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The People's Game |
"Playing golf is just like going to a strip club. You're all revved up, ready to go. But three hours later, you're depressed, plastered, and most of your balls are missing."
James Clark
IPGC Local Rules (revised June 2008) |
Ants There is no relief from nests or mounds. If relief is required, the ball should be dropped under the unplayable ball rule under penalty.
Ball Embedded Through the green (the whole golf course, excluding hazards), a ball that is embedded in its own pitch mark, relief may be taken at the nearest point of relief without penalty, and the ball may be cleaned when lifted.
Caddies Players are reminded that under the rules of golf it is the markers responsibility to mark the score of another player during the competition and not the caddies.
Call Holes Should not be used, unless a group of players outside the competition request to play up.
Cart Paths Through the green, either man-made or formed by constant use of vehicles, relief may be taken without penalty. The ball may be cleaned when lifted. This also includes tractor tracks.
Distance Measuring Devices Under rule 14-3 a player may obtain distance information by using a device that measures distance only. However, if, during a round a player uses a distance measuring device that is designed to gauge or measure other conditions such as gradient, temperature and wind speed, the player is breach of this rule and the penalty is disqualification regardless of whether any such additional functions were used.
Divots (On trial) Divots in the fairway only that have been repaired with sand filling or similar are classed as ground under repair; the ball may be lifted and dropped within one club length not nearer the hole.
Drainage Ditches and any construction forming part thereof through the green are to be treated as lateral water hazards and relief may be taken under penalty. Exception; concrete ditches not marked as a hazard or lateral water hazard, the player will receive a free drop of one club length, not nearer the hole.
Drop Zones Will not be used. Please refer to the rules of golf as to the correct procedure.
Flower Beds and Landscaped Areas A free drop may only be taken if the area is a properly maintained area for decorative purposes under 1 club length in height. All other relief should be taken under the unplayable ball rule under penalty.
Putting Green If a ball lies on an edging groove around the green, the player may, without penalty, lift his ball, clean it and place it out of the groove within 6 inches from where it lay, not nearer the hole.
Stones in Bunkers Stones in bunkers are movable obstructions.
Washed Out Areas Damage caused by excessive water drainage, including bunkers and through the green. In a bunker relief must be taken within the bunker, in other instances the ball may be dropped at the nearest point of relief no nearer the hole without penalty.
Water hazards Unmarked and insufficiently marked water hazards are all to be treated as lateral water hazards, the margin of which, is formed by the natural limits of the hazard i.e. where the ground breaks down to form the depression containing the water.
Yardage Markers All yardage markers whether man made or of natural materials are to be treated as immovable obstructions and relief may be taken, without penalty under the rules of golf 24-2, the nearest point of relief plus one club length.
