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ILCC Local Rules

Per the USGA, the Rules of Golf define the Golf Committee (Committee) as the person or group in charge of competition or the course.  

 

During general play, the structure of the Committee is often more informal than in competitions, and in many cases the responsibilities of the Committee will be delegated to or undertaken by one or more course representatives, such as the golf professional, course manager or other employee of the course.

 

The duties of this Committee include:

  • Insuring the course is properly marked,

  • Establishing any Local Rules for general play,

  • Establishing and enforcing Pace of Play and Code of Conduct guidelines,

  • Considering when to suspend play because of weather or other conditions, and

  • Providing Rules support for players when they have a question regarding general play.

 

The purpose of this document is to establish any Local Rules for general play. 

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Tournament play referenced within this document is defined by the following Men’s events:

  • Men’s Two Man Tournament

  • Men’s Stroke Play Tournament

  • Men’s Shoot Out

  • Men’s Club Championship

  • Men’s Calcutta

 

USGA Model Local Rule 8A: Out of Bounds and Course Boundaries

 

8A-2 Clarify Boundary When Using Fence or Road

  • The boundary to the right of holes 1/10, 2/11, and 3/12 is defined by the inner edge of the fence posts.  A ball at rest is out of bounds when all of it is outside the boundary edge of the course. 

  • Beginning at the double white stake, the boundary to the right and behind hole 9/18 is defined by the inner edge of the cart path. 

 

8A-4 Internal Out of Bounds

  • During play of hole 6/15, the boundary on the right side of the hole, defined by white stakes, is out of bounds.  These stakes are treated as boundary objects during the play of hole 6/15.  For all other holes, they are immovable obstructions. 

 

USGA Model Local Rule 8E: Special or Required Relief Procedures

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8E-1 Dropping Zones

  • If a ball is in the penalty area of hole 7/16, including when it is known or virtually certain that a ball that has not been found came to rest in a the penalty area, the play has these relief options, each for one penalty stroke:

    • Take relief under Rule 17.1, or

    • As an extra option, drop the original ball or another ball in the dropping zone as defined by the drop area sign and within the white painted circle.  The dropping zone is a relief area under Rule 14.3. 

 

8E-2 Cleaning Ball

  • On days defined by the local golf professional or golf committee, when a player’s ball lies in any general area cut to fairway height or less, the ball may be lifted, cleaned, and replaced without penalty.  The player must mark the spot before lifting the ball (see Rule 14.1) and the ball must be replaced on its original spot (see Rule 14.2).  

 

8E-5 Alternative to Stroke and Distance for Lost Ball or Ball Out of Bounds

  • During non-tournament play, when a player’s ball has not been 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 another ball in this relief area (see Rule 14.3):

    • Two Estimated Reference Points:

      1. 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 course boundary to go out of bounds.

      2. Fairway Reference Point: The point of fairway of the hole being played that is nearest to the ball reference point, but is not nearer the hole than the ball reference point.  

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Size of Relief Area Based on Reference Points:

  • Anywhere between:

  • A line from the hole through the ball reference point (and within two-club lengths to the outside of that line), and

  • A line from the hole through the fairway reference point (and within two club-lengths to the fairway side of that line).

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  • Limits on Location of Relief Area:

  • Must be in the general area, and

  • Must not be nearer the hole than the ball reference point.

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  • Once the 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).

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  • But the player may not use this option to take relief for the original ball when:

  • 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).

 

8E-8 Defining No Play Zones

  • Any mulched area within the boundaries of the course 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.

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8E-10 Protection of Young Trees

  • The young trees identified by stakes, ribbons or any tree shorter than a club length 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 interferes with he 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 relief under Rule 17.1e(2).  

 

USGA Model Local Rule 8F: Abnormal Course Conditions and Integral Objects

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8F-1 Defining Abnormal Course Conditions and Integral Objects

  • Ground under repair is defined by any area encircled by a white line. 

  • Protective fences around hole 8/17 tee box and hole 9/18 tee box are immovable obstructions when they are within the course boundaries.

  • Hole 1 pump house, the storm shelter between holes 2/11, 3/12, and 6/15, and the storm shelter behind hole 6/15 tee box are immovable obstructions. 

 

USGA Model Local Rule 8G: Restrictions on Use of Specific Equipment

 

8G-4 One-Ball Rule

  • During tournament play, each ball at which the player makes a stroke must be the same brand and model.  

  • If a different brand and/or model is dropped, replaced or placed but has not yet been played, the player may correct the mistake by stopping use of that ball, without penalty, under Rule 14.5.  The player must drop, replace or place a ball of the same brand and model as used at the start of the round.  

  • When the player discovers he or she has played a ball in breach of this Local Rule, he or she must stop using that ball before playing from the next teeing area and complete the round with a ball of the same brand and model as used at the start of the round; otherwise the player is disqualified. 

  • If the discovery is made during the play of a hole, the player may complete play of this hole with the ball played in breach or place a ball of the correct brand and model on the spot where the ball played in breach of this Local Rule was lifted from.

  • Penalty for Making a Stroke at a Ball in Breach of Local Rule:

    • The player gets the general penalty for each hole during which he or she is in breach of this Local Rule.

 

8G-7 Prohibiting Use of Certain Types of Shoes

  • During a round, a player must not wear shoes with:

  • Traditional spikes – that is, spikes having a single or multiple points designed to penetrate deeply into the surface of the ground (regardless of whether made of metal, ceramic, plastic or other materials); or

  • Spikes of any design that are entirely or partially made of metal, if such metal may come in contact with the course. 

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