On 12th April 2024

Local Rules & Temporary Local Rules

LOCAL RULES

 

Refer to the Noticeboard near the 1st tee for Temporary Local Rules and Conditions of Competition.

Penalty for breach of Local Rule: General Penalty (Loss of Hole in Match Play, Two-Stroke Penalty in Stroke Play) unless otherwise stated.

 

OUT OF BOUNDS (RULE 18.2)

Out of Bounds is defined by the line between the course-side points at ground-level of white stakes and/or boundary fences.

 

Pro-Shop – the entire Pro-Shop building is Out of Bounds.  The adjacent area, defined by white posts or white lines (which may include Pro-Shop structural posts) is also Out of Bounds.

 

ABNORMAL COURSE CONDITIONS (RULE 16)

  1. ALL STAKES AND TRAFFIC DIRECTION BARRIERS on the course are defined as IMMOVABLE OBSTRUCTIONS from which free relief is allowed under Rule 16.1.
  2. STAKED TREES: Stakes Trees are NO PLAY ZONES that are to be treated as Abnormal Ground Conditions.  If a player’s ball 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
  3. GROUND UNER REPAIR: (GUR) is defined by Light Blue Stakes and/or White Lines. Compulsory GUR areas or No Play Zones are defined by Dark Green stakes with white top.
  4. BUNKERS OUT OF PLAY DUE TO ACCUMULATION OF WATER: Any bunker which has a light blue stake in the middle of the bunker is classed as GUR in the general area, relief without penalty is available in accordance with Rule 16.1c.
  5. WHEEL RUTS AND DEPRESSIONS: All clearly defined wheel ruts and depressions created by a mower, tractor, or other motor vehicles, in the General Area are to be treated as abnormal ground conditions, free relief is available under Rule 16.1b.
  6. KANGAROO DAMAGE IN BUNKERS:If a ball comes to rest in a kangaroo paw print or digging in a bunker, the player may take relief from the animal hole (which is an abnormal course condition) under Rule 16.1c.
  7. ALL NEW WORK BY COURSE MAINTENANCE STAFF: All new work by course maintenance staff (holes, drainage, bunker repair etc) are to be treated as GUR even when not marked as GUR. Free relief under Rule 16.1.
  8. EDGING GROOVES: The edging grooves around the collar/cuff/fringe of putting greens are defined as Ground Under Repair.  If a player’s ball lies in or touches a groove, or a groove interferes with the area of intended swing:
  9. Ball in General Area – The player may take free relief under Rule 16.1b.
  10. Ball on Putting Green – The player may take free relief under Rules 16.1d.
  • Note 1 – Interference does not exist if the groove only interferes with the player’s stance.
  • Note 2 – A ball lying in the groove defining a green is on the green, but not if the ball lies in the boundary groove between fairway and collar.
  1. WASHAWAYS IN BUNKERS: All washaways in bunkers are to be treated as an abnormal ground condition, relief is available under Rule 16.1c

 

PENALTY AREAS (RULE 17)

  1. All Penalty Areas on the course are RED PENALTY AREAS and are defined by red stakes and/or lines.
  2. If, following a tee shot on Hole 3 (black tee only) or Hole 4 (black and blue tee), it is known or virtually certain that a ball that has not been found came to rest in the penalty area front/right of the respective teeing ground, the player may:
  • Take stroke-and-distance relief under Rule 17.1d(1), adding one penalty stroke, or
  • Drop the original ball or another ball in the dropping zone near the WHITE TEE area, adding one penalty stroke. The dropping zone is a relief area under Rule 14.3.
  1. If, following a tee shot on Hole 3 (black tee only) or Hole 4 (black and blue tee), a player does not know whether his ball is in the penalty area front/right of the respective teeing ground, the player may play a provisional ball using any of the following relief options:
  • Stroke-and-distance (17.1d(1))
  • Back-on-the-line (17.1d(2))
  • Lateral relief (17.1d(3)), or
  • By using the dropping zone available for these penalty areas which are located near the WHITE TEE.

Once the player has played a provisional ball under this Rule, he or she may not use any further options under Rule 17.1 in relation to the original ball.

 

pace of play

The target time for a competition round at MCGC is 4 hours & 15minutes.  All players are urged to maintain their position in the field relative to the group in front.

 

NOTES:

motorised carts must not proceed past the painted blue lines on fairways and must remain at least 15m from all greens.  Please use cart paths where available.

 

markers

Distances to the centre of the green:

Light Green – 100m.  Blue – 150m.  Orange – 200m.

 

 

SMOKING REGULATIONS

Smoking is only permitted on the left-hand side of all fairways, and is NOT permitted on tees, greens or any other part of the course.

 

RECYCLED WATER

Recycled water is in use on the course.

 

 

 

 

TEMPORARY LOCAL RULES

 

GROUND UNDER REPAIR – PUTTING GREENS

Areas that have had the surface of the putting green removed and replaced with imported turf may be treated as Ground Under Repair.

 

In addition, BARE AREAS on the greens may also be treated as Ground Under Repair.

If the player’s ball is on the putting green, relief without penalty is available in accordance with Rule 16.1d.

 

BARE PATCHES ON CLOSELY MOWN AREA

All bare patches on closely mown areas cut to fairway height or less are to be treated as Ground Under repair, free relief is available under Rule 16.1b.

 

GUY WIRES

If it is known or virtually certain that a player’s ball hit a guy wire or anchor during the play of the 18th hole, the stroke does not count.  The player must play a ball without penalty from where the previous stroke was made (see Rule 14.6 for what to do).

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

 

TURF SEAMS

If a player’s ball lies in or touches a seam of cut turf or a seam interferes with the player’s area of intended swing: The player may take free relief under Rule 16.1b. (within 1 club length, no nearer the hole)

 

DAMAGE BY ANIMALS

Areas of damage caused by an animal in the General Area, such as on the 1st, 9th & 18th Holes caused by the Magpie Geese are to be treated as Ground Under from which relief is allowed under Rule 16.1b. Relief is not allowed if the damage only interferes with the players stance.

 

CODE OF CONDUCT

All players are bound by the Club’s Code of Conduct – which can be viewed on the Club’s website.