Local Rules of the SaddleBrooke Golf Club
Local Rules & Course Information
Local Rules
Play is governed by the Rules of Golf of the R&A and USGA and the following Local Rules:
Alternative to Stroke-and-Distance for a Ball That is Lost or Out of Bounds
When a player's ball cannot be found or is known or virtually certain to be out of bounds, the player may proceed as follows rather than proceeding under stroke-and- distance. For two penalty strokes, the player may take relief by dropping the original ball or a substituted ball in this relief area (see Rule 14.3):
Two Estimated Reference Points:
a. Ball Reference Point: The point where the original ball:
- Is estimated to have come to rest on the course, or
- Last crossed the edge of the course boundary to go out of bounds.
- For purposes of this Local Rule, “fairway” means any area of grass in the general area that is cut to fairway height or less.
- If a ball is estimated to be lost on the course or last crossed the edge of the course boundary short of the fairway, the fairway reference point may be a teeing ground for the hole being played.
- A line from the hole through the ball reference point (or within two club-lengths to the outside of that line), and
- A line from the hole through the fairway reference point (or within two club-lengths to the outside of that line).
Must be in the general area, and must not be nearer the hole than the ball reference point.
Once a player puts a ball in play under this Local Rule:
- The original ball that was lost or out of bounds is no longer in play and must not be played.
- This is true even if the ball is found on the course before the end of the three-minute search time (see Rule 6.3b).
- The ball is known or virtually certain to have come to rest in a penalty area, or
- The player has played another ball provisionally under penalty of stroke-and- distance (see Rule 18.3).
- A player may use this option to take relief for a provisional ball that has not been found or is known or virtually certain to be out of bounds.
- Penalty for playing a ball from the wrong place in breach of this Local Rule: General Penalty under Rule 14.7a.
No Play Zones:
- Any landscaped area containing decorative rock which is not marked by white painted lines is a no play zone that is to be treated as an abnormal course condition. Free relief must be taken from interference by the no play zone under Rule 16.1f.
- Any area marked by painted lines, including young trees, is a no play zone that is to be treated as an abnormal course condition. Free relief must be taken from interference by the no play zone under Rule 16.1f.
- Any area marked by red stakes with a green top and red painted lines is a no play zone in a penalty area. When a ball is in the no play zone in a penalty area, the ball must not be played as it lies. Rule 17.1e. Relief must be taken from interference by the no play zone, with a one stroke penalty, under Rule 17.1d or 17.2.
- Penalty for playing a ball from the wrong place in breach of Rule 16.1f or 17.1e: General Penalty under Rule 14.7a.
Ground Under Repair: Areas of the course marked with white painted lines are "ground under repair" and relief is allowed, without penalty, under Rule 16.1.
Young Trees: Young trees identified by white painted lines are no play zones:
- If a player’s ball lies anywhere on the course other than in a penalty area and it lies on or touches such a tree or such a tree interferes with the player’s stance or area of intended swing, the player must take relief under Rule 16.1f.
- If the ball lies in a penalty area, and interference to the player’s stance or area of intended swing exists from such a tree, the player must take relief either with penalty under Rule 17.1e or with free relief under Rule 17.1e(2).
- Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Local Rule: General Penalty Under Rule 14.7a
- Exception -- No Relief If Line of Play Clearly Unreasonable. There is no relief under this Local Rule if the player chooses a line of play that is clearly unreasonable.
- Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Local Rule: General Penalty Under Rule 14.7a.
Bridges on Catalina 5 and 7:
- The first cart bridge on Catalina 5 and the cart bridge on Catalina 7 are immovable obstructions with relief, without penalty, under Rule 16.1.
- The second bridge on Catalina 5 and the foot bridge are in the NO PLAY ZONE and the ball must NOT be played as it lies. Relief MUST be taken from the interference with a one-stroke penalty, under Rule 17.1d or 17.2.
- The concrete soil retention grids and attached bare dirt areas are abnormal ground conditions and free relief is available under Rule 16.1.
- Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Local Rule: General Penalty Under Rule 14.7a.
SBWGA-18 LOCAL RULE (in effect as of 2/16/22): This local rule only applies to SBWGA league play on Tuesdays and/or any other day of the week during a league event, except it may not apply to a Major tournament at the discretion of the chair(s) of that tournament.
1. On the SaddleBrooke course, hole #2, a player will get two attempts to clear the penalty area. For the purposes of this Rule, a player's first tee shot is deemed to be an attempt to cross the penalty area.
2. If the player’s original tee shot ends up in the penalty area, she may: a) re-tee from the same tee box; b) drop a ball within either drop zone indicated by a white outline (near the Aqua tee or to the left of the water); c) drop the ball keeping a straight line between the point where her original ball last crossed the margin of the penalty area and the pin; or d) drop a ball in the relief area, that is, within two club lengths from the point of entry, no closer to the hole. Option d) is also available at any time the player’s ball crossed the margin of the penalty area on the opposite side of the penalty area but rolled back in.
3. If her second attempt does not clear the penalty area, the player must go to the mandatory SBWGA-18 drop zone designated by a sign to that effect to hit her fifth shot. If, however, the player's first attempt is short of the penalty area and her second attempt does not clear the penalty area, she must go to the mandatory drop area to hit her fourth shot.
Aeration Holes: If a player's ball lies in or touches an aeration hole:
- Ball in General Area. The player may take relief, without penalty, under Rule 16.1b. If the ball comes to rest in another aeration hole the player may take relief again under this Local Rule.
- Ball on Putting Green. The player may take relief, without penalty, under Rule 16.1d.
- But interference does not exist if the aeration hole only interferes with the player’s stance or, on the putting green, on the player’s line of play.
- Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Local Rule: General Penalty Under Rule 14.7a.
When a player’s ball lies in a part of the general area cut to fairway height or less, the player may take free relief once by placing the original ball or another ball in and playing it from this relief area:
- Reference Point: Spot of the original ball.
- Size of Relief Area Measured from Reference Point: 6 inches from the reference point, but with these limits:
- Must not be nearer the hole than the reference point, and
- Must be in the general area.
- In proceeding under this Local Rule, the player must choose a spot to place the ball and use the procedures for replacing a ball under Rules 14.2b(2) and 14.2e.
- Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Local Rule: General Penalty Under Rule 14.7a.
- Spikes having single or multiple points designed to penetrate deeply into the surface of the ground.
- Penalty for Breach of Local Rule -- see Rule 4.3.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Pace of Play: Under normal conditions, expected pace of play is 2 hours, 5 minutes per nine holes. When the course is restricted to cart path only, the expected pace of play of 2 hours, 15 minutes per nine holes. The course rangers are authorized to enforce these rules.
DEFINITIONS
GENERAL AREA - the area of the course that covers all of the course EXCEPT (1) the teeing area the player must play from in starting the hole (2) all Penalty Areas and (3) all Bunkers and (4) the putting green of the hole the player is playing. The general area includes all teeing locations on the course other than the teeing area and all wrong greens.
ABNORMAL COURSE CONDITIONS - Any of these four defined areas: (1) Animal Hole, (2) Ground Under Repair, (3) Immovable Objects, or (4) Temporary Water.
NO PLAY ZONE - A part of the course where the committee prohibited play - Decorative Rock Areas (abnormal course conditions).
NO PLAY PENALTY ZONES - The committee may define specific No Play PENALTY Zones with Red Stakes with Green tops for any reason, such as: Protecting players from danger and protecting wildlife, animal habitats, environmentally sensitive areas.
GROUND UNDER REPAIR - Any part of the course the Committee defines to be ground under repair (whether by marking it or otherwise).
PENALTY AREA - Red staked or lined areas from which relief with a one stroke penalty is allowed if your ball comes to rest there.Ball may be played as it lies with no penalty.
RELIEF AREA -The area where you must drop a ball when taking relief under a Rule. Each relief Rule requires that you use a specific relief area whose size and location is based on three factors (1) Reference Point, (2) Size of Relief Area Measure from Reference Point and (3) Limits of Location of Relief Area.
PROVISIONAL BALL - Another ball played in case the ball just played by you may be OUT OF BOUNDS OR LOST OUTSIDE A PENALTY AREA.
KNOWN OR VIRTUALLY CERTAIN - the standard for deciding what happened to your ball. (1) there is conclusive evidence as to what happened to your ball - seen by you or witnessed by others, (2) all reasonably available information indicates it is 95% likely that the event happened.
GENERAL PENALTY - Loss of hole in match play or two stroke penalty in stroke play.
Click to download Diagrams--Local Rule Ball Lost or Out of Bounds Ball Not Found