September - 2013

New and Exciting News! The Local Rules have had a slight modification!

In the last month it became clear to me that very few members have actually read the Local Rules section for our San Clemente Golf Course.

I find this very surprising because it's a great advantage to fully be aware of the idiosyncrasies of your home course.

Because the Rules of Golf cannot possibly cover every course in the world, the Rules allow under APPENDIX I the Committee to make and publish Local Rules for abnormal conditions if they are consistent with the policies established under the Appendix.

A couple years ago, the Committee added a provision allowing a free drop in the new Water Conservation areas that the City put in to help with the conservation of water usage by the course.

The original intent of a Local Rule in these conservation areas was to protect the new plantings until they were completely established.

We were informed at the last board meeting that the conservation plan saved so much water, that the new areas that were slated to become conservation areas, are not going to be added to the course.

The conservation areas now are fully established and no longer require a free drop, so they Committee changed the Local Rules to reflect this.

Derek Duesler

1. IMMOVABLE OBSTRUCTIONS CLOSE TO PUTTING GREEN: Relief may be taken from interference by an immovable obstruction close to the putting green (ie. sprinkler heads, or water valves). If the ball lies off the putting green and not in a hazard, and an immovable obstruction on or within two club lengths of the putting green and within two club lengths of the ball intervenes on the line of play between the ball and the hole, the player may lift, clean and drop at the nearest point of relief, not nearer the hole. (Appendix 1-B-6.)

2. BALL CROSSING PUBLIC ROAD: A Ball Crossing Road or Parking lots- Holes #9, 10, 12, 14 and 18. “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.” (Decision 27/20) (Decision 33-8/38)

3. DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICES: “For all play at this course, a player may obtain distance information by using a device that measures distance only.” (Appendix 1-B-9) (Rule 14-3)

4. PROTECTION OF YOUNG TREES: “Protection of young trees identified by Stakes. If such a tree interferes with a players Stance or the area of his intended Swing, the ball must be lifted, without penalty, and be dropped in accordance with Rule 24-2b (Immovable Obstruction).” If the ball lies through the green, the player must lift the ball and drop it, without penalty, within one club-length of and not nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief. The nearest point of relief must not be in a hazard or on a putting green.

5. WATER HAZARDS: Water Hazards are defined by Red or Yellow stakes (or paint). (Rule 26) Holes #7,8, 13, 15, and 16. Red stakes, or red painted fencing used to define the margin of or identify a lateral water hazard are obstructions. (Rule 33-2a) The split-rail fence along the entire fairway on Hole #8 defines the margin of the lateral water hazard. Except when a ball is in a water hazard or a lateral water hazard, a player may take relief from interference by an immovable obstruction as follows: The player must lift the ball and drop it, without penalty, within one club-length of and not nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief. When the ball is dropped within one club-length of the nearest point of relief, the ball must first strike a part of the course at a spot that avoids interference by the immovable obstruction and is not in a hazard and not on a putting green.

6. ANGLED SUPPORTS (GUY WIRES): Guy wires supporting the Driving Range fence along Holes #1 and 6 are considered Obstructions (Rule 24). Swing or Stance relief- The player must lift the ball and drop it, without penalty, within one club-length of and not nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief.

7. STONES IN BUNKERS: Because stones in bunkers may represent a danger to players attempting to play the ball, permission is given to treat stones in bunkers as movable obstructions under Rule 24-1 (Appendix 1 Local Rules Part B-5.).. If the ball does not lie on the obstruction (stone), the stone may be removed. If the ball moves, it must be replaced, no penalty. If the ball lies on the obstruction (stone), the ball may be lifted and the stone removed. The ball must be dropped, as near as possible to the spot directly under the place where the ball lay on the stone, but not nearer the hole. The ball may be cleaned when lifted under this Rule

8. FLOWER BEDS AS GROUND UNDER REPAIR (G.U.R.): If a ball is in one of the course's Flower Beds-
a. Between the first green next to the 2nd tee
b. Between the 7th tee and 18th green
c. Between the 10th and 12th greens
Play is prohibited and is deemed to be in Ground Under Repair (G.U.R.). If a players ball is in one of these defined Flower Bed Areas, or, if these areas interfere with the players stance or his intended swing, the player MUST take relief under Rule 25-1. The player is entitled to lift, clean and drop (without penalty) within one club-length, of and not nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief.

Derek Duesler