Some important rules to note:
STACKSTOWN GOLF CLUB –LOCAL RULES
As provided in Rule 33-8a, the Committee may make and publish Local Rules.
Penalty for a breach of a local rule unless otherwise stated, 1 shot penalty in Stroke Play, Loss of hole in Matchplay.
1. Out of Bounds (Rule 18.2) is the area beyond all course Boundary fences, walls and areas marked with White stakes.
2. All Penalty Areas in Stackstown (Rule 17) are defined by Red stakes.
3. If it is Known or Virtually Certain that a player’s ball has been Deflected by any part of an electricity pylon, pole, wire or base (Rule 14.6) or any part thereof, the stroke does not count. The player must play a ball, without penalty, from where the previous stroke was made.
4. Abnormal Course Conditions (Rule 16.1,16.1f)
A. Ground Under Repair (GUR) is defined by any area encircled with a White line and/or marked GUR – These areas are No Play Zones (NPZ) and must be treated as Abnormal Course Conditions. Free Relief must be taken from Interference by the NPZ.
B. In the General Area, animal damage or dung (which may not be marked as GUR) is to be treated as GUR, from which relief is permitted, except that interference does not exist if the animal damage only interferes with the player’s stance.
C. Relief may be taken, without penalty for a ball lying in a deep rut, made by a machine track or tyre and which may not be marked as GUR.
D. A ball in play and lying on any Teeing Location, except for the Teeing Area on the hole in play, must be played as it lies, however, when Winter Rules apply, a player, whose ball is in play and is lying on any Teeing Location, except for the Teeing area on the hole in play, must take Complete Relief, without penalty, from the Teeing Location.
5. Integral Objects (Rule 14.7). Relief is only available under penalty from (i) the cottage and its surround, (ii) any steps at teeing locations, (iii) any railway sleepers and bridges (iv) all trees (except staked trees)
6. Immovable Obstructions (Rule 16.1): Free Relief from all fixed seats, national monument, viewing platforms, fixed direction indicators or signage, manhole covers, gully traps, fairway sprinkler heads, distance marker discs and posts, railings, temporary putting green hole covers, irrigation box covers, ball washers, drinking fountains, buildings (except the Cottage and its surround), power/telegraph pylons or poles or stays, fixed winter mats, staked trees, bell posts, paths (artificial or otherwise) and driveways are immovable objects.
7. Sprinkler Head (Rule 16.1b). relief may be taken if: 1) The ball is on grass cut to fairway height or less, 2) The sprinkler head is within two club lengths of green, 3) the sprinkler head is on the line of play, 4) the ball is within two club lengths of sprinkler head. But if relief is chosen then complete relief must be taken, which includes both physical and line of play interference. There is no relief under this local rule if the player chooses a line of play that is clearly unreasonable.
8. If the ball lies on the putting green a player may take relief if a temporary man-made hole cover intervenes with a clearly reasonable line of putt, the player can lift and place without penalty at the nearest point of relief.
9.Embedded Stones. Full relief may be taken from embedded stones on the fairway, the ball must be lifted and the nearest of complete relief no nearer the hole should be identified, the ball must be dropped and come to rest in the relief area.
10. Aeration Holes on the Putting Greens. When the Greens have been aerated/cored relief may be taken only on the Putting Green if a ball comes to rest in or on an Aeration hole. The ball may be placed at the nearest spot not nearer the hole that avoids the situation.
11. Distance Measuring Devices & Mobile Phones. For all play on this course a player may obtain distance information by using a device, including a mobile phone, that measures distance only. Mobile phones may also be used on the course for score entry. Otherwise players are requested to keep the use of mobile phones to minimum apart from exceptional circumstances or medical emergencies.
12. Moveable Obstructions Rule 15 is an obstruction that can be moved with reasonable effort and without damaging the obstruction, tee box, divot boxes and rakes.
13. Loose Impediments. Before playing your ball in the bunker you may remove any loose impediments and moveable obstructions, stones, branches, sticks and loose grass.
14. Wrong Green. If a player’s ball lies on a wrong putting green, permanent or temporary, the player must take relief without penalty as follows;
The player must lift the ball and drop it within one club length of the nearest point of relief and not nearer the hole. Where possible after relief is taken the players feet should not be on the putting surface.
Penalty for Breach of Local Rule: Match Play Loss of Hole; Stroke Play –Two Strokes
Other information
All players are requested to use Tee Pegs on teeing areas.