - Two
strokes for each hole at which any
breach occurred; maximum penalty per
round: Four strokes. In the event of a
breach between the play of two holes,
the penalty applies to the next hole.
Match or stroke play
- Use of any unauthorized form of
transportation shall be discontinued
immediately upon discovery that a breach
has occurred. Otherwise, the player
shall be disqualified.``
How to Decide Ties
Rule 33-6 empowers the Committee to
determine how and when a halved match or
a stroke play tie shall be decided. The
decision should be published in advance.
The RCGA recommends:
Match Play
A match which ends all square should be
played off hole by hole until one side
wins a hole. The play-off should start
on the hole where the match began. In a
handicap match, handicap strokes should
be allowed as in the prescribed round.
Stroke Play
(a) In
the event of a tie in a scratch stroke
play competition, a play-off is
recommended. Such a play-off may be over
18 holes or a smaller number of holes as
specified by the Committee. If that is
not feasible or there is still a tie, a
hole-by-hole play-off is recommended.
(b) In
the event of a tie in a handicap stroke
play competition, a play-off with
handicaps is recommended. Such a
play-off may be over 18 holes or a
smaller number of holes as specified by
the Committee. If the play-off is less
than 18 holes, the percentage of 18
holes to be played should be applied to
the players` handicaps to determine
their play-off handicaps. Handicap
stroke fractions of one-half stroke or
more should count as a full stroke and
any lesser fraction should be
disregarded.
(c) In
either a scratch or handicap stroke play
competition, if a play-off of any type
is not feasible, matching score cards is
recommended. The method of matching
cards should be announced in advance. An
acceptable method of matching cards is
to determine the winner on the basis of
the best score for the last nine holes.
If the tying players have the same score
for the last nine, determine the winner
on the basis of the last six holes, last
three holes and finally the 18th hole.
If such a method is used in a handicap
stroke play competition, one-half,
one-third, one sixth, etc. of the
handicaps should be deducted. Fractions
should not be disregarded. If such a
method is used in a competition with a
multiple tee start, it is recommended
that the ``last nine holes, last six
holes, etc.`` is considered to be holes
10-18, 13-18, etc.
(d) If
the conditions of the competition
provide that ties shall be decided over
the last nine, last six, last three and
last hole, they should also provide what
will happen if this procedure does not
produce a winner.
Draw for Match Play
Although the draw for
match play may be completely blind or
certain players may be distributed
through different quarters or eighths,
the General Numerical Draw is
recommended if matches are determined by
a qualifying round.
General Numerical Draw
For purposes of determining places in
the draw, ties in qualifying rounds
other than those for the last qualifying
place shall be decided by the order in
which scores are returned, with the
first score to be returned receiving the
lowest available number, etc. If it is
impossible to determine the order in
which scores are returned, ties shall be
determined by a blind draw.
Upper
Half Lower Half
Upper Half Lower Half
64
QUALIFIERS
32 QUALIFIERS
1 vs 64
2 vs 63 1
vs 32 2
vs 31
32 vs 33
31 vs 34
16 vs 17
15 vs 18
16 vs 49
15 vs 50 8
vs 25
7 vs 26
17 vs 48
18 vs 47
9 vs 24
10 vs 23
8 vs 57
7 vs 58
4 vs 29
3 vs 30
25 vs 40
26 vs 39 13
vs 20
14 vs 19
9 vs 56
10 vs 55
5 vs 28
6 vs 27
24 vs 41
23 vs 42
12 vs 21
11 vs 22
4 vs 61
3 vs 62
16 QUALIFIERS
29 vs 36
30 vs 35
1 vs 16
2 vs 15
13 vs 52
14 vs 51
8 vs 9 7
vs 10
20 vs 45
19 vs 46
4 vs 13
3 vs 14
5 vs 60
6 vs 59
5 vs 12
6 vs 11
28 vs 37
27 vs 38
8 QUALIFIERS
12 vs 53
11 vs 54
1 vs 8 2
vs 7
21 vs 44
22 vs 43
4 vs 5
3 vs 6
