Local Rules
ASPLEY GUISE & WOBURN SANDS GC
- Beyond any boundary wall, fence or hedge
- Beyond the inside edge of the white posts
Fixed sprinkler heads are immovable obstructions. Relief from interference by an immovable obstruction may be taken under Rule 16.1.
The player has an extra option to take relief when such immovable obstructions are on or close to the putting green and on the line of play:
Ball in General Area. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b if an immovable obstruction is:
- On the line of play, and is:
- On or within two club-lengths of the putting green, and
- Within two club-lengths of the ball.
But complete relief must be taken, which includes both physical and line-of-play interference.
Penalty for playing ball from the Wrong Place in breach of the Local Rule:
General Penalty under Rule 14.7a
Exception – No relief if the line of play is clearly unreasonable. There is no relief under the local rule if the player claims a line of play that is clearly unreasonable.
3. Fixed distance markers & hydrant covers
Fixed distance markers & hydrant covers are immovable obstructions. Relief from interference by an immovable obstruction may be taken under Rule 16.1.
The distance markers are 150 yds and 100 yds from the centre of the greens.
Penalty for playing the ball from the Wrong Place in breach of Local Rule:
General Penalty under Rule 14.7a
The following are abnormal course conditions, and relief is available under Rule 16.1:
- Roads and paths, whether artificially surfaced or not
- Artificial mesh at or just below surface level
- Areas in bunkers where sand has been removed by the movement of water, resulting in deep furrows through the sand, are ground under repair
Penalty for playing the ball from the Wrong Place in breach of Local Rule:
General Penalty under Rule 14.7a
All temporary greens designated by a white line are wrong greens even when not in use, and relief must be taken under Rule 13.1f.
Any putting green that has been replaced by a temporary putting green is a wrong green, and free relief from interference must be taken under Rule 13.1f.
Penalty for playing the ball from the Wrong Place in breach of Local Rule:
General Penalty under Rule 14.7a
6. Aeration holes
If a player’s ball lies in or touches an aeration hole:
(a) Ball in General Area. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b. If the ball comes to rest in another aeration hole, the player may take relief again under this Local Rule.
(b) Ball on Putting Green. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1d.
But interference does not exist if the aeration hole only interferes with the player’s stance or area of intended swing or, on the putting green, on the player’s line of play.
Penalty for playing the ball from the Wrong Place in breach of Local Rule:
General Penalty under Rule 14.7a
7. Practice Area
The Practice Area by the 16th & 17th holes is an integral part of the course. A player may practice on the Practice Area by the 16th & 17th holes before or between rounds when allowed under Rule 5.5
8. Mole drainage lines/cracks
Mole drainage lines/cracks in the ground in parts of the general area cut to fairway height or less are ground under repair. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b, but relief is not allowed if the crack only interferes with the player’s stance.
Penalty for playing the ball from the Wrong Place in breach of Local Rule:
General Penalty under Rule 14.7a
9. Flower bed at rear of 16th green
The garden at the rear of the 16th hole, defined by metal edging, is a No Play Zone. Relief MUST be taken from interference by the no-play zone under Rule 16.1f.
- The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b, or
- As an extra option, the player may take relief by dropping the original ball or another ball in the dropping zone located to the left of the garden. The dropping zone is a relief area under Rule 14.3.
- Penalty for playing the ball from the Wrong Place in breach of the Local Rule:
- General Penalty under Rule 14.7a
10. Ball deflected by overhead power lines, and associated equipment
If it is known or virtually certain that a player’s ball hit an overhead power line or pole supporting a power line during the play, the player must replay the stroke by playing the original ball or another ball from the spot where that stroke was made (see Rule 14.6).
If the player replays the stroke but does so from the wrong place, they get the General Penalty under Rule 14.7.
If the player does not replay the stroke, they get the General Penalty and the stroke counts, but the player has not played from the wrong place.
11. Procedures for bad weather and suspension of play
A suspension of play for a dangerous situation (eg danger of lightning) will be signalled by a long note on the siren. All players must stop if the Committee suspends play (see Rule 5.7b).
A player may stop play if they reasonably believe there is danger from lightning, but must report to the Committee as soon as possible.
If a player stops play for any reason not allowed under Rule 5.7 or fails to report to the Committee when required to do so, the player is disqualified.
Resumption of play will be signalled by a second-long note on the siren.
12. Modification of Penalty Under Rule 3.3b(2) for Missing Player or Marker Certification
Rule 3.3b(2) is modified in this way:
If a player returns a scorecard without the hole scores being certified either by the player, the marker or both, the player gets the general penalty (two penalty strokes).
The penalty applies to the last hole of the player’s round.
13. Preferred Lies
Preferred Lies has been adopted from 30th July until further notice.
When any part of a player's ball touches 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:
Limits on Location of Relief Area: 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.
But for the purposes of applying Rule 14.2e, the player has only chosen the spot on which to place the ball once the ball has been set down, and the player has let the ball go with the intent for that ball to be in play.
After a ball has been placed and is in play under this Local Rule, if the player then proceeds under another Rule that provides relief, this Local Rule may be used again.
14. Drainage lines (No Play Zones)
All newly installed drainage lines on the 5th fairway and approach, 6th fairway, 7th approach and lower 8th fairway, either topped with sand or showing new grass germination, are defined as a No Play Zones from which play is prohibited.
If a player’s ball lies in or touches such an area, the player must take free relief under Rule 16.1b, which permits the ball to be dropped within 1 club length of the nearest point of relief, no closer to the hole.
Penalty for playing the ball from the Wrong Place in breach of Local Rule: General Penalty under Rule 14.7a
Local Rules Below Are Currently Not In Place
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