Rule 17 Penalty Areas- Randolph GC (2021-2-9)

There was recently a question about penalty areas not clearly marked on holes number 9 and 18 at Randolph golf course. The official course scorecard notes that both holes #9 and #18 have water hazards, although these areas have seldom had water in them in recent times and the course has been mowing these areas keeping vegetation very short. However, since the Randolph course scorecard still has these areas noted as water hazards the following rule applies:

The USGA defines a penalty area by color (yellow or red). It also defines the relief options you have based on color. (Rule 17.1d)

If the penalty area is not clearly marked, it becomes a red penalty area, and the player has a choice of the three relief options mentioned in Rule 17.1.

If the penalty area is not clearly marked, the interpretation of where the penalty area begins is as follows:

1. The natural boundary of the area should be used as the reference point for taking relief. (i.e. where the land and water would naturally meet in a normal circumstance – in this case the water hazard was full of water.)
2. In addition, your playing group should agree as to where that boundary lies.

In summary, if the ball is in the "water hazard" area of Randolph holes #9 or #18, the player has three options:

1. Play the ball as it lies where it is in the hazard, no penalty stroke.
2. Stroke-and-Distance Relief. The player may play the original ball or another ball from where the previous stroke was made (see Rule 14.6) with a 1 stroke penalty
3. Back-On-the-Line Relief. The player may drop the original ball or another ball (see Rule 14.3) in a relief area that is based on a reference line going straight back from the hole through the estimated point where the original ball last crossed the edge of the penalty area with a 1 stroke penalty

Desert Rule

Fred Enke GC has a long standing "Local Rule", printed on the scorecard which states, in part, the following:

"1. Penalty Areas - All desert areas are red penalty areas and the edge of the penalty area is where the grass and the desert meet (Rule 17 applies)."

This local rule has come to be know as "Desert Rules" at Fred Enke. This rule defines the boundary of the penalty areas as they relate to the desert area on the course. Once a players ball passes into the definded penalty area USGA rules 17 & 18 define a player's options based on several conditions.

USGA Recommendation for Settling Ties in Stroke Play

For major tournaments it is necessary to determine a single first place winner or team for our trophy wall plaques. The USGA recommendation referenced below is the basis that the SGC has adopted for breaking ties. This procedure is for determining the winner for each category of SGC major tournaments. For both single round and two-round tournaments ties will be broken by looking at the last 9 holes played. If the tie is not broken looking at the last 9 holes played then the last 6 holes played will be used. Finally, if there is still a tie the last 3 holes played will be used to break the tie. This procedure applies only to the determination of the name to go on the plaque.

If a play-off of any type is not feasible, matching score cards is recommended. The method of matching cards should be announced in advance and should also provide what will happen if this procedure does not produce a winner. An acceptable method of matching cards is to determine the winner on the basis of the best score for the last nine holes. If the tying players have the same score for the last nine, determine the winner on the basis of the last six holes, last three holes and finally the 18th hole. If this method is used in a competition with a multiple tee start, it is recommended that the "last nine holes, last six holes, etc." is considered to be holes 10-18, 13-18, etc.

From USGA Rules and Decisions, Appendix I - Local Rules; Conditions of the Competition, Part B, Section 10, Stroke Play.

Bunkers & Bunker Rakes

With the removal of rakes from bunkers, the USGA advises and the SGC Board enacts the following temporary rule effective immediately:

Alternative to Stroke and Distance

When a player’s ball cannot be 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 a substituted ball in this relief area (see Rule 14.3):

Two Estimated Reference Points:

a. 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 the course boundary to go out of bounds.

b. 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.

For purposes of this Local Rule, “fairway” means any area of grass in the general area that is cut to fairway height or less.

Size of Relief Area Based on Reference Points: Anywhere between:

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

But with these limits:

Limits on Location of Relief Area:

• Must be in the general area, and
• Must not be nearer the hole than the ball reference point.

But, the player may not use this option 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).”

Illustrations on Taking Relief

Click image to enlarge

Link to USGA Video

Maximum Score per Hole

2019 Rule: “Maximum Score” will be a new, additional form of stroke play:

• A player’s score for each hole is capped at twelve (12) a maximum set by the Committee.
• A player who does not complete a hole (often referred to informally as “picking up”) will not be disqualified, but simply gets the maximum score (12) for the hole.

Reasons for Change:

The need to hole out on every hole in stroke play can have at least two downsides: (1) it often leads to a slow pace of play, and (2) it may discourage golfers who feel they no longer have a realistic chance to compete or to make a good score for the round once they get a very high score on one or two holes.

Maximum Score will be an alternative form of play that addresses both concerns, by allowing a player to “pick up” when he or she scores at or above the maximum and by capping the player’s score for any hole at the maximum. 

The Maximum Score form of play will be unlikely to be used for elite play, but it may be useful in many other contexts, such as for play by beginners or golfers who are less skilled or experienced and, more generally, for club level and day-to-day play when pace of play is a particular concern.

Effective immediately, USGA Rules 18-2, 18-3, 18-3 and 20-1 are modified as follows:

When a player's ball lies on the putting green, there is no penalty if the ball or ball-marker is accidently moved by the player, his opponent, or any of their caddies or equipment.

The moved ball or ball-marker must be replaced as provided in Rules 18-2, 18-3, 18-3 and 20-1.

This Local Rule applies only when the player's ball or ball-marker lies on the putting green and any movement is accidental.

Note: If it is determined that a player's ball on the putting green was moved as a result of wind, water or some other natural cause, such as the effects of gravity, the ball must be played as it lies from its new location. A ball-marker moved in such circumstance is replaced to its original location.

Defined as outside the chain linked fence surrounding the course, inside the chain link fenced in areas surrounding the maintenance buildings on Silverbell Golf Course holes #4 and #7 and the pump station on hole #9, and inside the old adobe building on hole #7.

a. Preferred Lies

Adverse conditions, including poor condition of the course or the existence of mud, are sometimes so general, particularly during winter months, that the Tournament Director may decide to grant relief by temporary Local Rule. If, and only if, the Tournament Director announces that "Preferred Lies" are in effect, the following Local Rule will apply: Relief may be taken on closely mown areas (fairway cut height grass or less). The ball may be lifted, without penalty, cleaned and dropped, as near as possible to the spot where it lay but not nearer the hole.

b. Lifting an Embedded Ball, Cleaning

Relief for an embedded ball may be taken anywhere *"Through the Green". The ball may be lifted, without penalty, cleaned and dropped as near as possible to the spot but not nearer the hole.

c. Aeration Holes

*"Through the Green" a ball that comes to rest in or on an aeration hole may be lifted, without penalty, cleaned and placed as near as possible to the spot where it lay but not nearer the hole.

d. Ground Under Repair in fairways not marked

If a ball comes to rest in or on an area that appears to be Ground Under Repair, but is not clearly marked as such, relief may be taken provided all players in the group agree area is warranted for relief. The ball may be lifted, without penalty, cleaned and dropped as near as possible to the spot where it lay but not nearer the hole. No relief for bare spots on closely mown areas (fairways or aprons) is allowed under this local rule.

e. Ground Under Repair on green

If a ball comes to rest on or in an area that appears to be Ground Under Repair on the green, or such an area interferes with the intended stroke or line of play, relief may be taken provided all players in the group agree relief is warranted. The ball may be placed as near as possible to the spot where it lay but not nearer the hole. No relief for stance or bare spots is allowed under this local rule.

f. Dirt Maintenance Road crossing holes #7 and #11.

The dirt maintenance road will be treated as an immovable obstruction per local rule and relief may be taken as follows: All players in the group must agree that the road is interfering with stroke and/or stance as the road location is not clearly defined.

g. Hole #2 — Bed of rocks along Out of Bounds fence.

If a ball comes to rest in the bed of large rocks between the cart path and the out of bounds fence on hole #2, relief may be taken as follows: The ball may be lifted, without penalty, cleaned and dropped as near as possible to the spot where it lay but not nearer the hole.

Devices are approved for all play provided devices give distance information only and do not give information on gradient, wind speed, temperature, etc. Rule 14-3 applies.

The removal of stones in bunkers are allowed by declaring them movable obstructions (Rule 24-1).

All course established dropping zones may be used.

If a ball comes to rest in or near staked trees and/or tree wells with irrigation that interferes with stance or intended stroke, the ball may be lifted, without penalty, cleaned and dropped as near as possible to the spot where it lay but not nearer the hole.

When Silverbell Golf Club plays courses other than Silverbell, the local rules of the course being played will apply. If Silverbell Golf Club Local Rules contradict the course local rules, Silverbell Golf Club Local Rules will supersede.

a. Interference

Interference by an abnormal ground condition occurs when a ball lies in or touches the condition or when the condition interferes with the player's stance or the area of his intended swing. If the player's ball lies on the putting green, interference also occurs if an abnormal ground condition on the putting green intervenes on his line of putt. Otherwise, intervention on the line of play is not, of itself, interference under this Rule. Note: The Committee may make a Local Rule stating that interference by an abnormal ground condition with a player's stance is deemed not to be, of itself, interference under this Rule.

b. Relief

Except when the ball is in a water hazard or a lateral water hazard, a player may take relief from interference by an abnormal ground condition as follows:

(i)Through the Green: If the ball lies through the green, the player must lift the ball and drop it, without penalty, within one club-length of and not nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief. The nearest point of relief must not be in a hazard or on a putting green. When the ball is dropped within one club-length of the nearest point of relief, the ball must first strike a part of the course at a spot that avoids interference by the condition and is not in a hazard and not on a putting green.

(ii) In a Bunker: If the ball is in a bunker, the player must lift the ball and drop it either:

   (a) Without penalty, in accordance with Clause(i) above, except that the nearest point of relief must be in the bunker and the ball must be dropped in the bunker or, if complete relief is impossible, as near as possible to the spot where the ball lay, but not nearer the hole, on a part of the course in the bunker that affords maximum available relief from the condition; or

   (b)Under penalty of one stroke, outside the bunker, keeping the point where the ball lay directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind the bunker the ball may be dropped.

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* "Through the green" is the whole area of the course except:
a) The teeing ground and putting green of the hole being played; and
b) All hazards on the course