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Effective 8/10/2022
Rules of Golf as approved by United States Golf Association (USGA) govern play. Unless otherwise noted, the penalty for breach of a Local Rule or Conditions of Play is:
Match Play – Loss of Hole / Stroke Play – Two Strokes
1.Distance Measuring Devices: While devices that measure yardage only are preferred, those with non-approved features such as weather, slope, wind speed or elevation changes are allowed under two conditions:
All non-approved features are Turned Off throughout the round; and;
Player notifies his opponent prior to teeing off that he has turned off non-approved features. First infraction: Match Play — Loss of Hole and Medal Play — 2 Strokes. Continued use: Disqualification.
2.Course Conditions – mud, extreme wetness, poor conditions, & protection of the course:
Preferred Lies – Winter Rules — SF Pro Shop, with input from the SFMC, determines whether playing conditions warrant Winter Rules or modified local rules for the day. A ball in the fairway may be Marked, Lifted, Cleaned, & REPLACED within 6 inches of its original landing spot, not nearer the hole. In extreme rain conditions, the committee may approve a club length relief through the green.
Embedded Ball — Through the green (all fairways & rough) may be Marked, Lifted, Cleaned & DROPPED as close as possible to its original landing spot, not nearer the hole.
Aeration Holes — Through the green a ball that comes to rest in or on an aeration hole may be Marked & Lifted without penalty and DROPPED as close as possible to its original landing spot, not nearer the hole. The ball when dropped must first strike a part of the course through the green. A ball on the putting green may be PLACED at the nearest spot, not nearer the hole.
Sod Seams – Through the green, sod seams (not sod itself) are deemed ground under repair, and relief is available. If the ball lies in or touches a sod seam or the sod seam interferes with the area of intended swing. All seams within the sodden area are considered the same seam.
Abnormal Conditions (Summer Rules): – Due to extreme winter weather, relief may be approved by the committee for a ball in the fairway that comes to rest in a winterkill area not marked as ground under repair. The player shall Mark, Lift, Clean and Drop in the nearest relief, not nearer the hole without penalty. No relief is given for stance only in a winterkill area.
3.Provisional Ball Option —- Hole 3
A player may hit a provisional ball from the 3rd tee if his ball may have landed in the hazard surrounding the pump house but not in the water. The player can then make a decision to play the ball in the hazard hitting 2 or play the provisional ball hitting 3. If the original ball is found not to be in the hazard, the original ball must be played.
4.Handicap Adjustment — follow USGA recommended guidelines If the 90% adjusted handicap stroke differential between partners is 8 or greater, each player is adjusted to 80% for certain events. (see applicable SFMC events with Round Robins played at 100%/90%)
5.Discontinuance of Play — (Paid entry fees redeemed in Pro Shop credits only.)
The SFMC Tournament Committee reserves the option to cancel any event impacted by unplayable conditions and an acceptable reschedule date cannot be established.
One-Day stroke play events that are stopped during play due to weather will be cancelled.
Two-Day events that are stopped day-2 due to weather will revert to day-1 results. However, if an entire Flight finished day-2 prior to play being cancelled, their two-day results will stand.
6.On Course Objects & Obstacles
- a. Large Rocks Directing Cart Traffic (holes 2, 5, 8, 14 & 16)
If a ball comes to rest near a large rock placed to direct golf cart traffic that interferes with the player’s stance or swing (not line of sight), relief is given by stance and swing completely away from the rock/bolder and his ball is dropped within one club length from that spot, not nearer the hole. No relief is given from rocks naturally found throughout the course.
- b. Yardage Marker/Stakes in the Fairway (100/150/200 Yards) If a yardage marker cannot be removed and interferes with stance or swing, then the player is given relief by stance and swing completely away from the marker and his ball dropped within one club length from that spot, not nearer the hole.
USGA Rules for Stakes: Water Red & Yellow Stakes: Relief given – stakes may be removed.
OB White Stakes: No relief – stakes may not be removed and play the ball as it lies.
- USGA Rules for Irrigation Boxes & Posts
If a ball comes to rest near an irrigation box or post that interferes with the player’s stance or swing (not line of sight), relief is given by stance and swing completely away from the box or post and his ball is dropped within one club length from that spot, not nearer the hole.
- Simsbury Farms Course rule: A free lift from service roads, sprinkler heads and flower beds.
Drop ball one club length no closer to the hole.
- Staked Trees
If a ball comes to rest near a staked tree and there is interference to the player’s stance or swing (not line of sight), relief is given by stance and swing completely away from the stakes and his/her ball is dropped within one club length from that spot, not nearer the hole.
7.All un-cut Natural areas will be played as follows:
All Golf carts are to stay out of these areas. You may look for your ball and play out of these areas. These areas will be treated like a red staked penalty area. The beginning of the uncut areas will be considered the start of the penalty area as if it was red staked. Please refer to rule 17.1 and 17.1d for relief options.
8.Alternative to Stroke and Distance for a Ball that is Lost or Out of Bounds
This Local Rule is not intended for higher levels of play, such as professional or elite amateur level competitions. It will not be allowed in the Club & Senior Championships.
This option allows the player to drop in a large area between the point where the ball is estimated to have come to rest or gone out of bounds and the edge of the fairway that is not nearer the hole
The player gets two penalty strokes when using this relief option, so that the relief is comparable to what could have been achieved if the player had taken stroke-and-distance relief.
Reminders:
Since we play all bunker shots as they lie. Here is a reminder of options you have if you want to declare your lie in the bunker as unplayable:
19.3 Relief Options for Unplayable Ball in Bunker
When your ball is in a bunker, you may take unplayable ball relief using one of the four options shown in Diagram 19.3.
