LOCAL RULES – effective from 27 May 2025

The following Local Rules with any additions or amendments published by Lyme Regis Golf Club will apply to all Competitions and Matches run by Lyme Regis Golf Club.

For the full text of any Local Rule referenced below please refer to the Official Guide to the Rules of Golf effective 1 January 2023 and the clarifications updated quarterly by The R&A, available at www.randa.org.

Unless otherwise noted, the penalty for breach of a Local Rule is the General Penalty (loss of hole in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play).

Please note that not all the rules may be in operation at any one time.

1. Out of Bounds (Rule 18.2)

a)     Beyond any wall, fence, hedge or line of white stakes defining the boundary of the course.

b)     On or beyond any white line defining the boundary of the course.

c)     In or beyond any ditch/trench defining the boundary of the course.

d)     On or beyond the course-side edge of the path in front of the clubhouse.

e)     The closed gates defining the boundary of the course on holes 10 and 18 are part of the boundary object and must not be moved.  Relief is not allowed from such a gate under Rules 15.2 or 16.1. But an open gate is not treated as part of the boundary object and may be closed or moved to a different position.

Note:

       i.         Where out of bounds is defined by a fence or line of white stakes, the line joining the nearest inside points at ground level of such stakes, or any fence posts (excluding angled supports) defines the boundary.

     ii.         Where both stakes and white lines are used to indicate the out of bounds, the stakes identify, but it is the line that defines the out of bounds (a ball is out of bounds when all of it lies on or beyond such a line).

    iii.         Where a white line is used to define a boundary, white stakes may be used for visibility. Such stakes are boundary objects and must not be moved.

    iv.         Where the out of bounds is defined by a hedge the boundary line is the inside line of the hedge trunks at ground level.

2. Penalty Areas (Rule 17)

a)     The penalty area (pond) on the left-hand side of the 9th hole is defined by the outside edge of the stakes at ground level and the stakes are inside the penalty area.

b)     The penalty area (pond) between the 4th fairway and the 5th tee is defined by the outside edge of the stakes at ground level and the stakes are inside the penalty area. 

c)     Model Local Rule E-1.3 is in effect: If a player’s ball is in the red penalty area (the pond) between the 4th fairway and the 5th tee, including when it is known or virtually certain to be in that penalty area even though not found, the player has these relief options, each for one penalty stroke:

 i.         The player may take stroke-and-distance relief under Rule 17.1d(1), or

 ii.         The player may drop the original ball or another ball in the dropping zone located adjacent to the surrounding area of Ground Under Repair.  The dropping zone is defined as two club-lengths in any direction from the red drop stake.  The ball must be dropped in and come to rest in the dropping zone.  The dropping zone is a relief area under Rule 14.3.

 iii.         The player must not take relief under Rules 17.1d(2) or 17.1d(3).  Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Local Rule: General

Penalty Under Rule 14.7a.

3. Abnormal Course Conditions (including Immovable Obstructions) (Rule 16)

a)    Ground Under Repair.

 i. Any area bounded by a white line, except temporary putting greens.

 ii. Aeration Holes – Model Local Rule E-4 is in effect. If a player’s ball lies in or touches an aeration hole:

·      Ball in General Area.  The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b.  If the ball comes to rest in another aeration hole the player may take relief again under this Local Rule.

·      Ball on Putting Green.  The player may take relief under Rule 16.1d.

But interference does not exist if the aeration hole only interferes with the player’s stance or area of intended swing or, on the putting green, on the player’s line of play.

 iii.  Cracks in the ground – Model Local Rule F-8 is in effect.  Cracks in the ground in the General Area are Ground Under Repair.  The player may take relief under Rule

16.1b.  But interference does not exist if the crack only interferes with the player’s stance.

b)    Immovable Obstructions.

 i.  All artificially surfaced roads and paths on the course including those covered with cockleshells.  Individual pieces of cockleshell are loose impediments.

 ii. Wooden artificial edges/borders to areas covered with wood chippings.

 iii. Wooden steps or railings up to tees.

4. Immovable Obstructions Close to Putting Greens e.g. Sprinkler Heads or Artificial Hole Plugs

Model Local Rule F-5.1 is in effect. 

Relief from interference by an immovable obstruction may be taken under Rule 16.1.  The player has an extra option to take relief when such immovable obstructions are on or close to the putting green and on the line of play:

Ball in General Area: The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b if an immovable obstruction is 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.

But complete relief must be taken, which includes both physical and line of play interference.

Exception - There is no relief under this Local Rule if the player chooses a line of play that is clearly unreasonable.

5. Integral Objects

Areas of the course purposely covered with wood chippings are to be treated as integral parts of the general area from which free relief is not allowed.                                                                                 

6. Protection of Young Trees

The young trees identified by labels, wrapping, stakes or otherwise protected are no play zones:

If a player's ball lies anywhere on the course other than in a penalty area and it lies on or touches such a tree or such a tree interferes with the player’s area of intended stance or area of intended swing, the player must take relief under Rule 16.1f.

7. Temporary putting greens

The putting green in play for a hole is identified by the location of the flagstick.  When any part of the general area has been prepared for use as a temporary putting green (by being mown more closely than the surrounding area):

a)     It is a wrong green when there is no flagstick in it, and

b)     Any putting green that has been replaced by a temporary putting green is a wrong green. When there is interference by a wrong green free relief must be taken under Rule 13.1f.

8. Suspension of Play (Rule 5.7)

The following signals will be used to suspend and resume play:

Immediate stop for imminent danger - one prolonged note of a siren.

Stop for a non-dangerous situation – three consecutive notes of a siren.

Resumption of play - two short notes of a siren.

Penalty for breach of Local Rule: Disqualification. See Rule 5.7b and 5.7c

9. Practice. (Rule 5)

Rule 5.2a and 5.2b are modified in this way:

A player may use the recognised practice area situated between the 1st and 17th holes on any day of the competition for practice.  Practice bunkers in this area are ground under repair and are part of the general area. Free relief is available under Rule 16.1b.

Penalty for breach of Rule 5.2: See penalty statement in Rule 5.2

10. Standards of Player Conduct (Rule 1.2)

In competition or general play a player must abide by the England Golf Code of Conduct Policy 2023.

11. Prohibiting Use of Motorised Transportation

During all LRGC organised competitions, a player must not ride on any form of motorised transportation except as authorised or later approved by the Committee in charge of the competition.  A player who will play, or has played, under penalty of stroke and distance is always authorised to ride on motorised transportation.

Penalty for breach: the player gets the general penalty for each hole during which there is a breach. A breach between two holes applies to the next hole.

Note 1: this does not apply to players who use a buggy on a regular basis.

Note 2: Rule 25 and England Golf Transportation Policy includes provision for people with disabilities.