Conditions of Competition

 

Play is governed by the Rules of Golf as approved by the R & A and their Decisions, and, where applicable, by the following Local Rules.  These supersede any other local rules which have no application.

UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED IN THE RULES OF GOLF, PENALTY FOR BREACH OF ANY LOCAL RULE - TWO STROKES.      MAXIMUM PENALTY FOR PERSISTENT BREACH - FOUR STROKES.

 

Format

The tournament is conducted by stroke play over 18 holes, Saturday 8th October 2005 at Britannia.  Separate competitions are being held to determine the Men’s, Senior Men’s, Ladies and Junior Champion concurrently.  In addition there are two flight winners.  The prizes will each be awarded to the competitor with the lowest net score over 18 holes. 

 

Eligibility

The tournament shall be open to amateur golfers.  Any entrant who (1) is male and (2) has attained or will attain his fiftieth birthday before 1st June 2005 shall be automatically entered in the Senior Men’s Division.  Any entrant who was female at birth shall be automatically entered in the Ladies Division. Any entrant that is under 18 years of age will automatically be entered in the Junior Division. Entries are subject to rejection at any time, including during the Tournament.  The reason for rejection may include unbecoming conduct.

 

Tees

At Britannia, All men  will play from the Yellow Tees for the front nine and the Blue Tees for the back nine, and Ladies will play from the White Tees for the front nine and the Red Tees for the back nine. 

 

Ties

Ties for any  prize will be broken by matching cards to determine the winner on the basis of the best score for the last nine holes.  If that fails to break the tie, the winner will be determined on the basis of the best score for the last six holes, last three holes and finally the last hole.   If that still fails to break the tie, the winner will be determined by lot.

 

Close of Competition

The competition will be deemed to have closed when all scores have been approved by the Committee.

 

Doubt as to Procedure

If any question as to the Rules arises during play, it is recommended that a player proceed under Rule 3-3 and play a second ball, holing out with both balls, and seek a decision from the Rules Committee at the conclusion of his round but before signing and returning his scorecard.                                                                                                                                                          Rule 3-3

 

List of Conforming Golf Balls

Only brands of golf balls on the current Edition of the List of Conforming Golf Balls prepared by the R & A may be used.  Penalty for use of brand not on list - Disqualification.                                                                                                            Rule 5-1

 

Time of Starting

If a player arrives at the first tee, ready to play, within five minutes after his starting time, in the absence of circumstances which would warrant waiving the penalty of disqualification as provided in Rule 33-7, the penalty for failure to start on time is two strokes at the first hole instead of disqualification.                                                                                                                             Rule 6-3

 

Discontinuance of Play

If a potentially dangerous situation exists, play may be suspended by the Committee which will be signaled by a Britannia representative or a committee member.  If a player fails to discontinue play immediately, he shall be disqualified unless circumstances warrant waiving such penalty as provided in Rule 33-7.  All practice areas shall be closed during a suspension for a dangerous situation until the Committee has declared them open.  All other types of suspension shall be indicated by Britannia Staff  or a committee member.  Resumption of play will be signalled by a Britannia representative or a committee member. If play is suspended for any reason the player should clearly mark his ball before discontinuing.                                                    

 Rule 6-8

                                                                                          

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Local Rules

 

Preferred Lies - Fairways

A ball lying in the fairway of the hole that is being played may, without penalty, be lifted, cleaned and placed within one club length of where it originally lay, no closer to the hole and not in a hazard or on a putting green. A player may move and place his ball once and after the ball has been so placed it is in play.

 

Preferred Lies - Greens

A ball lying on the green of the hole that is being played may, without penalty, be lifted, cleaned and placed within one club length of where it originally lay, no closer to the hole and still on the putting green if the other players agree that there is an unfair condition that may effect the balls roll towards the hole. A player may move and place his ball once and after the ball has been so placed it is in play. (This rule is mainly brought in for use when an old and poorly replaced hole is in the players line.

 

Out of Bounds

Defined by inside points at ground level of white stakes, white lines or white dots.

  

(a)    Holes # 1 and 10 –When playing the 1st or 10th hole, should your ball come to rest beyond the outside edge of the cart path that runs from the tee box to the 1st white stake situated adjacent to the bridge at the lateral water hazard it is out of bounds. (From that point on the out of bounds is marked by white stakes and where clearly visible white lines and white dots)

(b)    Holes # 4 and 13 – Out of bounds – When playing the 4th or 13th hole, should your ball come to rest beyond the outside edge of the white pipe running along the old fence line it is out of bounds. Should your ball come to rest in bounds, the pipe will be treated as an immovable obstruction and relief may be taken within one club length of the nearest point of relief without penalty

(c)    Holes # 9 and 18 – Out of Bounds - When playing from the tee box at the 9th and 18th holes playing down the 1st or 10th hole is prohibited.

(d)    Holes # 9 and 18 –When playing the 9th or 18th hole, should your ball come to rest beyond the outside edge of the white pipe running along the old fence line between the tee box and the executive green it is out of bounds. Should your ball come to rest in bounds, the pipe will be treated as an immovable obstruction and relief may be taken within one club length of the nearest point of relief without penalty. Out of bounds from the executive green onwards will be otherwise marked.

Water Hazards

Lateral Water Hazards are defined by Red Stakes, Red Lines or Red Dots.  When both stakes and lines or dots are used to define lateral water hazard margins, stakes and dots identify hazards and lines define margins. Where these margins are not clearly defined, common sense and fair play must be used.  In play of the 5th and 14th holes at Britannia, as an additional option under Rule 26-1, if a ball is in the lateral water hazard to the right, the player may drop a ball under penalty of one stroke in the marked drop area.         Rule 26-1 

 

Ground under Repair

Ground under Repair has been marked by enclosed white lines.  The white lines are part of the Ground under Repair.  Areas of Ground under Repair even if not so marked include

(a)        French drains (trenches filled with stone or the like); and

(b)        Fire Ant beds or mounds.

If a ball lies on or touches a sod seam, it may be lifted, cleaned and dropped as nearly as possible to the spot to where it originally lay which is (1) is not nearer the hole, (2) avoids such interference and (3) is not in a hazard or on a putting green.

                                                                                                                                                                       Rule 25-1  

Integral Parts of the Course

Cables, rods, wires or wrappings when closely attached to trees, liners in bunkers and artificial walls and pilings when located in hazards are integral parts of the course.  Sections of cart paths which are not artificially surfaced are an integral part of the course.

 

Obstructions

(a)        Stones in bunkers are movable obstructions;

(b)        If an immovable obstruction on or within two club-lengths of the green of the hole being played intervenes on the line of play between the ball and the hole, the player may obtain relief without penalty, as follows:  If the ball lies off the putting green but not in a hazard and is within two club-lengths of the intervening obstruction, it may be lifted, cleaned and dropped at the nearest point to where the ball lay which (1) is not nearer the hole, (2) avoids such interference and (3) is not in a hazard or on a putting green.

(c)        Artificially surfaced roads and paths (which include those surfaced with crushed rock, brick, gravel or asphalt) are immovable obstructions.  Sections of cart paths which are not artificially surfaced are not obstructions but an integral part of the course.

(d)        Wooden pegs, ropes and their supporting stakes adjacent to cart paths or placed within the course for the purpose of directing cart traffic are movable obstructions.

(e)        Flower and shrub beds encircled by paved cart paths are deemed to be part of the obstruction.

(f)                 White lined areas tying into artificially surfaced roads or paths are declared to have the same status as the roads or paths, i.e. they are obstructions, not ground under repair.  Relief, without penalty, is provided under Rule 24-2b(i).               

                                                                                                      Rule 24-1 or 24-2 (as applicable)

Embedded Ball

Through the green, a ball which 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.  Exception: A player may not obtain relief under this Local Rule if it is clearly unreasonable for him to play a stroke because of interference by anything other than the condition covered by this Local Rule.                                          Rule 25-2

 

Wrong Putting Green

The putting green includes the collar surrounding the putting green. Relief MUST be taken from the wrong putting green or collar, by placing your ball within one club length of the outside edge of the collar, no closer to the hole.                                                                                                                                                                              

Discontinuance of Play

 

Should, due to discontinuance of play, it be impossible for the field to complete 18 holes, the winners of each competition shall be determined by the leader of the competition at the completion 9 holes by the field.

 

PACE OF PLAY:

 

SEVERAL COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED ABOUT THE GENERAL PACE OF PLAY.

THE PACE OF PLAY WILL BE SET BY THE 12PM GROUP. IT IS INTENDED THAT THE ‘MAXIMUM’ TIME FOR COMPLETION OF 18 HOLES WILL BE 41/4 HOURS. PLEASE KEEP PACE WITH THE GROUP IN FRONT OF YOU. IF YOU DROP A FULL HOLE BEHIND YOU ARE PLAYING SLOWLY AND SHOULD INCREASE YOUR PACE OF PLAY TO CATCH UP. IT IS INTENDED THAT A COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE WILL MONITOR SLOW PLAY AND IMPOSE PENALTIES WHERE NECESSARY AS FOLLOWS AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 6.7 (Note 2):

 

First Offence:                      1 stroke

Second Offence:                2 strokes

Subsequent offence:        Disqualification

 

 

THE DECISION OF THE RULES COMMITTEE ON ANY QUESTION IS FINAL.