2007 Sycamore Springs Men’s Tournament Club Rules

This recap is intended as a reminder to avoid misinterpretation of the rules set forth by the USGA and to define local course rules. 

If your are unsure of a rule, check with your (a) man before proceeding,  it is your (a) man’s responsibility to apply the applicable rules without exception. 

*** NEW for 2007 ***

All Tournament Event scores must be entered in the Handicap System as Tournament scores.

Scorekeeping 

The score card duties will be a shared responsibility:

(A)    MAN – June & September

(B)    MAN – April & May

(C)    MAN – August

(D)    MAN – July

** Attached is an sample score card, when in doubt ask you’re (A) MAN.

BALL WILL BE PLAYED DOWN ON ALL HOLES.

Play the white tees, each player must putt out - no gimmes, spike marks on the green may be tapped down.

COURSE HAZARDS AND GROUND UNDER REPAIR:

All hazards along creek banks will be marked with red stakes, and the bridges are part of the water hazard.  Use these stakes in the same manner as out of bounds stakes to determine whether the ball is in the hazard.  The stakes are part of the hazard.  Red stakes may be removed if it hinders your swing or flight of ball. Out of bound stakes may not be removed without a penalty.

**WATCH FOR GROUND UNDER REPAIR AREAS (THEY WILL BE MARKED IN WHITE). 

ALL MULCH:

You are to play ball as it lies.

ALL TREES:

Play ball as it lies, unless the tree is staked or marked with a ribbon (no penalty). 

MOVING THE BALL WITHOUT A PENALTY:

Flowerbeds:  all flowerbeds you may take a drop, no closer to hole.  (no penalty)                                                                           

The ball may be moved without a penalty no closer to the hole from any stoned or blacktop path, the area leading onto bridges, man-made drains, sprinkler heads, electric boxes, memorial stones, or fairway markers.                                                                                                            

The ball may be moved away from a permanent man-made structure to allow for an unobstructed swing, but it may not be moved to eliminate the obstruction from the flight of the ball to the green.  This includes the fence between #11 & #17 tee areas as well as the shed on #18 and all shelter houses. 

A plugged ball may be lifted, cleaned, and dropped without a penalty, except in a hazard.

*** If the course declares cart paths only, we will automatically play lift, clean, and place anywhere on the course except in hazards.

UNPLAYABLE LIE:

Any player may at any time declare a ball unplayable, except in a water hazard, and with a one stroke penalty, proceed with one of the three options listed here. The ball cannot be removed from a bunker.

1.       Play the ball from the spot the original ball was played.

2.       Drop the ball two club lengths from its resting position, no closer to the hole. The two-club lengths is measured from the resting postion of the ball, not from the edge of the obstruction.

3.       The ball may be re-teed.

STROKE/DISTANCE PENALTIES:                                                                                             

Out of bounds and lost balls must be replayed from the original spot with a one-stroke penalty.                   

It is advisable to hit a PROVISIONAL ball when it seems likely that the first ball is out of bounds or may be hard to find, such as lost in the woods, etc.  The provisional ball should be marked differently from the original. In all circumstances, there is no penalty for hitting a provisional ball.

ONE STROKE PENALTY WILL BE ASSESSED FOR THE FOLLOWING RULE INFRACTIONS:

Rolling or fluffing ball anywhere on the course. 

Moving the ball away from any tree, unless tree is staked or marked with a flag.

A ball hit into the water must assess a one stroke penalty with the

Ball being dropped with one of the following options:         

1.       Within two club lengths of the hazard entry point

2.       Away from the hole as far as needed on a line from the hazard entry point to the pin.  (not the original flight of the ball entering the hazard)

3.       The ball may be re-teed.

4.   If ball drop zone is available as marked.                                 

TWO-STROKE PENALTY WILL BE ASSESSED FOR THE FOLLOWING INFRACTIONS

OF THE RULES:

Grounding the club in a hazard. This includes bunkers and any Marked hazard such as the up/down slope of a creek bank.  Striking or moving another player’s ball.  This includes hitting a Short putt back to a member of your group in the attempt to “give A putt.”  The exception to this is when marking another player’s ball on the green for the sake of convenience.  

Hitting another player’s ball with your ball when putting from the Green or hitting the flag while in or out of the cup while putting from the green.

Limit time searching for lost ball to no more than 5 minutes.

After 3 minutes the player should proceed back to the tee box while his team mates continue the search, once the new ball is hit the search is over.

Play your shot if you are ready, even though you might to be furthest out.