RANCHO PARK SENIOR GOLF CLUB LOCAL RULES

 

OUT OF BOUNDS

Defined by inside points, at ground level, of white stakes, and/or property fence posts; all service yards; When defined by a line on the ground, the line itself is out of bounds. 

 

Hole-specific instances of OB:

 

Hole #4 Left of the road.
Hole #5 Inside the maintenance yard.
Hole #9 Course side edge of the driving range posts.

Hole #17 Inside the maintenance yard.
Hole #18 a) Course side edge of the driving range posts, b) beyond the fence and/or line on the ground behind the green, (c) right of the course side edge of the curb on the right side of the fairway, (d) left of the low fence that borders the nursery area, and (e) left of an imaginary line that runs from the north end of the low fence to the white painted pole on the large fence that borders Patricia Avenue.

IMMOVABLE OBSTRUCTIONS

Includes concrete drainage swales, paved roads, staked trees, wood pilings surrounding the green on hole #16, and the protective fences on the left and right of #1, behind the #4 tee box, to the right of #14 cart path, and the driving range support posts and guide wires. Players may proceed under Rule 16.

 

AREAS OF SPECIAL INTEREST AT RANCHO PARK

Hole #1
LEFT SIDE

If your ball comes to rest between the boundary fence and the protective fence on the left side of Hole #1 and is not Out of Bounds, the ball may be dropped, without penalty, within 2 club lengths of the nearest point of complete relief from the end of the protective fence closest to the first tee.

Hole #1

RIGHT SIDE

If your ball comes to rest on the cart path  (or the small grassy area) next to the protective fence for the #4 green you may, as take a free drop within one club length of the nearest point of complete relief to the left side of the cart path.

 

Hole #13

If a ball comes to rest on cart path to the left of the 13th green near the slope to the 14th tee box or if the cart path physically interferes with the player’s area of intended stance or area of intended swing, as an additional relief option to Rule 16.1, free relief is available by dropping within one club length of the black tees plate on #14. No free relief is allowed for a ball that comes to rest on the slope without cart path interference.

GROUND UNDER REPAIR (GUR)
Ground Under Repair (GUR): RPGC marks Ground Under Repair (GUR) with yellow paint, and only for Major Tournaments. Ignore any other area marked as GUR from a different club (Seniors, Women's, etc...). A ball that is in a GUR area may either be played as it lies or free relief may be taken in accordance with Rule 16-1.

An area that has a sign that reads Ground Under Repair shall be treated as such. If the player elects to take free relief from this GUR, they shall do so within one club length of complete relief outside of the line, rope, or chain that identifies the border of the GUR, no nearer the hole. There is no line of sight relief. Please note that some areas on the course are blocked off by rope/chain, but do not have a sign indicating GUR (i.e. right of #1 fairway bunker, front left of #12 green, etc). These areas are not GUR but have ropes/chains to keep carts off. There is no free relief from those areas.

ALTERNATIVE TO STROKE AND DISTANCE FOR LOST BALL OR BALL OUT OF BOUNDS
Pursuant to Model Local Rule E-5 (and provided the ball is not in a Penalty Area nor has a Provisional Ball been played), the player may, for a penalty of two strokes, drop a ball within two club lengths of an area bordered by (a) where the ball either crossed out of bounds or a point where the ball was estimated to be lost and (b) a point on the nearest edge of the fairway that is equidistant from the hole. See the link above for a more detailed description of how to take relief pursuant to this Rule. Watch this video for clarification.

 

RELIEF FROM SPRINKLER HEAD (IMMOVABLE OBSTRUCTION) NEAR PUTTING GREEN

Under Model Local Rule F-5, if a ball lies in the General Area and an immovable obstruction (within two club lengths of the putting green and within two club lengths of the ball) intervenes on the line of play between the ball and the hole, the player may take free relief. Watch this video for clarification.

 

BALL ON THE WRONG PUTTING GREEN OR APRON

Relief must be taken at the nearest point of relief that is NOT on the putting apron.

 

EDGING GROOVES NEAR PUTTING GREEN

Free relief may be taken under Model Local Rule F-19 if your ball is on the green and in an edging groove. The nearest point of complete relief may or may not be on the green, for example, it could be on the fringe.

PRACTICE BETWEEN HOLES

Members shall not play any practice stroke on or near the putting green of the hole last played in any RPGC stroke play event. If a practice stroke is played on or near the putting green of the hole last played, the player shall incur a penalty of two strokes at the next hole, except that in the case of the last hole of the round, he incurs the penalty at that hole.

 

AERATION HOLES

If a player's ball lies in or touches an aeration hole, the player may take free relief under Model Local Rule E-4.

 

FLOWER BEDS

Free relief MUST be taken within one club length of the nearest point of relief, no nearer the hole. 

 

OLD TEMPORARY GREENS:

No relief is permitted from the temporary putting greens.

 

RELIEF FROM DOWNED TREES
The Committee has declared the areas immediately surrounding all downed trees (whether or not attached to their stump and whether or not clearly marked, roped off, etc.) to be Ground Under Repair (GUR). Relief from GUR can be found in Rule 16.1: If a ball comes to rest within this GUR or if it cannot be found but it is known or virtually certain to be in this area, FREE relief may be taken as follows:

         (a)  If the ball is found:

                     (i) Drop a ball within one club length of the nearest point of relief, no closer to the hole.

(b)  If the ball cannot be found, but is known or virtually certain to be in this area:

(i) Drop a ball within one club length of the spot where the ball last crossed the outermost limits of the GUR.
 

In any situation involving fallen trees, there is NO line of sight relief. If your nearest point of relief puts you in a position that's impossible to see/hit the green, tough break.