TOURNAMENT RULES
EQUIPMENT
1.1 – Clubs
Players must have no more than 14 clubs in their bag. There is no restriction on types of club, the makeup of the set is of the players choosing. Anyone found in violation of this rule will need to remove the club and declare it to their playing group. Any holes played with an illegal number of clubs incur a 2 shot penalty per hole.
Adjustable clubs must not be altered throughout a round. Anyone discovered doing do will result in a 2 shot penalty on the hole being played.
1.2 – Balls
Each player must put a distinctive mark on their ball to assist with identification. This can be pre-printed or added with a permanent marker.
PLAYING THE BALL
2.1 – The whiff
Any attempt at playing the ball even if it is missed, counts as a stroke. If the ball falls off the tee whilst teeing, either hit by the club or during a practice swing, there is no penalty.
2.2 – Playing the wrong ball
If you play a ball that is not yours or discover you have been playing a ball that is not yours, there is a two stroke penalty for that hole.
2.3 – Playing the ball as it lies
The ball must be played as it is found, except in areas marked GUR or on a cart path, where you can take a free drop to the nearest point of relief, as long as this is no nearer the hole. You are allowed to gently rotate the ball to identify it, but this must not improve the lie of the ball.
2.4 – Loose impediments
Movable obstructions such as sticks/twigs/leaves/stones may be removed. If a ball is moved during this, the is no penalty but the ball must be replaced to where it was with best efforts.
2.5 – Playing a ball in a bunker
A club must not be grounded in a bunker. Practise swings are allowed but they must not touch the sand. You are allowed to rotate the ball to identify it or remove loose impediments such as stones.
TAKING RELIEF
3.1 – Unplayable lie
If a ball is found in an unplayable lie, such as in a bush, or up against a tree you may take relief for one penalty stroke.
The options for this are as follows:
Two Club Lengths – you may drop the club within two club lengths of the ball in any direction, as long as it is no nearer the hole. The club can be any from the bag, most often used are a driver/fairway wood.
Line of Sight – Find the line between where the ball ended up and the flag. You can then drop the ball as far back on that line, but no nearer the hole.
3.2 – Dropping the ball
The ball is dropped from knee hight. If this on a slope and the ball rolls out of the intended area, you must re-try the drop. If the ball doesn’t settle after 3 attempts, then you can place the ball in the intended spot.
LOCAL RULE - OUT OF BOUNDS/LOST BALL
4.1 – Out of bounds (white posts)
If a ball comes to rest out of bounds marked with white posts, then you do not have to go back to the tee box or play from the previous position. Players must make an imaginary line perpendicular to where it went out bounds and drop, no nearer the hole, within 2 club heads behind the line. This can be from the fairway.
This will result in two penalty strokes.
4.2 – Searching for a Lost ball
You have 2 minutes to search for a ball from when the player reaches the search area. If the ball is not found by the player/ the playing group within 2 minutes, then the ball is lost.
4.3 – Lost Ball
When a ball is lost you are allowed to take relief from the fairway adjacent to the general area in which it is believed the ball is lost, as with the ball being out of bound, as long as it is no nearer the hole.
This will result in two penalty strokes.
PROVISIONAL BALL
5.1 – Provisional Ball
If you believe the ball is lost or out of bounds after taking a shot, you must play a provisional ball. The player must audibly declare this to his opponents. You can play the provisional ball up to the point in which the original ball is thought to be lost. If the original ball is found, then you must continue with the original ball. If the original ball is lost, then you must continue using the provisional ball.
There is one penalty stroke for the use of a provisional ball.
PENALTY AREAS
6.1 – Lateral Hazards (Yellow Posts)
If a ball has come to rest in a penalty area you have the options:
Play it as it lies if the ball is not fully submerged in water. You may ground a club in a red penalty area, remove loose impediments and take practice swings.
Take relief for 1 penalty stroke
The relief options for Red Penalty areas are as follows:
Back on the line relief – Determine where the ball crossed the line of the penalty area. On a line from the flag to that point, you can drop the ball as far as you like back on that line.
Dropping in marked relief area – usually marked on the ground with “Drop Zone” or “DZ”. When there are two, you choose the nearest drop zone to where the ball crossed into the penalty area.
6.2 Water Hazards (Red Posts)
The same rules from 6.1 apply for red penalty areas with the following additional relief option:
Lateral Relief – 2 club lengths from the point in which the ball entered the penalty area, in any direct but no nearer the hole.
6.3 Ball Lost in a penalty area
If a ball has not been found and is known or virtually certain that it came to rest in a penalty area, the player can take relief as per rules 6.1 and 6.2 for 1 penalty stroke.
However, if it is not known or virtually certain, the ball is lost as per rule 4.3.
SCORING
Stableford
Taking into account the players handicap distributed as per the stroke index of the holes the points are as follows:
5 points for a net Albatross
4 points for a net Eagle
3 points for a net Birdie
2 Points for a net Par
1 Point for a net Bogey
If you cannot score on a hole, pick the ball up to speed up play.
Matchplay
Four-balls - The team’s single lowest individual stableford score for each hole is counted only. If both teams have the same points, the hole is halved. If nobody scores on the hole, the hole is also halved.
Singles – As per four-balls.
The scoring is done in the All square/1 up/1 down format. Dormie is reached if the player/team is ahead by the same number of points as hole remaining to play. The match is over as soon as the matchplay is won, for example a player wins “3 and 2” if they are up by 3 holes with 2 remaining. Stableford scoring should continue for the remaining holes for the IJWMC Trophy.
ETIQUETTE
Do not talk while another player take their shot. If this happens the player can re-take their shot at their own discretion.
Slow play must be always avoided. If you are playing more slowly than the group behind and making them wait unnecessarily, call them through at the earliest opportunity.
Shout “Fore” whenever the ball is going near someone, or off-line of a blind shot.
Gimmie’s are given if the ball is within the range of the cup and the bottom of the putting grip.
2 minutes allocated for ball searches only