Local Rules and Competition Conditions

Local Rules

Rule 33-8a of the Rules of Golf enables Club Committees to “make and publish Local Rules for abnormal conditions”. Accordingly, Local Rules are introduced by a Club Committee for specific course conditions, not covered by the Rules of Golf.

Rule 33-2a requires Committees to “define accurately:

(i) the course and out of bounds;
(ii) the margins of water hazards and lateral water hazards;
(iii) ground under repair and; (iv) obstructions and integral parts of the course.”

Therefore, Local Rules also define areas that are located on the course and specify how a player is to proceed in such areas. Appendix 1 in the Rules of Golf outlines the various areas where local rules and definitions are required:-

Course Boundaries

  • Water Hazards/Lateral Water Hazards
  • Areas of the Course Requiring Preservation
  • Turf Nurseries
  • Young Tree Plantations
  • Garden Beds
  • Obstructions
  • Young Trees
  • Fixed Sprinkler Heads
  • Roads and Paths
  • Stones in Bunkers
  • Power Lines
  • Environmentally-Sensitive Areas

A club’s Local Rules are usually printed on the back of the Club Scorecard, thus making it easy for players to locate and refer to the Local Rules as required during play on the course. In addition, Committees sometimes need to introduce Temporary Local Rules for situations which occur and are temporarily present on the golf course such as: -

 

  • Ground Under Repair
  • Areas of Course Maintenance Works
  • Fallen Trees
  • Burst Pipe
  • Damage to the Course
  • Wheel Marks made by Course Equipment
  • Aeration Holes
  • Embedded Ball Through the Green
  • Preferred Lies or Tee-Up due to extremely wet/muddy conditions
  • Temporary Obstructions

Temporary Local Rules are usually displayed on major noticeboards in mens’ and womens’ locker rooms, adjacent to the 1st tee and near professional shops (where applicable). In major open or club events, it is recommended that copies of Temporary Local Rules be provided to all competing players to fully inform of all conditions which exist on the course.

Penalties imposed by a Rule of Golf can not be waived by a Local Rule. The modification of a Rule of Golf in a Local Rule is not allowed without the permission of the Governing Authority (eg The VGA within the State of Victoria) and such permission is only given in very special cases. Local Rules are also not intended to cater for conditions that are covered by the Rules of Golf. Consequently, Local Rules are not required on the following issues as the Rules of Golf answer them directly: -

  • Cleaning of a Ball on the Putting Green (Rule 16-1b)
  • Repair of Old Hole Plugs and Ball Marks on the Putting Green (Rule 16-1c)
  • Immovable Obstruction on the Putting Green intervening on the Line of Putt (Rule 24-2a)
  • Artificially Surfaced Roads and Paths (Rule 24-2)
  • Rabbit Scrapes (Rule 25-1)
  • Embedded ball in any closely mown area through the green (Rule 25-2)



Printing extracts from or rewording the Rules of Golf within Local Rules is undesirable due to potential amendments to a Rule and subsequent confusion experienced by players. There are a number of Resource Items and services available to assist clubs in the development of Local Rules and Temporary Local Rules as follows: -

 

  • The Rules of Golf Book – specifically Appendix I (Parts A & B)
  • Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews publication:
    “Notes for Club Committees in the Making of Local Rules and Other Matters”
  • Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews publication
    “Decisions on the Rules of Golf” whereby 48 Decisions are listed on Local Rules generally located under Rule 33-8
  • United States Golf Association publication
    “How to Conduct a Competition” including a significant section on Local Rules
  • The Victorian Golf Association’s Rules Committee offers a free consultation service to clubs to both review existing club Local Rules and assist in developing Temporary Local Rules as required.



All clubs are encouraged to conduct regular course inspections and liaison with the Course Superintendent in order to create/review Temporary Local Rules as required. Prior to the reprint of club scorecards, clubs should conduct a meeting of the Club’s Match Committee and Course Superintendent to review the Local Rules as printed on the back of the scorecard. It must be remembered that the Local Rules as printed must be followed even if they are not technically correct. Outlined below is a standard example of a club’s Local Rules. Should you’re club’s Local Rules differ significantly from the information presented below, it is recommended that contact be made with the Victorian Golf Association. 

 
15 Bardolph Street, Burwood, Vic, Aust, 3125  |  Ph: +61398896731  |  Fax: +61398891077