Local Rules

Local Rule No1: STARTING

Other than social play, all Rounds start from Tees 1 or 9 unless play is under the control of a Starter.

Penalty / Relief: Disqualification under Rule 5.3a

Local Rule No2: BALL ‘OUT OF BOUNDS’ or ‘LOST IN PLAY’

A ball is out of bounds when lying on or beyond

• the concrete and paving-stone path around the clubhouse or
• outside the fence surrounding the course including the temporary fence behind the 8th and 10th greens.

Penalty / Relief:   Ball ‘Out of Bounds’ or ‘Lost in Play’ 

(i)       Under penalty of one stroke, within 1 club length of the spot from which the original ball was last played.

(ii)     Under penalty of two strokes use the alternative to Stroke and Distance for Lost Ball or Ball Out of Bounds (MLR: E – 5).

Local Rule No3: ROADS AND PATHS

The Old Road that runs across the No 8 fairway and along the western edge of the 9th fairway is Road or Path when it is not marked as part of a Penalty Area or as GUR.

Relief: Within 1 club length of Nearest Point of Complete Relief without penalty (MLR: F – 1).

Local Rule No4: TREES & SHRUBS

Regardless of the height of trees identified by Orange Stakes/Pegs, if a player’s ball lies in the General Area and such a tree interferes with the player’s stance or area of intended swing, swing or, when the ball lies within 5 metres and that tree intervenes with the intended flight of the player’s ball, then Free Relief must be taken (Rule 16.1f.).

Penalty: Failure to take relief:  General Penalty

Local Rule No5: IMMOVABLE OBSTRUCTIONS

The fence above the dam on the 5th Hole, the wooden trellis surrounding the practice green between the 7th and 18th Fairways, and the driving nets near the 7th green, are all Immovable Obstructions.  Interference with stance or swing – optional Free Relief at the nearest point of relief (MLR: F – 1).

Local Rule No6: POWER LINES & POLES

During the play of any hole, if it is known or virtually certain that a player’s ball hit a power line or power pole or a wire or stay supporting a power pole the stroke does not count. The player must play another ball without penalty from within 1-club length of where the previous stroke was made. (Rule 14.6) (MLR: E – 11).

Penalty: Failure to Replay stroke: General penalty

Local Rule No7: WRONG GREENS & ABNORMAL COURSE CONDITIONS

1. The Practice Greens on the East side of the 18th and 7th fairways are ‘Wrong Greens’. Compulsory Relief must be taken from Wrong Greens (Rule 13.1f].
2. The practice bunker located between the 7th and 9th fairways is an ‘Abnormal Course Condition’
3. ‘Abnormal Course Condition’ includes a ball lying in or on:
   1. tractor or implement marks or
   2. areas where tree stumps have been removed or covered with sawdust or bark mulch, whether marked as GUR or otherwise.

Relief: Lift and drop without penalty at Nearest Point of Complete Relief.

Local Rule No8: PENALTY AREA BOUNDARIES

The Red and Yellow Penalty Area Pegs only identify the type of Penalty Area. Penalty Area edges are identified by the physical features which indicate the place where the Penalty Area starts, such as longer grass, sprayed-out turf, or water’s edge. A ball touching, within, or beyond the longer grass, sprayed-out turf, or water’s edge is within the Penalty Area (Rule 2.2c).

Local Rule No9: ‘NO PLAY ZONE’ GARDENS

The gardens on either side of the 8th fairway, the garden behind the 17th green and the two gardens behind the 18th greens are NO PLAY Penalty Areas identified by Red Pegs with Orange Tops.

Relief: 1-stroke Penalty Relief must be taken (Rule 17.1d). There is also a 1-stroke Penalty option to use the Drop Zones near each garden (MLR: E – 8.2).

Local Rule No10: ‘LINE OF PLAY’ RELIEF NEAR ANY GREEN

When a ball is in the General Area, Relief without penalty may be taken if an Immovable Obstruction Intervenes on the line of play, and is:

• On or within two club-lengths of the putting green, AND
• Within two club-lengths of the ball.

Local Rule No11: ADJUSTMENT FOR “BACK-ON-LINE RELIEF”

A ball which, when dropped, goes forward, and comes to rest outside the ‘back-on-the-line’ relief area but within one club-length of where it first touched the ground when dropped, may be played from that place without penalty (NZGA Adopted Rule – July 2019).

Local Rule No12: REPLACEMENT OF CLUBS DURING ROUND

Except in cases of club abuse, when a player’s club has been damaged the player may replace the club with any other club under Rule 4.1b(4) (NZGA Adopted Rule – July 2019).

Local Rule No13: No. 13 HOLE OPTIONAL PENALTY AREA RELIEF

When a Ball has entered, the Penalty Area between the Orange Pegs immediately behind the 13th green, there is an optional use of a Drop Zone beside the limestone path for a one-shot penalty (MLR: E – 1.1).

Local Rule No14: No. 14 HOLE: PROVISIONAL BALL OPTION

A Provisional Ball may be played from the Tee Box if the Original Ball might be lost in play or lost in the penalty area. If the ball is not found or is unplayable in the Penalty Area, the Provisional Ball becomes the ball in play under 1 stroke Penalty plus all the strokes with the Provisional Ball.

Local Rule No15: No. 14 HOLE: PATHWAY BEHIND THE GREEN 

The path at the back of the 14th green between the Orange Pegs extends to the fence. A ball lying on this part of the path may be played as it lies. In place of the Nearest Point of Relief option, Relief may be taken in the nearest Drop Zone at either end of the limestone path without penalty (MLR: F – 1).

Local Rule No16: No. 18 HOLE: PATHWAY BEHIND THE GREEN 

A ball lying on limestone path between the Orange Pegs at the back of the green, including under the shelter, may be played as it lies. In place of the Nearest Point of Relief option, Relief may be taken in the Drop Zone on the grass near the centre of the path for a 1-stroke Penalty (MLR: F – 1).