Preferred Lies – (Note: The Preferred Lies Local rule is automatically in effect when the Pro Shop or Course Superintendent has placed the “Cart Path Only” signs on the first tee or on a specific hole.)

When a player’s ball lies in a part of the general area cut to fairway height or less the player may take free relief once by placing the original ball or another ball in, and playing it from, this relief area:

• Reference Point: Spot of original ball.
• Size of Relief Area Measured from Reference Point: One club-length from the reference point, but with these limits:
• Limits on Relief Area: Must not be nearer the hole than the reference point and must be in the general area.

Out of Bounds

A ball coming to rest on or beyond the entrance road on holes #1 and #2 Red and #1 Blue is out of bounds, even if it comes to rest on another part of the course that is in bounds for other holes.

No Play Zones

> Flower Beds: All flower beds are No Play Zones.  Proceed under rule 16.1b.

> Young Trees: The young trees identified by white lines and/or stakes are No Play Zones:

• If a player’s ball lies anywhere on the curse other than in a penalty area and it lies on or touches such a tree or such a tree interferes with the player’s stance or area of intended swing, the player must take relief under Rule 16.1f.
• If the ball lies in a penalty area, and interference to the player’s stance or area of intended swing exists from such a tree, the player must take relief either with penalty under Rule 17.1e or with free relief under Rule 17.1e(2).

Roots in Closely Mown Areas

If a player’s ball is at rest in a portion of the general area cut to fairway height or less and there is interference from exposed tree roots that are in a part of the general area cut to fairway height or less, the tree roots are treated as ground under repair. The player may take free relief under Rule 16.1b.

Red Penalty Areas

Red #9:  All ponds are treated as Red penalty areas.

Obstructions

#3 Blue:  If it is known or virtually certain that a player’s ball hit the power line crossing the hole, the stroke does not count. The player must play a ball without penalty where the previous stroke was made.  (See Rule 14.6 for procedure.)

#7 Blue:  If a player has interference from the wall on the right side of fairway and takes relief from the obstruction, the player may not cross over the obstruction when determining their nearest point of relief.

 

When a Provisional Ball may be played when original ball may be lost in a Penalty Area

If a player does not know whether his or her ball is in the penalty area on #9 White, #5 and #7 Red, or fronting the green on # 3 and #4 Blue, the player may play a provisional ball under Rule 18.3, which is modified in this way:

In playing the provisional ball, the player may use the stroke-and-distance relief option (see Rule 17.1d(1), the back-on-the-line relief option (see Rule 17.1d(2)) or, if it is a red penalty area, the lateral relief option (see Rule 17.1d(3)). If a dropping zone is available for this penalty area, the player may also use that relief option.

Once the player has played a provisional ball under this Rule, he or she may not use any further options under Rule 17.1 in relation to the original ball.

In deciding when that provisional ball becomes the player’s ball in play or if it must or may be abandoned, Rule 18.3c(2) and 18.3c(3) apply except that:

• When Original Ball Is Found in Penalty Area Within Three-Minute Search Time. The player may choose either to:

◦ Continue to play the original ball as it lies in the penalty area, in which case the provisional ball must not be played. All strokes with that provisional ball before it was abandoned (including strokes made and any penalty strokes solely from playing that ball) do not count, or

◦ Continue to play the provisional ball in which case the original ball must not be played.

• When Original Ball Is Not Found Within Three-Minute Search Time or Is Known or Virtually Certain to Be in Penalty Area. The provisional ballbecomes the player’s ball in play.

Penalty for Breach of Local Rule: General Penalty.