| 2024 Local Rules and Terms of Competition |
| The Rules of Golf, as approved by the United States Golf Association and the R&A govern play. These Local Rules and Terms of the Competition are in effect for all Miami Valley Golf Association Events. Please refer to the Event Notice to Players and Entry Information or additions to these Local Rules and Terms of the Competition. |
| Complete text of the Rules and Local Rules may be found in the Official Guide to the Rules of Golf, or by visiting www.usga.org/rules |
| Unless otherwise noted, the penalty for breach of a Local Rule is the general penalty. |
| LOCAL RULES 1 - Out of Bounds — Defined by the line between the course-side points, at ground level, of white stakes and fence posts. When a penalty area is connected to the out-of-bounds edge, the penalty area extends to and coincides with out of bounds. (Please review the Event Notice to Players for locations) 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. For two penalty strokes, the player may take relief by dropping the original ball or another ball in the relief area (see Rule 14.3 & Committee Procedures 8E-5) . (Please Review the Event Notice to Players for specific events or locations where this option may not be permitted). 3 - Penalty Areas – Defined by Natural Breaks in Topography, Mow Edges, Red or Yellow Lines or Stakes. (Please review the Event Notice to Players for locations and margin determinations) 4 - Ground Under Repair — Defined by white lines. 4A - Ground under repair may include areas of unusual damage; including areas where traffic has combined with wet conditions to affect materially the surface of the ground, but only when so declared by an authorized member of the Committee. When not marked, a player may elect to play a second balls under Rule 20.1c(3) (Playing two balls when uncertain what to do) and should notify the Committee as soon as possible about the unusual damage. 4B - Relief from Seams of Cut Turf - Model Local Rule F-7. 4C - French drains are ground under repair. 5 - White-Lined Areas Tying into Artificially Surfaced Roads and Paths — White-lined areas of ground under repair and the artificially surfaced roads, paths or other identified obstructions that they are connected to are a single abnormal course condition when taking relief under Rule 16.1. (Relief from Abnormal Course Conditions) 6 - Integral Objects — Include cables, rods, wires and wrappings when closely attached to trees, and artificial walls and pilings when located in penalty areas and bunkers and bunker liners. An exposed bunker liner may be treated as ground under repair, but interference does not exist if the liner interferes with only the player’s stance. 7 - Pace of Play — See separate memorandum to players for pace of play policy, when applicable. 8 - Stopping and Resuming Play - Model Local Rule J-1 is in effect.
9 - Practice — Prior to and after a round in stroke play, a player may practice on the designated practice areas. Rule 5.2b covering practice in stroke play is in effect. 10 - Relief from Aeration Holes: Model Local Rule E-4 is in effect. 11 - Immovable Obstructions Close to the Putting Green: Model Local Rule F-5 is in effect. 12 - Electronic Score Entry Rule (3.3b) - After your final hole is completed, the group must verbally certify and confirm individual holes scores before leaving scoring area. |
Optional COURSE RELATED Items (Please review the Event Notice to Players for locations if Optional Items are in use) 13 - Drop Zones – When a player’s ball is in a red or yellow penalty area, the player may: take relief under one of the options in Rule 17 (Penalty Areas) OR, as an additional option under penalty of one stroke, take relief by dropping a ball in and playing from the Drop Zone nearest to the point where the ball last crossed the edge of the red or yellow penalty area. 14 - Relief Must Be Taken from a No Play Zones – If your ball, stance, or area of intended swing is in a No Play Zone, you must take relief under the applicable rule depending on the location of the No Play Zone. (Please review the Event Notice to Players for locations) 15 - Internal Out of Bounds – Internal Out of Bounds may be established during play of certain holes. (Please review the Event Notice to Players for locations.) When defined by white stakes, these stakes are treated as boundary objects during the play of that specific hole. For all other holes, they are immovable obstructions. |
| TERMS OF THE COMPETITION 16 - Format of Play – Will be on Event Notice to Players. 17 - How Ties are Broken for Non-Championship or Non-Qualifying Events – The USGA Regression Method is used . If a tie is not broken after this method, then individual hole scores starting on Hole 18 and going backwards to Hole 1 is used. If a tie is unable to be broken, then a tie will be awarded. For More Info Visit - https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/rules/rules-2019/committee-procedures/rule-5.html - #5 18 - When Competition or Match is Final - The competition is final when the trophy has been presented to the winner or, in the absence of a prize ceremony, when all scores have been approved by the Committee. The result of a match is final when the Committee has approved the result as posted and made available for the public. |
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