Local Rules

LOCAL RULES (effective 14th October 2019)

1. Out of Bounds (Rule 18.2) is defined as:

  1. Beyond the line of white posts bounding the course.
  2. Beyond the fences and hedges bounding the course.
  3. On or beyond the white posts and the line surrounding the practice grounds.
  4. Beyond the line of white posts at the back of the 2nd green.
  5. On or over the paths surrounding the clubhouse, as indicated by the white posts.
  6. Within the Greenkeeper’s compound as defined by the white posts.
  7. On or over the Wirral Way (behind the 3rd green, and left of the 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th holes).

Stroke-and-distance relief, adding one penalty stroke, MUST be played. 

2. Penalty Areas (Rule 17)

    1. Penalty Areas are identified by red and yellow posts or lines. Where both lines and posts exist, the posts identify the Penalty Areas and the lines define the Penalty Areas.
    2. The Penalty Areas marked with red posts on the left of the 3rd and 12th fairways extend to and coincide with the white out of bounds posts.
    3. The Penalty Area marked with red posts on the left of the 11th fairway extends to and coincides with the course boundary. If a ball is known or virtually certain to be in this area, relief may be taken under Rule 17.1d adding one penalty stroke.
    4. Under Rule 17, relief from red Penalty Areas MUST be taken on the side of the Penalty Area where the ball last crossed the margins of the Penalty Area. However, if a ball is known or virtually certain to be in the red Penalty Areas to the left of the 3rd, 11th and 12th holes and the ball last crossed the
      margins of the Penalty Area from the boundary side of the area, relief under Rule 17.1d may be taken on the opposite side of the Penalty Area.

3. Dropping zone (Rule 19)
A ball coming to rest near to or against the boundary fence at the back of the 5th green in the area defined between the two green posts and, because a player’s swing is impeded by the boundary fence, is deemed unplayable MAY, as an extra relief option, be dropped in the nearest designated dropping
zone, adding one penalty stroke. The dropping zones are relief areas under Rule 14.3.

4.Abnormal Course Conditions (Rule 16)

      1. Areas marked by white lines and ‘GUR’ are ground under repair (GUR) from which relief MAY be taken without penalty under Rule 16.1b.
      2. Areas indicated by and between the blue posts, where the public may cross the course, MAY be treated as GUR. If a player’s ball lies in the area, relief without penalty may be taken under Rule 16.1b
      3. Deep ruts caused by machinery MAY be treated as GUR, from which relief without penalty MAY be taken under Rule 16.1b.
      4. Animal damage (including bird droppings) are Abnormal Course Conditions, and relief without penalty MAY be taken under Rule 16.1b.
      5. All artificially surfaced roads are immovable obstructions from which relief without penalty MAY be taken under Rule 16.1b.
      6. Gully pots are immovable obstructions, and relief without penalty MAY be taken under Rule 16.1b.
      7. Areas marked by white lines and ‘NPZ’ are No Play Zones (NPZ) from which relief MUST be taken, without penalty, under Rule 16.1f

NOTE: Under b, c and d, no relief is available if only the stance is affected. 

5. Staked Trees (Rule 16.1f)
Staked trees and plastic watering tubes 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 tube, or such a tree or tube interferes with a player’s stance of area of intended swing, relief without penalty MUST be taken under Rule 16.1f.

6. Warm-up Putting Green (Rule 13.1f)
The warm-up putting green near the 1st tee is a wrong green, and relief without penalty MUST be taken Under Rule 13.1f.

7. Status of Putting Green when Temporary Green is in use (Rule 13.1f)
Any putting green that has been replaced by a temporary putting green is a wrong green, and relief without penalty MUST be taken under Rule 13.1f.

8. Fixed Sprinkler Heads (Rule 16.1b)
Fixed sprinkler heads are immovable obstructions.  Relief MAY be taken under Rule 16.1b if a greenside sprinkler head within two club lengths of the ball obstructs the intended line of play.

Exceptions: There is no relief if the player chooses a line of play that is clearly unreasonable or if the ball is in a penalty area.

Penalty for playing from a wrong place in beach of Local Rules 2 – 8, General Penalty under Rules 14.7a

9. Competitions Held Over 2 or more Days
Where a competition is held over two or more days the holes and teeing grounds may be differently situated on each day of the competition, provided that on any one day all competitors play each hole and each teeing ground in the same position.

10. Transportation
During a competition round, a player must not ride on any form of motorised transportation (such as a single-seat or two-seater buggy) except as authorised below:

      • If the player is registered as disabled; or
      • If the player holds a medical exemption certificate; or
      • In very exceptional and one-off circumstances at the discretion of the Professional.

No other player in a group using an authorised buggy may ride on the buggy or use it for the carriage of their clubs.

Penalty for breach of Local Rule 10, General Penalty for each hole during which the breach occurred. If the breach occurs between play of holes, the penalty applies to the next hole.

 NOTES TO ACCOMPANY THE LOCAL RULES

      • Rule 17.1d – Provides relief options when a ball is in a Penalty Area, each for one penalty stroke.
      • Dropping zones near the 5th green – The two dropping zones are situated on the left and right sides at the back of the 5th green and each are indicated by a white post. The dropping zone is defined as being within two club lengths (in any direction) of the dropping zone’s white post. The ball must be dropped in accordance with Rule 14.3. The ball must be dropped from knee height and be dropped in and come to rest in the dropping zone.
      • General Penalty – Two penalty strokes in stroke play or loss of hole in match play.
      • Rule 16.1b – Relief taken under this Rule allows a player to drop the ball in the relief area. The relief area is defined as within one club length of the nearest point of complete relief, but not nearer the hole.
      • Rule 16.1f – Relief MUST be taken when a ball is in, or a player’s stance or swing is affected by, a No Play Zone. This applies whether the No Play Zone is in the General Area of the course, in a bunker or on a putting green.

 SAFETY ON THE COURSE

Players must, at all times, respect the safety and wellbeing of all other persons on the golf course and surrounding areas.  A public right of way exists crossing the 2nd, 5th, 10th, 11th, 15th and 17th holes and along the left hand side of the 2nd hole. Players must give way to pedestrians on these rights of way.  Greens Staff have the right of way at all times.  Any accidents or incidents must be reported to the General Manager as soon as possible for recording into the Accident/Incident Book.

TEMPORARY LOCAL RULES (REVISED) - (Effective November 2023)
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