The rules below are in effect for all club
tournaments except when noted by the Tournament Chair.
The purpose of these rules is to help make the day on the
links more enjoyable and to speed up play. They are also to
help resolve situations that may be ambiguous. We hope that
all Foon Hay players will abide by these rules and otherwise
adhere to the USGA Rules of Golf.
1. Lost Ball Situation / Out of Bounds
Out
of Bounds –
If
you believe your ball is out of bounds, you can declare
that you are playing a provisional ball. Play this
second ball from the original spot, counting both strokes
and add a penalty stroke - USGA rule 27-1. (e.g., Tee shot
went out of bounds, re-tee hitting 3)
If a
provisional ball has not been played – you may drop a ball
in the fairway parallel to where you went out of bounds.
Count the initial stroke and take a two-stroke penalty -
(e.g., Tee shot went out of bounds, you did not re-tee,
dropped your ball in the fairway where you went out of
bounds, then hit 4 from the drop spot – The drop in the
fairway is now included in USGA rules! So you will be
laying 3 at that point and hitting 4.)
Lost
Ball -- Play same as Out of Bounds -- Note you have option
if you think your ball is lost to hit a provisional before
moving forward to where ball was last seen.
Limit
search for a lost ball to 3 minutes. New time
limit is 2019 rule change.
2. Bumping the Ball
If
your ball is in a position that makes it difficult to make a
successful hit, you may "bump" the ball 12 inches, no nearer
the hole, anywhere on the course except in a penalty
area (including bunkers) or on the green. However, the
"bumping" cannot change the ball conditions ... e.g. if the
ball is in the rough, the ball must remain in the rough. If
the ball is in the first cut, it must remain in the first
cut.
The
"bumping" can be done in the following manner:
The
bumping may be done with a golf club.
The
ball may be placed within 12” by hand.
3. Extremely "bad" hole (Mercy Rule or Max Score Rule)
If a
player has not holed out within a number of strokes equal to
double par, he/she must pick up and take a score equal to
double par plus one (2 X Par + 1).
On
par-3 holes, the max score is 7; on par-4 holes, the max
score is 9; and on par-5 holes the max score is 11.
Special announcement about the par-6 hole at Lake Chabot
will be made by the Tournament Chair.
If
you wish to pick up, rather than suffering through to a
final stroke, take the max score.
This
Rule will:
Speed
up play immensely
Relieve
the excruciating pains being felt by this player
Relieve
the sympathetic pains being felt by fellow players
4. Putting Green
During
Foon Hay tournaments, all players will continue hitting the
ball until the ball has been holed and remains in the hole.
If the ball is picked up prior to that point, the maximum
score described in #3 above shall be recorded.
Prepare
and line up your putt while other players are preparing for
their putts. Of course, please do not disturb the player
once he/she is about to putt including talking or moving
around.
You
are not required to putt in order from greatest distance to
least.
When
it is your turn to putt, please continue putting until the
ball is holed unless:
You
will have to step in another player's line of putt.
Made
such a poor putt that mentally you are not able to
continue.
Once
the last player has holed out, all players should quickly
move to the next tee. This is also safer, since the
following foursome will usually be hitting up.
You
do not have to remove the pin when putting. You do have the
option to remove it if you wish.
Note
that in Covid-19 protocol, the pin shall be left in
the hole and not touched.
5. Covid-19 and Bunkers
When
Covid-19 hit, golf courses removed rakes meaning they did
not want players handling a rake which could potentially
spread the virus. At this date, rakes are not available on
most courses.
If
your ball ends up in a bunker, you have two options:
You
can play out of the bunker with a typical sand shot. If
the ball is in a footprint or other disturbed position,
the ball may be placed in the nearest point that has an
undisturbed lie and then played. There is no penalty for
moving it.
You
can move the ball out of the bunker along the path it
entered the bunker and place the ball no nearer the hole.
If you do this, add a 1-stroke penalty to your hole score.
6.How to
resolve problems
·If you
have a sticky situation and are uncertain whether to play the
ball where it lies or to take relief, inform your playing
partners. Then play a ball from the original position and
another from the relief position. Keep track of both stroke
totals and note them on your scorecard (or the back thereof).
·At the
end of the round, present your situation to the Tournament
Chair who may consult with your playing partners and the club
pro as needed to achieve the best resolution. If the number of
strokes is the same in both situations, there is no need for
adjudication.
