NHGA Rules of Play
New Hampshire Golf Association
Rules of Play
Play is governed by the current Rules of Golf of the United States Golf Association, and where applicable, by the following Local Rules, Conditions and Definitions. Appendix I refers to the Appendix of Local Rules; Conditions of the Competition in the USGA Rules of Golf booklet. Unless otherwise provided, penalty for breach of a Local Rule is: Stroke play – Two strokes Match Play – Loss of Hole
1. SUSPENSION OF PLAY DUE TO A DANGEROUS SITUATION: When play is suspended for a dangerous situation, if the players in a group are between the play of two holes, they must not resume play until the Committee has ordered a resumption of play. If they are in the process of playing a hole, they must discontinue play immediately and must not resume play until the Committee has ordered a resumption of play.
NOTE: A suspension for a dangerous situation will be signaled by one prolonged siren or horn blast. All other types of suspension will be signaled by three intermittent siren or horn blasts. Resumption of play will be signaled by two intermittent siren or horn blasts.
All practice areas will be closed during suspension for a dangerous situation until the Committee has declared them open for use.
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF THIS CONDITION: Disqualification
2. GOLF BALLS/DRIVERS: The ball and driver the player plays must be named on the current “List of Conforming Golf Balls” and “List of Conforming Drivers” of the USGA, which can be found on the USGA Web Site.
3. DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICES: Unless otherwise noted on the Local Rules Addendum, a player may obtain distance information by using a device that measures distance only. However, if, during a stipulated round, a player uses a distance-measuring device that is designed to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect his 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. Distance measuring devices are prohibited in all NHGA Junior Golf competitions.
4. PACE OF PLAY: (Rule 6-7 Undue Delay) A player will be subject to penalty if he unduly delays play. If a Local Rule for Pace of Play is in effect and posted, it shall be in force.
5. TIME OF STARTING: Rule 6-3a provides: “The player must start at the time established by the Committee.” The penalty for breach of Rule 6-3a is disqualification. However, it is a condition of the Competition that, if the player arrives at his starting point, ready to play, within five minutes after his starting time, in the absence of circumstances that warrant waiving the penalty of disqualification as provided in Rule 33-7, the penalty for failure to start on time is two strokes at the first hole in stroke play instead of disqualification, and loss of hole in match play instead of disqualification.
- LIFTING AN EMBEDDED BALL: The “EMBEDDED BALL RULE” as written in Appendix I is in effect “through the green”.
- OUT OF BOUNDS: Defined by inside edge of white stakes and/or property fence posts at ground level, and/or by white lines.
Note: A ball, which crosses a public road defined as out of bounds and comes to rest beyond that road, is out of bounds, even though it may lie on another part of the course, unless stated as otherwise in the Local Rules.
- ROADS, PATHS: Asphalt and artificially surfaced roads and paths are obstructions. White lined areas tying into roads or paths have the same status as the roads or paths, and thus they are obstructions and not ground under repair.
- GROUND UNDER REPAIR:
i. Areas defined by white lines (except ball drops).
ii. French drains, which are trenches, filled with rocks or stones, even if not marked.
- RETAINING WALLS AND PILINGS: When located within water hazards or within and/or around bunkers, retaining walls and pilings are integral parts of the course. When railroad ties, curbing or the like adjoin cart paths, they are deemed to be part of the same obstruction.
- STONE WALLS: Stone walls on the course are deemed to be integral parts of the course. No relief unless stated otherwise on the Local Rules Addendum.
- STONES IN BUNKERS: Stones in bunkers are movable obstructions. Rule 24-1 applies.
- TREE WRAPPINGS, ELECTRICAL WIRES AND CABLES: Closely attached to trees: No relief. Tree wrappings, electrical wires, cables, signs and lightning rods closely attached to trees are not obstructions. They are integral parts of the course.
- SOD SEAMS: Except in a hazard, sod seams (not the sod itself) are deemed to be ground under repair, and relief is available under Rule 25-1 if the ball lies in or touches a sod seam or the sod seam interferes with the players area of intended swing. All seams within the sodded area are considered the same seam.
- TURF PLUGS ON PUTTING GREENS: On the putting green, in addition to Rule 16-1c, the player may repair turf plugs of any size.
- CASUAL WATER ON THE PUTTING GREEN: If a temporary accumulation of casual water exists on the putting green, the following policy will be in effect when the ball lies on the putting green:
a) A player may take relief under the Rules of Golf (Rule 25 -1b (iii))
or the player may request the Committee to squeegee the line of putt (but not both). Such squeegeeing may extend beyond the hole at the player's option.
b) The Committee may squeegee the putting green at any time.
c) The Committee may use any combination of a) or b) above.
- RETURNING SCORECARD: For the purpose of applying Rule 6-6c, a competitor is considered to have returned his scorecard when he has first left the scoring area.
- RESULT OF THE COMPETITION: When all scores have been posted on the Official Scoreboard and approved by the NHGA Rules Committee, the result of the Competition is deemed to have been officially announced.
NEW HAMPSHIRE GOLF ASSOCIATION RULES COMMITTEE
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