Golfspain

As provided in Rule 33-8a, the Committee may make and publish Local Rules for local abnormal conditions if they are consistent with the policy set forth by the Royal Golf Association of Spain in this Appendix. In addition, detailed information regarding acceptable and prohibited Local Rules is provided in "Decisions on the Rules of Golf" under Rule 33-8.
If local abnormal conditions interfere with the proper playing of the game and the Committee considers it necessary to modify a Rule of Golf, authorization from the United States Golf Association must be obtained.

1. 1. OBSTRUCTIONS

a. General
Clarifying status of objects which may be obstructions(Rule 24). Declaring any construction to be an integral part of the course and, accordingly, not an obstruction, e.g., built-up sides of teeing grounds, putting greens and bunkers (Rules 24 and 33-2a).

b. Stones in Bunkers
Allowing the removal of stones in bunkers by declaring them to be "movable obstructions" (Rule 24-1).

c. Highways and Roads
I) Declaring artificial surfaces and sides of roads and paths to be integral parts of the course, or
II) Providing relief of the type afforded under Rule 24-2b from roads and paths not having artificial surfaces and sides if they could unfairly affect play.

d. Fixed Sprinkler Heads
Providing relief from intervention by fixed sprinkler heads on or within two club-lengths of the putting green when the ball lies within two club-lengths of the sprinkler head.

e. Protection of Young Trees
Providing relief for the protection of young trees.

f. Temporary Obstructions
The Local specific rules on temporary obstructions (for ex. Grandstands, TV cables, equipment, etc.) and applicable in Tournaments may be obtained at the Royal Golf Federation of Spain).

2. AREAS OF THE COURSE REQUIRING PRESERVATION

Assisting preservation of the course by defining areas, including turf nurseries, young plantations and other parts of the course under cultivation as "ground under repair" from which play is prohibited.

3. EXTRAORDINARY DAMAGE ON THE COURSE OR ACCUMULATION OF LEAVES (OR OTHER SIMILAR ITEMS)

Declaring such areas as "under repair" (Rule 25). The Committee may deny relief in such areas by intereference in the placement of a player through a Local Rule - see the Note in Rule 25-1a. Note: For relief from venilation holes, see example of Local Rule 8 in Part B of this Appendix.

4. MUD, EXTREME WETNESS, POOR CONDITIONS AND PROTECTION OF COURSE

a. Lifting an Embedded Ball, Cleaning
Temporary conditions which might interfere with proper playing of the game, including mud and extreme wetness, warranting relief for an embedded ball anywhere through the green or permitting lifting, cleaning and replacing a ball anywhere through the green or on a closely-mown area through the green.

b. "Preferred Lies" and "Winter Rules"
Adverse conditions, including the poor condition of the course or the existence of mud, are sometimes so general, particularly during winter months, that the Committee may decide to grant relief by temporary Local Rule either to protect the course or to promote fair and pleasant play. Such Local Rule shall be withdrawn as soon as the conditions warrant.

Defining Bounds and Margins

Specifying means used to define out of bounds, water hazards, lateral water hazards, ground under repair, obstructions and integral parts of the course.

5. DROPPING ZONES (BALL DROPS)

Establishing special areas on which balls may or shall be dropped when it is not feasible or practicable to proceed exactly in conformity with Rule 24-2b or 24-2c (Immovable Obstruction), Rule 25-1b or 25-1c (Abnormal Ground Conditions), Rule 25-3 (Wrong Putting Green), Rule 26-1 (Water Hazards and Lateral Water Hazards) or Rule 28 (Ball Unplayable).

6. PRIORITY ON THE COURSE

The Committee may establish any regulations on priority for play on the course.

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PART B: SPECIMEN OF LOCAL RULES

Within the policy set out in Part A of this Appendix, the Committee may adopt a Specimen Local Rule by referring, on a score card or notice board, to the examples given below. However, Specimen Local Rules 5, 6, and 7, should not be printed or referred to on a score card as they are all of limited duration.

1. FIXED SPRINKLER HEADS

Rule 24-2 provides relief without penalty from interference by an immovable obstruction, but it also provides that, except on the putting green, intervention on the line of play is not, of itself, interference under this Rule. However, on some courses, the aprons of the putting greens are so closely mown that players may wish to putt from just off the green, In such conditions, fixed sprinkler heads on the apron may interfere with the proper playing of the game and the introduction of the following Local Rule providing additional relief without penalty from intervention by a fixed sprinkler head would be warranted:
"All fixed sprinkler heads are immovable obstructions and relief from interference by them may be obtained under Rule 24-2. In addition, if a ball lies off the putting green but not in a hazard and such an 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 as follows:
The ball shall be lifted and dropped at the nearest point to where the ball lay which (a) is not nearer the hole, (b) avoids such intervention and (c) is not in a hazard or on a putting green. The ball may be cleaned when so lifted.

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULE:
Match play - Loss of hole;
Stroke play - Two strokes.

2. STONES IN BUNKERS

Stones are, by definition, loose impediments and Rule 24-1 is therefore applicable.

3. PROTECTION OF YOUNG TREES

"Protection of young trees identified by ______ - If such a tree interferes with a player's stance or the area of his intended swing, the ball must be lifted, without penalty, and dropped in accordance with the procedure prescribed in Rule 24-2b (Immovable Obstruction). The ball may be cleaned when so lifted.

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULE:
Match play - Loss of hole;
Stroke play - Two strokes.

4. GROUND UNDER REPAIR - PLAY PROHIBITED

If a ball is in an area under repair area or if this area under repair interferes with the player's stance or attempted swing area, the player may take relief without penalty as prescribed in Rule 25-1.

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULE:
Match play - Loss of hole;
Stroke play - Two strokes.

5. LIFTING AN EMBEDDED BALL

(Specify the location if possible)... on the course, an embedded ball in its own impact on the terrain that is not sand may be lifted, cleaned and dropped with no penalty as close as possible from the point where it lay, but no closer to the hole.

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULE:
Match play - Loss of hole;
Stroke play - Two strokes.

6. CLEANING THE BALL

(Specify the location if possible)... on the course a ball may be lifted, cleaned and replace with no penalty.
Note: The position of the ball shall be marked before lifting it, under this Local Rule - see Rule 20-1.

7. PLACEMENT OF BALL AND WINTER RULES

Any ball resting in any place on the course where the grass is cut level may be moved or lifted without penalty, and cleaned and placed at a distance no greater than 15 centimeters from the point where it originally lay, but no closer to the hole. After the ball has been moved or placed in this manner, it is in play.

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULE:
Match play - Loss of hole;
Stroke play - Two strokes.

8. AIRATION HOLES

If a ball comes to rest in an airation hole, the play may without penalty lift the ball and clean it. On the course, the play must drop the ball as close as possible to the place where the ball lay, but no closer to the hole. On the putting green the player shall place the ball on the nearest point, but not closer to the hole, that relieves this situation.

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULE:
Match play - Loss of hole;
Stroke play - Two strokes.

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PART C:CONDITIONS FOR THE COMPETITION

Rule 33-1 provides, "The Committee shall lay down the conditions under which a competition is to be played." Such conditions should include many matters such as method of entry, eligibility, number of rounds to be played, etc. which it is not appropriate to deal with in the Rules of Golf or this Appendix. Detailed information regarding such conditions is provided in "Decisions on the Rules of Golf" under Rule 33-1. However, there are seven matters which might be covered in the Conditions of the Competition to which the Committee's attention is specifically drawn by way of a Note to the appropriate Rule. These are:

1. Specification of the Ball (Note to Rule 5-1)
The following two conditions are recommended only for competitions involving expert players:

a. List of Conforming Golf Balls
As a result of the regulations on the verification of balls under Rule 5-1, a List of Conforming Balls shall be published periodically.
It is recommended that the List be used at every National and Territorial Championship and at each of the low handicap restricted competitions. To apply the List to a specific competition, the Committee must establish this in the Competition Conditions. It must also be pointed out on the Application Form and must be published in a Note on the bulletin board of the Club and at the Teeing Ground of Hole 1, in accordance with the following:
................................ (Competition Name)...............................
................................(Date and Club).........................................
The Ball (Note to Rule 5-1) that the player uses must be included on the current list of Conforming Balls published by The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews". It shall be necessary to establish a penalty which must be one of the following:
a) Penalty for Breach of Condition:
Disqualification
or
b) Penalty for breach of condition,
Match Play - Loss of each hole in which the breach occurs.
Stroke Play - Two strokes per hole in which the breach occurs.
If option (b) is chose, it will only be applied for the use of one ball that is not on the list of Conforming Balls and does not fit the specific conditions established in Rule 5 and Appendix III. The penalty for the use of a ball that does not fit the above conditions is disqualification.

b. One Ball Condition
If it is desired to prohibit changing brands and types of golf balls during a stipulated round, the following condition is recommended: Limitation on Balls Used During Round: (Note to Rule 5-1)
i) "One Ball" Condition
During a stipulated round, the balls a player uses must be of the same brand and type as detailed by a single entry on the current List of Conforming Golf Balls.

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF CONDITION:
Match Play - At the conclusion of the hole at which the breach is discovered, the state of the match shall be adjusted by deducting one hole for each hole at which a breach occurred; maximum deduction per round: Two holes.
Stroke Play - Two strokes for each hole at which any breach occurred; maximum penalty per round: Four strokes.
ii) Procedure When Breach Discovered
When a player discovers that he has used a ball in breach of this condition, he shall abandon that ball before playing from the next teeing ground and complete the round using a proper ball; otherwise, the player shall be disqualified. If discovery is made during play of a hole and the player elects to substitute a proper ball before completing that hole, the player shall place a proper ball on the spot where the ball used in breach of the condition lay."

2. Time of Starting (Note to Rule 6-3a)

If the Committee wishes to act in accordance with the Note, the following wording is recommended: "If the player arrives at his starting point, ready to play, within five minutes after his starting time, in the absence of circumstances which warrant waiving the penalty of disqualification as provided in Rule 33-7, the penalty for failure to start on time is loss of the first hole to be played in match play or two strokes in stroke play. Penalty for lateness beyond five minutes is disqualification."

3. Pace of Play

The Committee may lay down pace of play guidelines to help prevent slow play, in accordance with Note 2 to Rule 6-7.

4. Suspension of Play Due to a Dangerous Situation (Note to Rule 6-8b)

As there have been many deaths and injuries from lightning on golf courses, all clubs and sponsors of golf competitions are urged to take precautions for the protection of persons against lightning. Attention is called to Rules 6-8 and 33-2d. If the Committee desires to adopt the condition in the Note under Rule 6-8b, the following wording is recommended:
"When play is suspended by the Committee for a dangerous situation, if the players in a match or group are between the play of two holes, they shall not resume play until the Committee has ordered a resumption of play. If they are in the process of playing a hole, they shall discontinue play immediately and shall not thereafter resume play until the Committee has ordered a resumption of play. If a player fails to discontinue play immediately, he shall be disqualified unless circumstances warrant waiving such penalty as provided in Rule 33-7.
The signal for suspending play due to a dangerous situation will be ..."

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF CONDITION:
Disqualification.

5. Practice

a. General
The Committee may make regulations governing practice in accordance with the Note to Rule 7-1, Exception (c) to Rule 7-2, Note 2 to Rule 7 and Rule 33-2c.

6. Advice in Team Competitions

If the Committee wishes to act in accordance with the Note under Rule 8, the following wording is recommended: "In accordance with the Note to Rule 8 of the Rules of Golf, each team may appoint one person (in addition to the persons from whom advice may be asked under that Rule) who may give advice to members of that team. Such person (if it desired to insert any restriction on who may be nominated insert such restriction here) shall be identified to the Committee before giving advice."

7. New Holes

The Committee may provide, in accordance with the Note to Rule 33-2b, that the holes and teeing grounds for a single round competition, being held on more than one day, may be differently situated on each day.