SFMC Local Rules

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SFMC Local Rules

Rules of Golf as approved by the 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. Course Conditions – mud, extreme wetness, poor conditions, & protection of the course:
    1. 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.
    2. 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.

 

  1. Discontinuance of Play— (Paid entry fees redeemed in Pro Shop credits only.)
    1. The SFMC Tournament Committee reserves the option to cancel any event impacted by unplayable conditions and an acceptable reschedule date cannot be established.
    2. One-Day stroke play events that are stopped during play due to weather will be cancelled.
    3. 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.

 

  1. On Course Objects & Obstacles
    1. 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.
    2. Helpful Reminder: 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.
      1. USGA Rules for Stakes: Water Red & Yellow Stakes: Relief given – stakes may be removed.
      2. OB White Stakes: No relief – stakes may not be removed and play the ball as it lies.
    3. Split rail fence between 14 green & 15th Tee
      1. If a ball comes to rest near fence that interferes with the player’s stance or swing (not line of sight), relief is given by stance and swing completely away from the fence and the ball is dropped within one club length from that spot, not nearer the hole.
      2. Reminder: The split rail fence down the left side of the 18th fairway is the O/B marker and no relief is granted for swing or stance.
    4. Simsbury Farms Course rule: A free lift from service roads, sprinkler heads and flower beds.
      1. There are several well-defined service roads (e.g., crossing 5th fairway), where the availability of a free lift should be easily discerned. Two other areas that should be considered service roads include:
      2. 6th fairway, the left side beginning on the far side of the fairway trap and extending to the end of the line of pine trees where a ball could come to rest in well-worn, tire tracked areas.
  • 9th hole to the right of the green/trap complex, inside the blueberry bushes, there is an easily identifiable dirt road that should be considered worthy of a free lift.
  1. In addition to these areas, if a ball comes to rest on a sprinkler head of flower beds, a player is entitled to free relief.
  2. Find the nearest point of relief, then drop ball one club length no closer to the hole.
  1. Immovable Obstructions Near Green (Model Local Rule F-5):Provides relief when an immovable obstruction (e.g., sprinkler head) is within two club-lengths of the putting green and on the line of play.

 

  1. Natural Areas – there are several of these areas on the course (holes 2, 3, 10, 15, 16, 18) and are marked with signage declaring the area as un-cut, natural areas. All “un-cut natural” areas will be played as follows:
    1. All Golf carts are not allowed in these areas.
    2. These areas will be treated like a red-staked penalty area although there are no red-stakes marking the area. The beginning of the uncut areas will be considered the start of the penalty area as if it was red staked.
    3. You may look for your ball and play out of these areas, or if ball is not found or is un-playable, then
    4. Please refer to rule 17.1 and 17.1d for relief options (generally, the ball should be dropped and played within two club lengths of the point at which the ball likely entered the natural area, with a one-stroke penalty to be assessed.

 

  1. Alternative to Stroke and Distance for a Ball that is Lost or Out of Bounds (Model Local Rule E-5)
    1. 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.
    2. “When a player’s ball has not been found or is known or virtually certain to be out of bounds, the player may proceed as follows rather than proceeding under stroke and distance.
    3. For two penalty strokes, the player may take relief by dropping the original ball or another ball in this relief area(see Rule 14.3):
    4. Two Estimated Reference Points:
      1. Ball Reference Point: The point where the original ball is estimated to have:
        1. Come to rest on the course, or
      2. Last crossed the edge of the course boundary to go out of bounds.
        b. Fairway Reference Point        : The point of fairway of the hole being played that is nearest to the ball reference point, but is not nearer the hole than the ball reference point.
    5. For purposes of this Local Rule, “fairway” means any area of grass in the general area that is cut to fairway height or less.
    6. If a ball is estimated to be lost on the course or last crossed the edge of the course boundary short of the fairway, the fairway reference point may be a grass path or a teeing ground for the hole being played cut to fairway height or less.
    7. Size of Relief Area Based on Reference Points: Anywhere between:
      1. A line from the hole through the ball reference point (and within two club-lengths to the outside of that line), and
      2. A line from the hole through the fairway reference point (and within two club-lengths to the fairway side of that line).        

 

  1. No show policy.
    1. The SFMC has a limited field for most events. We generally have players on a waitlist who wish to play. To ensure fairness to all members, it is imperative that members who must withdraw from an event do so by 5:00pm on the Thursday before the event. A withdrawal for any reason after that time will be considered a “no show” and will be subject to disciplinary action by the club.
    2. The Club recognizes there may be infrequent, extenuating circumstances for an individual, and the Club will take this under advisement prior to issuance of any penalties or actions.
      1. First Offense. A written warning will be issued to the player.
      2. Second offense. The player will be placed on the waitlist for a period of 4 weeks. Registration will be pending until all other interested players have registered.
  • Third offense. A suspension from registering for a four-week period.

 

  1. Pace of Play policy
    1. The SFMC is sometimes limited in field size because our pace of play can vary substantially. In order to enhance our ability to provide members with playing opportunities we will strictly enforce the following rules.
    2. Pace of Play is 4 hours 20 minutes. You must either finish in 4:20 or less, or be within 13 (thirteen) minutes of the group in front of you.
    3. Timing will be measured using Unknown Golf. Timing will begin at your scheduled tee time unless course conditions require start times to be altered.
    4. End times are timestamped by UKG when players electronically sign scorecards.
    5. UKG provides a detailed report identifying time of play and pace of play for all groups and these will be the basis for MC reporting and actions taken, as needed.
  1. First Offense, A written warning will be issued to each member of the group,
  2. Second offense. A player with two offenses will have the start time of his group adjusted to the end of the available tee times for a period of four weeks.
  • Third Offense. A player with three offenses may be suspended from competitions for a period of up to four weeks.
  1.  

 

  1. Helpful Reminders

 

  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:
    1. All non-approved features are Turned Off throughout the round; and
    2. 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:
    1. 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 11 inches (new USGA guidance in 2026 stipulates length of scorecard) of its original landing spot, not nearer the hole.
    2. In extreme rain conditions, the committee may approve through the green. The ball may be Marked, Lifted, Cleaned, & REPLACED within 11 inches (new USGA guidance in 2026 stipulates length of scorecard) of its original landing spot, not nearer the hole. This does not include Bunkers & penalty areas.
  • Embedded Ball — If embedded on the player’s own ball mark 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.
  1. 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.
  2. Sand traps: Unless otherwise stated for specific Men’s Club events, all golf balls in sand traps should be played as they lie. No relief is to be taken.
  1. Pace of Play
    1. Be on the 1st tee prior to your assigned start time. Don’t wait until the pro shop calls your group, be ready!
    2. Minimize your time on the tee
      On the tee it is usually acceptable for players to “hit when ready.” You can also save time by playing a provisional ball (Rule 27-2) if you think your original ball might be lost or out of bounds.
  • Keep your pre-shot routine short
    Pick your line of play once and trust yourself. Try to take no more than one practice swing, then set up to the ball and play your shot. Most importantly, be ready to hit when it is your turn. Be efficient after your shot too. Start moving toward your next shot promptly.
  1. Be efficient on the putting green
    Mark your ball and lift and clean it when you arrive at the putting green so you will be ready to replace it when it is your turn to play. You can usually line up your putt while others are putting, without disturbing them. Leave your clubs on the side of the putting green closest to the next tee and leave the green promptly after holing out. Wait until the next tee to record your score.
  2. When sharing a cart, use a buddy system
    Don’t wait in the cart while your cart mate hits and then drive to your ball. Get out and walk to your ball with a few clubs. Be ready to play when it is your turn and then let your cart mate pick you up. Or drive to your ball after you drop your cart mate off and then pick him or her up after you hit.
  3. Keep up with the group in front of you
    Your correct position on the course is immediately behind the group in front of you, not immediately in front of the group behind you. Arrive at your next shot just before the group in front leaves the area in front of you. If you are consistently not able to keep up and a gap opens in front of you, invite the group behind you to play through, irrespective of the number of players in the group.
  • Remember that picking up your ball is permitted by the USGA Handicap System
    If not in an individual stroke play competition, it is generally OK to pick up your ball and move on to the next hole if you are “out” of a hole and want to maintain pace of play. This applies in match play and many forms of stroke play, including Stableford and best-ball play.
  • Record your scores quickly, on the tee following each hole. Ideally, two separate scorekeepers should be active in Unknown Golf, one is the “primary” and the other is the “checker”. Any score conflicts will be alerted in UKG and can be quickly clarified. This should minimize the time needed to validate scores at the conclusion of your round.

Update: March 11, 2026