Local Rules

Vardon Course

SOUTH HERTS GOLF CLUB - LOCAL RULES

1. Out of Bounds (Rule 18.2)

The line between the course-side points at ground level of the white stakes behind the green on hole 2, and to the left of holes 16, 17 and 18.
The boundary to the left of hole 5.
On hole 6, by the fence on the left of the tee and, beyond that, by the line between the course-side points at ground level of the white stakes.
On hole 18, by the course-side of the wall bordering the lower car park and by the course-side of the kerb or tarmac at the back and to the right of the green.

2. Penalty Areas (Rule 17)

Red and Yellow penalty areas are clearly marked with the corresponding posts.
The red penalty area on the left side of the fairway on hole 18 extends to and coincides with the out of bounds edge.
When playing hole 6, as an extra relief option for the red penalty area behind the green on hole 6, adding one penalty stroke, a player may drop a ball in the dropping zone situated behind the green. The dropping zone is a relief area under Rule 14.3.
When the ball last crossed the edge of any red penalty area defined using red stakes marked additionally with black tops, as an extra relief option adding one penalty stroke, the player may drop the original ball or another ball on the opposite side of the penalty area.

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

3. Fixed Sprinkler Heads (Rule 16.1)

a) 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, is within two club-lengths of the putting green, and is within two club-lengths of the ball.

[Exception: There is no relief under this local rule if the player chooses a line of play which is clearly unreasonable].

4. Protection of Young Trees

The young trees identified by protecting tubes and/or stakes 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 stance or area of intended swing, the player must take relief under Rule 16.1f.
If a ball lies in a penalty area, and interference to the player’s stance or area of intended swing exists from such a tree, the player must take relief with penalty under Rule 17.1e or with free relief under Rule 17.1e(2).

5. Tree Roots

If a player’s ball is in the general area and there is interference from exposed tree roots that are in a part of the general area cut to fairway height or less, the tree roots are treated as ground under repair. The player may take free relief under Rule 16.1b.

6. 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 the siren.
Stop for 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.

Note: When play is stopped for imminent danger, all practice areas will be immediately closed.