Local Rules

Winter Rules 2024/25

Preferred Lies
From the start of play on Thursday October 17th 2024, the Model Local Rule E-3 for Preferred Lies will be in effect.

"When any part of a player's ball touches 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: one scorecard length from the reference point, but with these limits:
  - Must not be nearer the hole than the reference point, and
  - 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 14.2e. But, for the purposes of applying Rule 14.2e, the player has only chosen the spot on which to place the ball once the ball has been set down, and the player has let the ball go with the intent for that ball to be in play.

After a ball has been placed and is in play under this Local Rule, if the player then proceeds under another Rule that provides relief, this Local Rule may be used again.

Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Local Rule: General Penalty Under Rule 14.7a”

Rules sub-committee, October 16th 2024

Local Rules

The following Local Rules with any additions or amendments published by Lyme Regis Golf Club will apply to all Competitions and Matches run by Lyme Regis Golf Club.

For the full text of any Local Rule referenced below, please refer to the Official Guide to the Rules of Golf effective 1 January 2023 and the Clarifications updated quarterly by The R&A, available at www.randa.org

Unless otherwise noted, the penalty for breach of a Local Rule is the general penalty (loss of hole in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play).

Please note that not all the rules may be in operation at any one time.

1. Out of Bounds (Rule 18.2)

1a. Beyond any wall, fence, hedge, or line of white stakes defining the boundary of the course.
1b. On or beyond any white line defining the boundary of the course.
1c. In or beyond any ditch/trench defining the boundary of the course.
1d. On or beyond the course-side edge of the path in front of the clubhouse.
1e. Closed gates defining the boundary of the course on holes 10 and 18 are part of the boundary object and must not be moved. Relief is not allowed from such a gate under Rules 15.2 or 16.1. But an open gate is not treated as part of the boundary object and may be closed or moved to a different position.

Note:
i. Where out of bounds is defined by a fence or line of white stakes, the line joining the nearest inside points at ground level of such stakes, or any fence posts (excluding angled supports) defines the boundary.
ii. Where both stakes and white lines are used to indicate the out of bounds, the stakes identify, but it is the line that defines the out of bounds. (A ball is out of bounds when all of it lies on or beyond such a line).
iii. Where a white line is used to define a boundary, white stakes may be used for visibility. Such stakes are boundary objects and must not be moved.
iv. White stakes with black tops have been placed for visibility to indicate the presence of a course boundary. These stakes are movable obstructions.
v. Where the out of bounds is defined by a hedge the boundary line is the inside line of the hedge trunks at groundlevel.

2. Penalty Areas (Rule 17)

2a. When both stakes and lines are used, the line defines the margin of the penalty area.
2b. In the absence of a painted line marking the penalty area on the left-hand side of the 9th hole, the area is defined by the outside edge of the stakes at ground level and the stakes are inside the penalty area.
2c. The penalty area on the right-hand side of the 14th hole (approximately first 80 yds only) is identified by red stakes but is defined by the natural limits where the ground brakes to form the depression. Where the penalty area adjoins the boundary, the penalty area edge extends to and coincides with the out of bounds edge. The ditch on the right-hand side of the 14th fairway beyond the penalty area is to be treated as part of the general area and not as a penalty area.

3. Abnormal Course Conditions (including Immovable Obstructions) (Rule 16)

3a. Ground Under Repair.
i. Any area bounded by a white line, except temporary putting greens.
ii. If a player’s ball lies in or touches an aeration hole:
Ball in General Area. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b. If the ball comes to rest in another aeration hole the player may take relief again under this Local Rule.

Ball on Putting Green. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1d.

But interference does not exist if the aeration hole only interferes with the player’s stance or area of intended swing or, on the putting green, on the player’s line of play.

3b. Immovable Obstructions.
i. All artificially surfaced roads and paths on the course including those covered with cockleshells. Individual pieces of cockleshell are loose impediments.
ii White lined areas and the immovable obstruction they tie into are treated as a single abnormal course condition.
iii. Wooden artificial edges/borders to areas covered with wood chippings.

4. Immovable Obstructions Close to Putting Greens (e.g., Sprinkler Heads)

Immovable obstructions close to putting green: 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, on or 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.)

5. Integral Objects

Areas of the course purposely covered with wood chippings are to be treated as integral parts of the general area from which free relief is not allowed.

6. Protection of Young Trees

The young trees identified by labels, wrapping, stakes or otherwise protected 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 or such a tree interferes with the player’s area of intended stance or area of intended swing, the player must take relief under Rule 16.1f.

7. Temporary putting greens/Wrong Greens

The putting green in play for a hole is identified by the location of the flagstick. When any part of the general area has been prepared for use as a temporary putting green (by being mown more closely than the surrounding area).
a. It is a wrong green when there is no flagstick in it, and
b. Any putting green that has been replaced by a temporary putting green is a wrong green. When there is interference by a wrong green free relief must be taken under Rule 13.1f.

8. Suspension of Play (Rule 5.7)

The following signals will be used to suspend and resume play:

Immediate stop for imminent danger - one prolonged note of a siren
Stop for a non-dangerous situation – three consecutive notes of a siren
Resumption of play - two consecutive notes of a siren.

Penalty for breach of Local Rule: Disqualification. See Rule 5.7b and 5.7c

9. Practice. (Rule 5.2)

Rule 5.2a and 5.2b are modified in this way:
A player may use the recognised practice area situated between the 1 st and 17th holes on any day of the competition for practice. Practice bunkers in this area are ground under repair and are part of the general area.

Free relief is available under Rule16.1b.

Penalty for breach of Rule 5.2: See penalty statement in Rule 5.2

10. Standards of Player Conduct (Rule 1.2)

In competition or general play a player must be abide by the England Golf Code of Conduct Policy 2023.

11. Prohibiting Use of Motorised Transportation

During all LRGC organised competitions, a player must not ride on any form of motorised transportation except as authorised or later approved by the Committee in charge of the competition. A player who will play, or has played, under penalty of stroke and distance is always authorised to ride on motorised transportation.

Penalty for breach: The player gets the general penalty for each hole during which there is a breach. A breach between two holes applies to the next hole.

Note 1: This does not apply to players who use a buggy on a regular basis.
Note 2: Rule 25 and England Golf Transportation Policy includes provisions for people with disabilities.

12. Winter Temporary Local Rules (effective when notified)

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 with these limits
• Limits on Location of Relief Area
- Must not be nearer the hole than the reference point, and
- 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 14.2e.

But for the purposes of applying Rule 14.2e, the player has only chosen the spot on which to place the ball once the ball has been set down, and the player has let the ball go with the intent for that ball to be in play. After a ball has been placed and is in play under this Local Rule, if the player then proceeds under another Rule that provides relief, this Local Rule may be used again.

October 2023