Local & Winter Rules

Please find our local rules and when in operation (normally Nov-Feb) our winter rules.

1. Out of Bounds (Rule 2-1) 1-1 A ball coming to rest on, in or beyond any boundary wall, fence or hedge or any white posts or lines defining the course 1-2 Within the premises of the Clubhouse, Terrace and steps, Professional's shop, changing rooms, offices, tarmac areas and the car parks. 1-3 On Hole 8, a ball lying on or over the road to the right of the 8th fairway or on or beyond the car park is OOB. There is no free relief available for a ball touching the road edging.

2. Penalty Area (Rule 17) 2-1 The margin of the penalty area on holes 2, 6 & 7, is the inside edge of the timber sleepers above the stone walls and the continuing red stakes around the edge of the penalty area. When a red line is present it defines the margin. 2-2 If it is known or virtually certain that a ball that has not been found is in the penalty area when playing the 7th hole ONLY, the player may proceed under rule 17, or as an additional option, drop a ball under penalty of one stroke in the dropping zone, if one is provided. If an artificial turf dropping zone is provided, then the mat defines the dropping zone. The dropped ball must first strike the mat and MUST stay in the dropping zone.

3. Abnormal Course Conditions (Rule 16-1) No Play Zones 3-1 White lines within the course define ground under repair. 3-2 All turf seams. 3-3 Play is prohibited from areas marked by signage or defined as GUR as in 3.1 above, or if such area of GUR interferes with the player's stance or the area of intended swing. The player MUST take relief under rule 16. 3-4. Wrong Greens are treated as including 2 clubs length from the edge of the Wrong Green. When a player has interference from a Wrong Green, including this expanded area, the player MUST take relief.

4. Flower Beds and Newly Planted Heather Beds 4.1 The area of flowerbeds adjacent to the clubhouse and practice putting green, the heather beds around the 1st tee and newly planted heather beds on the course are NO PLAY ZONES that are to be treated as abnormal course conditions. Free relief must be taken under rule 16.1f

5. Immovable Obstructions (Rule 16-1) 5-1 All paths on the course artificially surfaced, defined if the surface in question has a stony base, or several stones in the area of the lie, are treated as immovable obstructions from which free relief is allowed under rule 16.1. Woodchip or wear paths afford no relief and are an integral part of the course. 5-2 Immovable Obstructions Close to Putting Green: All fixed sprinkler heads are immovable obstructions and relief without penalty is available under Rule 16-1b. In addition, if a ball lies in the general area 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 take relief without penalty as follows: The ball must be lifted and dropped at the nearest point of complete relief to where the ball lay that a) is not nearer the hole, b) avoids intervention and c) is not in a hazard or on a putting green. 5-3 Protection of Young Trees and Bushes: Identified by stakes, tubes or cages (not wraps). If such a tree or bush interferes with a player's stance or the area of intended swing, the ball must be lifted without penalty and dropped within one club length of the nearest point of relief using the procedure in Rule 16-1b (Immovable Obstructions) 5-4 Teeing mats and their frames that are secured in/fixed into the ground are Immovable Obstructions (when playing a hole for which the mats are not intended to be a teeing area).

6. Integral Parts of the Course 6-1 The timber sleepers in the bunker on the 6th hole when the ball lies in the bunker 6-2 The stone wall and vertical sleepers to the left of the 4th green 6-3 The stone walls of the Clubhouse complex and all attachments e.g. drainpipes, taps, doors, stone steps, French windows etc and the stone entrance wall forming the boundary of the course at the public road.

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULES 2-2, 3-4, 5-3: The General Penalty, being:- Match Play: Loss of hole. Stroke Play: Two strokes Final Document.14 March 2023

Winter Rules 2024/25

Please check that winter are rules are in operation

Preferred Lies. When a player's ball lies in a part of the General Area cut to fairway height or less, the player may take free relief once by placing the original ball or another ball in and playing from this relief area:

Reference Point: The spot of the original ball, no more than 6 inches no nearer the hole and the ball must be in the General Area. Rules 14.2b(2) and 14.2e apply. Penalty for playing ball from wrong place in breach of Local Rule: General Penalty under Rule 14.7a.

Tyre Tracks: Tyre tracks are to be treated as Ground Under Repair and relief may be taken under Rule 16.1.

Winter Mats (when in operation): For the protection of fairways, during winter conditions, winter mats MUST be used on fairways or short mown areas. Please lift, clean and place the ball on and play from the mats provided or from your own mat. The mat must be placed within 6 inches of where the ball originally lay. Mats may only be used in the designated areas.

Turf Seams:  If a player's ball lies in or touches a seam of cut turf or a seam interferes with the player's area of intended swing: (a) Ball in General Area - The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b (b) Ball on Putting Green - The player may take relief under Rule 16.1d. But interference does not exist if the seam only interferes with the player's stance. All seams within the area of cut turf are treated as the same seam in taking relief. This means that if a player has interference from any seam after dropping the ball, the player must proceed as required under Rule 14.3c(2) even when the ball is still within one club-length of the reference point. Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Local Rule: General Penalty Under Rule 14.7a