Below are the current local league rules still in effect for 2024:
LAKEWOOD COUNTRY CLUB – WOMENS GOLF LEAGUE
(LCC-WGL.WEEBLY.COM)
2021 LOCAL / LEAGUE RULES
NOTE: USGA Rules of Golf, revision effective 2019 excerpt is listed at the end of our Local/League Rules.
a) REHIT SHOT- lay a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played
b) Drop a ball behind the point where the ball lay, keeping that point directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind that point the ball may be dropped;
c) Drop a ball within two (2) club-lengths of the spot where the ball lay, but not nearer the hole. If the unplayable ball is in a bunker, the player may proceed under USGA Clause a, b, or c. If she elects to proceed under Clause b or c, a ball must be dropped in the bunker. When proceeding under this rule, the player may lift and clean her ball or substitute a ball.
UNDER PENALTY OF TO (2) STROKES ….
d) New Option.. ball can be dropped outside sand bunker, keeping hole and where ball lied in bunker on straight line, drop as far back on that line you want.
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE:
Match Play – Loss of Hole; Stroke Play – two strokes
- OPTION 1 - If a ball is lost or out of bounds, the player shall play a ball under penalty of one (1) stroke as near as possible to the spot from which the original ball was last played. (re hit shot)
-OPTION 2 - The ball can be brought from lost or OB back to the nearest point onto the FAIRWAY WITH A TWO (2) STROKE PENALTY.
-OPTION 3 -In order to keep up the pace of play, a player may bring the ball back into play from the out of bounds area or lost area at a two club distance, no closer to the hole, with a ONE (1) stroke penalty.
COVID guidelines supersede normal rules & regulations.
ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE LIE OF THE BALL SHOULD BE DISCUSSED WITH THE FOURSOME. ANY DOUBT ABOUT A PENALTY DURING PLAY, PLAY TWO (2) BALLS AND RECORD BOTH SCORES. BEFORE POSTING FINAL SCORE, REPORT THE QUESTIONABLE PENALTY IN WRITING (EMAIL) TO THE RULES CHAIR FOR A DECISION.
IF A “GROUND UNDER REPAIR” CONDITION EXISTS ON A CERTAIN HOLE, THE LEAGUE MAY PUT AN ADVISORY OUT THAT MORNING GIVING YOU INSTRUCTIONS AS TO WHAT TO DO ON THAT PARTICULAR HOLE.
REMINDER: ON THE PUTTING GREEN, IF YOU ARE ON THE GREEN AND YOU STRIKE ANOTHER BALL WHILE PUTTING, YOU INCUR A TWO (2) STROKE PENALTY.
Maximum strokes to record for GHIN handicap posting:
Handicap Strokes
9 or less Double Bogey
10-19 7
20-29 8
30-39 9
USGA Rules Modernization changes will took place January 2019. Some Changes:
Ball in Play --------------no penalty
- Ball at rest accidently moves by marking, replacing ball on green, wind, kicking it, or by searching for it
- Replacing a moved or lifted ball
- Ball in motion accidently deflected
- If ball hits your caddie, equipment, flagstick
- Flagstick may be unattended while putting and if ball hits flagstick in hole there is no penalty
- Replacing a dropping procedure – ball is dropped at knee height (rule #14)
- To measure club-length, use longest club in golf bag – except for putter
Water hazards -----------drop
Bunkers ------------------no penalty
LAKEWOOD COUNTRY CLUB – WOMENS GOLF LEAGUE
(LCC-WGL.WEEBLY.COM)
2021 LOCAL / LEAGUE RULES
NOTE: USGA Rules of Golf, revision effective 2019 excerpt is listed at the end of our Local/League Rules.
- Winter Rules are in effect all season. This entitles you to move your ball 6” no nearer to the hole in the fairway ONLY. A ball is NOT to be touched or moved in the rough. A ball in the rough must remain where it lies, unless you declare it unplayable. (see #9 BALL UNPLAYABLE).
- Waste Bunkers on holes 4, 6 and 7 are played as “Pick and Place”, no closer to the pin, no more than 6” from original lie. Sand Traps – If a ball lands in a sand trap IN a footprint, deer track or tire track, the ball may be moved out of the indentation no closer to the pin. Player should ensure they rake the trap after they play out of it.
- Hole # 12 – If you land on the hill, you may; a) play the ball where it lies; b) go to the drop area located at the base of the raised tee box behind the 12th green and drop your ball two (2) club lengths from the post, no closer to the hole at a one (1) stroke penalty; or c) declare the ball unplayable, (see #9 Ball Unplayable) at a one (1) stroke penalty. NOTE: IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY AND/OR SPEED OF PLAY, A PLAYER MAY OPT NOT TO RETRIEVE THE BALL FROM THE HILL AND GO IMMEDIATELY TO THE DROP AREA AT A ONE (1) STROKE PENALTY.
- Hole # 14 – You may get relief by taking one club length no closer to the hole without penalty if: a) your ball lands in the ditch that runs along the right side of the green, or b) your ball lands in the narrow dirt footpaths on the right side in front of the green.
- Hole # 15 – If your ball lands in the water, the drop area is located in front of the water two (2) club lengths from the end of the bridge, no closer to the hole. OR, you may re-tee your ball, OR drop the ball behind the water as far back as you want keeping the flag in line with where the ball went into the water. All incurring a one (1) stroke penalty.
- Hole # 18 – If your ball lands in the narrow dirt footpaths on the right side in front of the green, you may get relief by taking one (1) club length no closer to the hole without penalty.
- NEAREST POINT OF RELIEF: On a cart path, play the ball as it lies or play nearest point of relief, one (1) club length, not nearer the hole. In the case of casual water, you may go as far as you need to go until your feet are no longer bringing up water.
- WRONG BALL- If another player plays a wrong ball, she shall incur a penalty of two (2) strokes, unless the ball was played when it was in a water hazard, in which case NO penalty is incurred.
- BALL UNPLAYABLE – (USGA Rule 28): The player may deem her ball unplayable at any place on the course, except when the ball is in a water hazard. The player is the sole judge as to whether her ball is unplayable. If the player deems her ball to be unplayable, she must,
a) REHIT SHOT- lay a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played
b) Drop a ball behind the point where the ball lay, keeping that point directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind that point the ball may be dropped;
c) Drop a ball within two (2) club-lengths of the spot where the ball lay, but not nearer the hole. If the unplayable ball is in a bunker, the player may proceed under USGA Clause a, b, or c. If she elects to proceed under Clause b or c, a ball must be dropped in the bunker. When proceeding under this rule, the player may lift and clean her ball or substitute a ball.
UNDER PENALTY OF TO (2) STROKES ….
d) New Option.. ball can be dropped outside sand bunker, keeping hole and where ball lied in bunker on straight line, drop as far back on that line you want.
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE:
Match Play – Loss of Hole; Stroke Play – two strokes
- PROVISIONAL BALL: If, at any time, you think your ball may not be found, or is in a water hazard, or out of bounds, inform your foursome that you will hit a provisional ball from the spot where the original ball was played. If the original ball is found, you MUST play your original ball and pick up your provisional ball. If you fail to play your original ball, a two (2) stroke penalty will be added to your score for playing the wrong ball.
- OPTION 1 - If a ball is lost or out of bounds, the player shall play a ball under penalty of one (1) stroke as near as possible to the spot from which the original ball was last played. (re hit shot)
-OPTION 2 - The ball can be brought from lost or OB back to the nearest point onto the FAIRWAY WITH A TWO (2) STROKE PENALTY.
-OPTION 3 -In order to keep up the pace of play, a player may bring the ball back into play from the out of bounds area or lost area at a two club distance, no closer to the hole, with a ONE (1) stroke penalty.
- DISQUALIFYING YOURSELF: If, for any reason, you disqualify yourself during your round of golf, you cannot win any prizes (long drive, closest to the pin, birdies, chip-ins, etc) that day. If we are playing a team tournament and one of your teammates disqualifies herself, a fourth will be drawn from all the players who played that day and her score will be used.
- SPRINKLER HEADS IN LINE OF PUTT: If your ball is being putted from the fringe/on the green and a sprinkler head/drainage head is in the line of your putt, you may move you ball to the left or right to get relief, no closer to the pin. No penalty. Announce to foursome your intention.
- If your ball lands by a tree stump and it affects your stance or swing, consider it Ground Under Repair. You get 1 club length free relief (drop) no closer to the pin.
- Ground Under Repair marked or unmarked, (in fairways/greens) check with foursome for 1 club length free relief (drop) no closer to the pin.
COVID guidelines supersede normal rules & regulations.
ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE LIE OF THE BALL SHOULD BE DISCUSSED WITH THE FOURSOME. ANY DOUBT ABOUT A PENALTY DURING PLAY, PLAY TWO (2) BALLS AND RECORD BOTH SCORES. BEFORE POSTING FINAL SCORE, REPORT THE QUESTIONABLE PENALTY IN WRITING (EMAIL) TO THE RULES CHAIR FOR A DECISION.
IF A “GROUND UNDER REPAIR” CONDITION EXISTS ON A CERTAIN HOLE, THE LEAGUE MAY PUT AN ADVISORY OUT THAT MORNING GIVING YOU INSTRUCTIONS AS TO WHAT TO DO ON THAT PARTICULAR HOLE.
REMINDER: ON THE PUTTING GREEN, IF YOU ARE ON THE GREEN AND YOU STRIKE ANOTHER BALL WHILE PUTTING, YOU INCUR A TWO (2) STROKE PENALTY.
Maximum strokes to record for GHIN handicap posting:
Handicap Strokes
9 or less Double Bogey
10-19 7
20-29 8
30-39 9
USGA Rules Modernization changes will took place January 2019. Some Changes:
Ball in Play --------------no penalty
- Ball at rest accidently moves by marking, replacing ball on green, wind, kicking it, or by searching for it
- Replacing a moved or lifted ball
- Ball in motion accidently deflected
- If ball hits your caddie, equipment, flagstick
- Flagstick may be unattended while putting and if ball hits flagstick in hole there is no penalty
- Replacing a dropping procedure – ball is dropped at knee height (rule #14)
- To measure club-length, use longest club in golf bag – except for putter
Water hazards -----------drop
- Make line from ball hitting other bank to where ball first crossed the water and drop as far back as you want --- drop ball with-in 40 in. of line of relief
- Committee is given discretion to make RED PENALTY AREAS and incur a 1 stroke penalty
- Water hazards are now called PENALTY AREAS.
- Can putt while flagstick in hole
- Can repair damage on green from spike marks, animals, in your line of putt
- If line of putt is touched by partner or caddie
- If ball moves on green by accident by marking it, kicking it, wind, replacing ball
- Caddies can mark ball for you
Bunkers ------------------no penalty
- Can remove loose impediments or natural objects from sand
- A two stroke penalty to take relief outside a bunker. NEW (option d under unplayable.)
- Cannot replace the damaged club if you were the one responsible for the damage (thrown)
- Ball can be replaced if damaged with a cut or crack at any time
- Each stroke 40 seconds
- Play ready golf – encouraged
- Maximum score ---- a form of stroke play --- set by your committee ---- (example – double par) pick up and move to next hole
- Searching for ball ----- 3 min max
- Substitute another ball ---- can use another ball whenever you get free relief or penalty relief
- DMD allowed -------(digital) measuring device (GPS’s)
- Caddie not allowed to be behind you to line you up …
- No Penalty for double hitting ball (accident)
- Free lift for embedded ball – free drop in entire General Area
- General Areas – covers entire course except these 4 areas:
- The teeing area
- All penalty areas
- All Bunkers
- And the putting green of the hole you are playing
- Ref: Rule 2.2 Defined Areas, Pg 20 Players Edition Rules of Golf
- Ball moves during search …. Just replace it, no penalty
- To identify ball…. Mark, and pick up.. no longer have to inform other players
- Can’t play on wrong green, take free drop so not to stand on green
- Any damage can be repaired on green
- Ball is holed if part of the ball is below the lip
- Ball moved during practice swing… = 1 penalty stroke and must be put back
- Ball not replaced after above….= 2 stroke penalty “ball played from wrong position”