The Metropolitan Golf Club Local Rules

1. OUT OF BOUNDS (Rule 18.2)

• • Beyond any wall, fence, or white stakes defining the boundary of the course.
  • The clubhouse, car park and surrounds as demarcated by white stakes.
  • Maintenance shed and staff quarters left of path on hole 9.

2. PENALTY AREAS (Rule 17.1)

• • All penalty areas on the course are identified with red stakes and the stakes define the edges of the penalty areas. Should there be any doubt as to the line between two stakes, the fall of land where the ground breaks down, shall determine the edge of the penalty area.
  • Note. The penalty areas to the left of, and in some cases, extending behind greens, on the following holes, extend to the boundary fences. Holes 1/10, 2/11, 3/12, 5/14 and 7/16.
  • All bridges on the course crossing a penalty area, are part of the penalty area.
  • Where a drop zone is marked for a penalty area, it is an additional option under penalty of one stroke. The drop zone is a relief area under Rule 14.3 meaning a ball must be dropped in and come to rest in the relief area.
  • Note: The drop zone to the left of the 10th green must only be used if the ball crossed the cart path circling the 10th green.
  • 18th Hole Only. If there is any doubt whether a ball has cleared the penalty area the player may play a Provisional Ball under Model Local Rule B-3 using any of the options under Rule 17.1d. If the original ball is found outside the penalty area, the player must continue play with it.

3. ABNORMAL COURSE CONDITIONS (Rule 16.1)

 3.1. GROUND UNDER REPAIR:

• • Is defined by a notice or any area encircled by a white painted line.

 3.2. IMMOVABLE OBSTRUCTIONS:

• • Relief is available for all artificially covered roads and paths and all stone distance markers on the ground, fixed sprinkler heads and drainage covers. Wood chip carts paths are not artificial.
  • Immovable obstructions close to putting green. If a players ball, on a closely mown area in the general area and an immovable obstruction, also on a closely mown area within two club-lengths of a putting green and within two club lengths of the ball, intervenes on the players line of play, the player may take relief within one club-length under Rule 16.1. There is no relief is a player chooses a line of play that is clearly unreasonable.
  • All stakes on the course (except out-of-bounds stakes) are movable obstructions.
  • If a player’s ball on the putting green has interference by the other hole on the green, the ball may be placed, not nearer the hole, at the closest point that offers relief from the interference.
  • The practice putting green area is a Wrong Green and relief must be taken from it.
  • A ball landing on either the 9th or 18th greens, whilst playing the other green, must be dropped off that green at the nearest point of relief, not nearer the hole.
  • During play of the 8th/17th holes, if the protective fence on the 9th hole is on a players line of play, the player may take relief by dropping a ball in and playing it from the drop zone located towards the 8th /17th fairway. But this relief is only allowed if the ball is in play nearer the hole than where the dropping zone is located (Rule 14.3).

4. EMBEDDED BALL: (Rule 16.3)

• • Relief is available anywhere in the General area, except if the ball is embedded in sand in a part of the General area that is not closely mown, or when neither the reference point nor any part of the course within one club length of the reference point, is in the general area.
    Example: When the ball is embedded in the very base of the lip of a bunker or when the spot right behind the ball, is in the bunker.
  • Exceptions to Rule 3.4: No free relief is available if:
    – The ball is in a penalty area;
    – Interference by anything other than the condition covered by these local rules makes the stroke clearly unreasonable; or
    – Interference by this condition would exist only through use of a clearly unreasonable club choice, stance, swing or direction of play.

5. GARDENS AND FLOWER BEDS:

• • Are part of the general area, with no free relief available with the exception of the garden surrounding the Starters Hut at Holes 1/10. This is to be treated as Ground under Repair and relief taken as per Rule 16.1.

6. PACE OF PLAY POLICY:

• • From the time of starting, groups should play the 18 holes in 4 hours and 28 minutes which includes times allocated for walks between tees and time at halfway house. If a group is, without reason, more than the starting interval over the allocated time, all players in the group may be subject to a penalty.

7. CODE OF CONDUCT:

• • A Code of Conduct, with penalties for a breach of its standards is adopted by the Committee.

BREACH OF A LOCAL RULE:

GENERAL PENALTY (2 Strokes in Stroke Play or Loss of Hole in Matchplay)

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