HSR Local Rules

 

The Rules of the United States Golf Association govern play. Unless otherwise noted, the penalty for a breach of a local rules: two strokes in stroke play or loss of hole in match play.

 

Embedded Ball
Through the green, a ball that is embedded in its own pitch-mark in the ground, other than sand, may be lifted without penalty, cleaned and dropped as near as possible to where it lay but not nearer the hole. The ball when dropped must first strike a part of the course through the green.

 

Ground Under Repair
Defined by enclosed white lines. French drains (trenches filled with exposed rock) are deemed to be ground under repair.

 

Flower Beds & Newly Seeded/Sodded Areas
All flower beds and all newly seeded/sodded areas on the course are deemed to be ground under repair from which play is prohibited. If a player's ball lies in such an area, or if it interferes with the player's stance or area of his swing, the player must take relief under Rule 25-1.

 

Obstructions
An obstruction is a movable obstruction if it can be moved without unreasonable effort, without unduly delaying play and without causing damage. Otherwise it is an immovable obstruction and relief without penalty may be taken by dropping the ball within one club length of the nearest point of relief no nearer the hole. Immovable obstructions include but are not limited to the following:

1. Any cart path or road on the course that is artificially covered, e.g., with asphalt, concrete, tar, gravel or wood chips, etc.,
2. All retaining walls made of railroad ties through the green.

 

Integral Parts of the Course
The following are declared to be integral parts of the course. Therefore relief because of their interference with lie, stance or area of intended swing may not be taken without penalty.

Integral parts of the course include:

• All stacked stone walls on the course.
• All railroad ties and artificial walls located within a hazard.