GCNJ LOCAL
RULE #1:
The GCNJ has adopted a "local rule" as follows:
Information may be shared amongst TEAMMATES, regardless of the
format for that weeks event. TEAMMATES are interpreted as
follows: A player who is listed in the team standings as a
member of your team and any of their guests for the week as well
as a member of another team that you are teamed up with for the
day. In the last instance that would be in a two-player format
so it's legal anyway. There are many events where you will have
a TEAMMATE in your cart with you and now regardless of the
format for the week, it is permissible to provide
information/advice. If the player in your cart is NOT on your
team than discussing information/advice is not allowed. This
rule is now in place for various reasons - the GCNJ plays a
different course each week and typically we are bound to using
cart paths only. Many groups I have played with in the league I
often hear players discussing how far it is to this or that or
to carry something over a hazard, etc. I never hear them ask a
club selection, but many of these discussions are illegal
anyway. The GCNJ feels that such information is more good than
bad in that it encourages players/teammates to use course
management and also with new courses on the schedule all the
time we feel it will help to speed up play and to help in the
camaraderie and sportsmanship of the league.
GCNJ LOCAL RULE
#2:
The GCNJ in conjunction with the USGA's recent rulings has
adopted two local rules for all events. First, the embedded ball
rule is always in effect thru the green for all of our events.
This means that if your ball is EMBEDDED anywhere on the golf
course except in a hazard or bunker, you are entitled to
relief as follows: a drop within ONE club length of the embedded
ball and no nearer the hole without penalty. The second rule we
have adopted allows players to remove stones in a bunker. This
rule was adopted by the USGA last year allowing clubs to adopt a
local rule to do so. We have. The procedure allows players to
remove stones from the bunker; however, since the stones are
interpreted as loose impediments, the ball shall not be moved in
any way. The GCNJ has adopted this rule as well. Lastly, there
have been some isolated reports of rule breaches brought to my
attention and may I remind all players that the GCNJ adheres to
the USGA Rules of Golf and I ask that each member does as well.
If you see a breach of the rules it does not always mean that
the player is cheating, rather they may not be sure as how to
proceed. Should any such incidents arise, have the player play
two balls and bring the situation inside upon completion
of play so that we may make a ruling on it. Thanks.
MATCH PLAY
PICK-UP RULE: During
match-play there has been some confusion regarding "picking-up"
on a hole. The league rule is as follows: we ask players to
pick-up for pace purposes only if they are out of the hole. If
the hole you are playing is still in question regarding with no
clear winner, you must continue to play out until the hole has
been decided. If a player hits 2 balls OB off the tee and says I
pick up and takes a max, and than his opponent gets on the tee
and does the same after the first player already conceded,
player 2 wins the hole. Also, when a player picks up, his
handicap strokes are forfeited so he can not pick-up and take an
8 net 7 for his/her score. Once you pick-up, the hole is
automatically awarded to your opponent regardless of what
happens after that.
USGA EXPLANATION ON STATUS
OF "WASTE BUNKERS":
Recently a ruling involving Stewart Cink in a playoff at the
2004 MCI Heritage Classic at Harbour Town Golf Links has given
rise to a number of inquiries regarding the status of 'waste
areas' or 'waste bunkers'. The Rules of Golf do not define such
areas. By Definition, a bunker is a prepared area of ground from
which turf or soil has been removed and replaced with sand or
the like. On the other hand, a natural sandy area is not a
hazard, and a player whose ball lies in such an area may ground
his club lightly in, or remove loose impediments from, the area
as the area is through the green. The PGA Tour Rules Committee
identified a number of these areas around the Harbour Town Golf
Links, referred to them as "waste areas" on their Local Rules
sheet and treated them as areas through the green for the
competition. It is a fact that the removal of loose impediments
(in accordance with Rule 23-1) may incidentally cause the
removal of a small amount of sand or similar material. However,
if the player removes more sand or like material than would
incidentally occur in the removal of such loose impediments and
this action improves the lie of the ball, then a breach of Rule
13-2 occurs.
LATERAL WATER HAZARD:
(DESIGNATED BY A RED STAKE):
A player hits a shot into a red staked hazard. This is known as
a lateral water hazard. The player has four options that he may
consider. First, the player may play his ball from the hazard,
being careful not to ground his club similar to being in a sand
bunker, and incurring no penalty. Second the player may take
relief from the hazard, marking two club lengths, no nearer the
hole, from the edge of the hazard or from the red line if there
is one, from the point at which the ball crossed into the
hazard, not from where it currently lies, and incurring a
one-shot penalty. Third, the player, after establishing the
point that the ball crossed into the hazard, may take his ball
from the hazard and go back as far as he would like, keeping the
spot where the ball entered the hazard (not where it currently
lies, rather where it first went in) between him and the hole
and incurring a one-shot penalty. Lastly, the player may re-play
his ball from the previous spot he just played from again
incurring a one-shot penalty. Note: You must know without a
reasonable doubt that your ball entered the hazard, you can not
assume that your ball went into a hazard just because there is
one in the area. If you do not know for sure that your ball went
into the hazard than you have a lost ball and must proceed
accordingly (see below).
OUT OF BOUNDS:
A player hits his tee shot, or any shot for that matter, out of
bounds. (OB is clearly marked with a white stake). The player
has only ONE option and that is to replay from the previous spot
he just played from incurring a penalty of one-stroke. NOTE: If
the player, after hitting his original shot into an area of
uncertainty, puts a "provisional" ball into play at that time
and gets up to the spot of his first ball and has no success
finding it, than the provisional ball is now "in-play" with a
one-stroke penalty.
LOST BALL:
Player A hits his tee shot, or any shot for that matter, into an
area of uncertainty and is unsure if his ball is safe or not.
After spending NO MORE THAN 5 MINUTES searching it is determined
that the ball is lost. The player's ONLY option upon discovering
that his ball is lost is to return to the previous spot where
the original ball was played from and re-play from there
incurring a one-shot penalty. In this instance, and any others
like it the player also should have played a "provisional" ball
off the tee at the time he played his original shot into the
uncertain area. If the player determines their original ball was
lost, the provisional ball now becomes "in play" with a
one-stroke penalty as well. The provisional ball also saves time
rather than having to drive back to the original spot.
