BGGC Local Rules : Brickendon Grange Golf Club in Hertfordshire

Local Rules at

BRICKENDON GRANGE GOLF CLUB

1.     MARKER STAKES
a)       Yellow stakes define water hazards.
b)       Red stakes define lateral water hazards.
c)       White stakes define out of bounds.

2.     WATER HAZARDS (Rule 26)
All water hazards are marked with stakes as defined above. The margin of all hazards is defined by the outer margin of the stakes at ground level, connected by an imaginary line, straight or curved, following the natural margin of the hazard. The longitudinal limit of a ditch is marked by a double stake.

3.     OUT OF BOUNDS (Rule 27)
A ball is out of bounds when it comes to rest:-
a)      In or beyond any ditch, fence, hedge or white stakes bounding the course.
b)      Between or beyond the white stakes to the right of the 17^th hole when playing that hole. The longitudinal limit of the internal out of bounds is marked by a double white stake.

N.B. When playing hole 16, the area to the right is NOT out of bounds and the white posts are deemed to be immovable obstructions.

4.     STONES IN BUNKERS
Stones in bunkers are movable obstructions. (Rule24-1 applies).

5.     YOUNG TREES
Trees that are staked or guarded, must be considered immovable obstructions and relief must be taken (Rule 24-2 applies).

6.     GROUND UNDER REPAIR (Rule 25)
a)      Tyre ruts through the green.
b)      Stone filled drainage lines through the green.
c)      The tree plantations, marked as such, between the 2^nd & 3^rd holes are Ground under Repair and play is prohibited from these areas. A player must take relief, without penalty, by dropping not nearer the hole, adjacent and within one club length of the defined area on the fairway side of the hole being played. (Rule 25-1b applies).

7.     FIXED SPRINKLER HEADS
All fixed sprinkler heads are immovable obstructions. (Rule 24-2 applies). In addition, if such an obstruction on or within two club lengths of the putting green of the hole being played, intervenes on the line of play between the ball and the hole, the player may obtain relief without penalty, as follows:- if the ball lies off the putting green but not in a hazard and is within two club lengths of the intervening obstruction, it may be lifted, cleaned and dropped at the nearest point to where the ball lay which a) is not nearer the hole, b)avoids such intervention, and c) is not in a hazard or on a putting green.

8.     PRACTICE PUTTING GREEN
When playing the 18^th hole, if a ball lands on the practice putting green, it must be lifted and dropped in accordance with Rule 25-3b.

9.     LIGHTNING WARNING
If a Klaxon is sounded all players must immediately discontinue play and leave the course (Rule 6-8 applies).

10.   DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICES
For all play at this course, a player may obtain information by using a device that measures distance only. However, if a player uses a distance measuring device that is designed to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect their play (e.g. gradient, wind speed, temperature, etc.), the player is in breach of Rule 14-3, for which the penalty is disqualification, regardless of whether any such additional functions are actually used.

SEE NOTICES IN THE CLUBHOUSE FOR ANY TEMPORARY LOCAL RULES

Useful Telephone numbers:
01992 511258 General Manager
01992 511218 Professional
01992 511667 Course Information

FLAG POSITIONS
Red - Front, Yellow - Middle, White - Back

Temporary Local Rules

BARK AROUND TREES

There has been much debate about the rule on "Bark Around Trees" and the R&A have now been consulted.

This is covered in the Rules and Decision under 33-2a/10.5, status of tree basins. 33-2a/10.5 states there is no relief from tree basins that are not made of artificial materials.

Where the basin contains concrete or the like to retain its shape a player is entitled free relief. However, in the absence of such an artificial material the ball must be played as it lies or declared unplayable and relief taken in accordance with rule 28.

Wood chippings filling the basin are natural materials and have the status of loose impediments. Therefore, the player may remove any wood chippings from around the ball, provided in doing so the ball is not moved.

The 3 month trial period therefore no longer applies. General Manager: 11 November 2010

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These Temporary Local Rules should be read in conjunction with the Local Rules currently in force.

The latest changes are in bold.

1. DRAINAGE SCARS
Through the green* a ball which comes to rest in or on a drainage scar may be lifted without penalty, cleaned and dropped, as near as possible to the spot where it lay but not nearer the hole. The ball when dropped must first strike a part of the course through the green.

2.       WINTER RULES
a)      Preferred Lies
A ball lying on a closely-mown area through the green may be lifted, without penalty, and cleaned. Before lifting the ball, the player must mark its position.Having lifted the ball, he must place it on a spot within 6 inches of and not nearer the hole than where it it originally lay, that is not in a hazard and not on a putting green.
A player may place his ball only once, and it is in play when it has been placed (Rule 20-4). If the ball when placed comes to rest on the spot on which it is placed and subsequently moves, there is no penalty unless the ball is deemed to have been moved by the player.
b)      Embedded Ball
Through the green a ball which is embedded in its own pitch-mark may be lifted without penalty, cleaned and dropped as near as possible to where it lay but not nearer the hole. The ball when dropped must first strike a part of the course through the green.

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULE
Match play – Loss of hole; Stroke play – Two strokes

*NOTE
The Rules of Golf define through the green as the whole area of the course except:
a) The teeing ground and putting green of the hole being played and
b) All hazards on the course.

Rules Committee: 1 November 2011

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Use Of Blue Lines To Identify GUR Areas From Which Relief Must Be Taken

In normal circumstances it is at a player's discretion whether or not to take relief from an area marked as Ground Under Repair. This will continue to be the case at Brickendon for GUR areas delineated by white lines. However in future players MUST take relief from any areas delineated by blue lines. (eg blue lines will soon appear around the temporary winter greens to protect them from unnecessary damage.)

Local Rule 6 will be modified to reflect this change. The new rule now reads:

6. PROTECTION OF THE COURSE: ABNORMAL GROUND CONDITIONS (Rule 25-1)

a) A player may take relief without penalty from any Ground Under Repair area marked by white lines.

b) Relief without penalty MUST be taken from any area marked by blue lines or where otherwise indicated by a notice.

c) The tree plantations, marked as such, between the 2^nd & 3^rd holes are Ground under Repair and play is prohibited from these areas. A player must take relief, without penalty, by dropping not nearer the hole, adjacent and within one club length of the defined area on the fairway side of the hole being played. (Rule 25-1b applies).

Rules Committee: 18 November 2011

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