Local Rules 2023

January 24, 2023

ADMIRAL’S COURSE – LOCAL RULES

MLR 1. OUT OF BOUNDS. (Rule 18.2)

A ball is out of bounds if it comes to rest: –

  1. Over the boundary of the course designated by a hedge bordering the roads adjacent to the 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th holes (as of the 1st January 2019) and the field to the rear of the 4th and 13th
  2. Within the confines of the driving range adjoining the 18th
  3. On the driveway and over the hedge behind the 17th green (Past the white markers).

MLR 2. PROTECTION OF YOUNG TREES.

Young trees less than one club length in height are classed as ‘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 or such a tree interferes with the player’s stance or area of intended swing, the player must take relief under Rule 16.1f.

MLR 3. ABNORMAL COURSE CONDITIONS (Including Immovable Obstructions) (Rule 16)

An ‘Abnormal Course Condition’ must physically interfere with the player’s area of intended stance or area of intended swing. The player’s ball must be touching or in or on an abnormal course condition.

 

The player must take complete relief under Rule 16.1a; 16.1b (Relief in General Area); 16.1.c (Relief for ball in bunker) without penalty. (One club length using identified reference point to determine area of relief)

 

MLR 3.1. GROUND UNDER REPAIR.

  1. Any area encircled by a white line.
  2. Areas in bunkers where sand has been removed by the movement of water resulting in deep furrows through the sand.
  3. Rutted tractor tracks or other excavation equipment damage.
  4. Paint line depressions at the approach to putting greens.

 

MLR 3.2. IMMOVABLE OBSTRUCTIONS

 

  1. Protective fences around greens or in the general area of the course.
  2. Artificially surfaced roads and paths on the course.
  3. The fence angled support stanchions of the Driving Range Boundary Fence (left hand side of the 18th Hole Fairway.

 

MLR 4 IMMOVABLE OBSTRUCTIONS CLOSE TO PUTTING GREENS (e.g., SPRINKLER HEADS)

 

In addition to the types of interference described in Rule 16.1a, when a ball lies in the general area, interference also exists if an immovable obstruction: is on the player’s line of play, is within two club-lengths of the putting green and is within two club-lengths of the ball. The player may take relief under Rule. 16.1b. (Exception – There is no relief under this Local Rule if the player chooses a line of play that is clearly unreasonable.)

 

MLR 5 PENALTY AREAS

 

Penalty areas are identified by yellow or red stakes and defined by where the ground breaks down to form a depression.

NOTE: – The part of a bridge that crosses a penalty area is in the penalty area.

MLR 6.  DEFINING NO PLAY ZONES.

Any area defined by blue stakes is a ‘No Play Zone’ which 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.

MLR 7. AERATION HOLES

If a player’s ball lies in or touches an aeration hole:

  1. Ball in General Area: the player may take relief under Rule 16.1.b. If the ball comes to rest in another aeration hole the player may take relief again under this Local Rule.
  2. Ball on Putting Green: The player may take relief under Rule 16.1d.

MLR 8. WINTER RULES (PREFERRED LIES).

When a player’s ball lies in a 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 within these limits:

Limits on Location of Relief Area:

  1. Must not be nearer the hole than the reference point;
  2. 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 14.2c.

Preferred lies within Bunkers will be allowed providing the NUGC have allowed this.

During the months of October to April when preferred lies are in play the following dimensions of cut grass will be in existence: –

Fairway cut will be 16mm.

Green surrounds and approaches to the green will be 15mm.  (Therefore you will be able to pick and place on green surrounds and approaches to the green).

MLR 9. PACE OF PLAY.

The Admiral’s Club Committee wants to adopt the latest ethos around the pace of play. Accordingly they wish to discourage slow play at all times. The emphasis needs to be to KEEP UP WITH THE GROUP IN FRONT OF YOU RATHER THAN KEEP IN FRONT OF THE GROUP BEHIND YOU.

Players are always required to wave faster groups through and must not have more than four players in a group.

Accordingly the anticipated time for completion of a round of golf on the Admiral’s Course should not be any longer than 4 ½ hours maximum. Obviously there will be times when this is not achievable but the focus for each group of players must be to try to complete a round of golf in accord with the designated time limit.

The Admiral’s Club Committee will start to monitor the time of rounds and if persistent slow players are identified they will be called to account and sanctions may be applied.

MLR 10. SUBMISSION OF SCORE CARDS AND ENTRY OF SCORES ONTO THE COMPUTERISED SYSTEM / MOBILE SCORE INPUT SYSTEM.

The Admiral’s Club Committee require players to submit their scorecards after the completion of a competition and to also INPUT THEIR SCORES ONTO THE COMPUTER OR ENTER THEM ONTO THE MOBILE SCORE INPUT APP ON HOW DID I DO. (Only arrange for the scores to be input onto the computer via the Professional Shop if you do not have access to the mobile score input app – How Did I Do).

Due to the World Handicap System and the effective processing of Handicap Indexes it is vitally important that players submit their scorecards promptly. At the end of each day the World Handicap System calculates a players Handicap Index considering a number of varying factors (i.e. course conditions; weather etc.) before issuing a new Handicap Index to the player.

It is important to do this because it enables the Committee to process competition results quicker and ensure that appropriate handicap index adjustments are timely.

The Admiral’s Club Committee will continue to monitor the submission of score cards and the inputting of scores onto the computerized system and mobile score input system. Persistent offenders will be called to account and sanctions will be applied.

MLR.11. CODE OF CONDUCT.

Under Rule 1.2b, a Local Rule can be introduced to penalize inappropriate conduct.

Inappropriate conduct may take many forms and some examples are listed below: –

  • Continual failure to adhere to the rules of golf.
  • Not adhering to the Competition Rules set by the Admiral’s Club.
  • Continual failure to adhere to the Admiral’s Course Local Rules.

The penalty structure for such failure to comply:

First Breach –                      Warning or Committee sanction

Second Breach –                                One stroke penalty

Third Breach –                    General penalty

Fourth Breach –                 (Includes any serious misconduct) Disqualification.

READY GOLF.

Oakmere Golf Club and the Admiral’s Course have adopted ‘Ready Golf’ as a means of improving the pace of play. Players are actively encouraged to use ‘Ready Golf’ with the proviso that players remain vigilant to the welfare of other players in terms of Health & Safety matters.

 

Updated 17th January 2023

G J Oscroft

Honorary Secretary

(Due to be reviewed December 2023)