Return to UGA Home
Return to UGA Home
tournaments
You are here: UGA Home > Tournaments > UGA Hard Card



 

UTAH GOLF ASSOCIATION
LOCAL RULES & CONDITIONS OF COMPETITION
Revised January 2009

Disregard any Local Rules printed on the course scorecard or otherwise posted

Play is governed by the USGA Rules of Golf and by the following Local Rules and definitions where applicable. Any changes and/or additions to these Local Rules will be provided on a Notice to Competitors/Players. Unless otherwise noted, the penalty for breach of a Local Rule or Condition is:

Match Play-
Loss of Hole
Stroke Play-Two Strokes


LOCAL RULES

OUT OF BOUNDS- Defined by inside points, at ground level of white stakes, property fence posts or walls. All public roads are deemed out of bounds and if not otherwise marked, the inside edge of the curbing shall be the boundary. In the absence of a curb, the nearest edge of the asphalt shall be the boundary. If a ball crosses a public road and comes to rest on another part of the golf course the ball is deemed out of bounds.

WATER HAZARDS AND LATERAL WATER HAZARDS- When a water hazard or a lateral water hazard is defined on only one side, it is deemed to extend to infinity. When water hazards or lateral water hazards are bounded by out of bounds, the hazard margin extends to and coincides with the out of bounds line. When both stakes and lines are used to define water hazards or lateral water hazards, the stakes identify the hazard and the lines define the margins. Rule 26-1.

GROUND UNDER REPAIR- Defined by an enclosed white line. Fire ant hills and French drains are deemed to be ground under repair. Rule 25-1.

SEAMS OF CUT TURF- Through the green, seams of cut turf (not the turf itself) are deemed to be ground under repair. However, interference by a seam with the player’s stance is deemed not to be, of itself, interference under Rule 25-1. If the ball lies in or touches a seam or the seam interferes with the area of intended swing, relief is available under Rule 25-1. All seams within the cut turf area are considered the same seam.

WHITE-LINED AREAS TYING INTO ARTIFICIALLY-SURFACED ROADS AND PATHS- have the same status as roads and paths (which they tie into), that of obstructions.

WOOD CHIPS AND MULCH- are loose impediments unless otherwise provided for in a Notice to the Competitors/Players.

EMBEDDED BALL- Through the green, a ball that is embedded in its own pitch mark in the ground may be lifted without penalty, cleaned and dropped as nearly 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 take relief under this Local Rule if the ball is embedded in sand in an area that is not closely mown.

INTEGRAL PARTS OF THE COURSE- includes cables, rods, wires or wrappings when closely attached to trees; liners in bunkers and artificial walls and pilings when located in hazards, unless otherwise provided for in Notice to Competitors/Players.

PERMANENT ELEVATED POWER LINES- If a ball strikes an elevated power line, the stroke is canceled and the player must play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was played in accordance with Rule 20-5. If the ball is not immediately recoverable, another ball may be substituted.


CONDITIONS OF THE COMPETITION

LIST OF CONFORMING DRIVER HEADS- The driver head the player plays must be named on the current List of Conforming Driver Heads issued by the USGA. Penalty- Disqualification.

LIST OF CONFORMING GOLF BALLS- The ball the player plays must be named on the current List of Conforming Golf Balls issued by the USGA. Penalty- Disqualification.

TIME OF STARTING- If a player arrives at his starting point, ready to play, within five minutes after his starting time, in the absence of circumstances that warrant waiving the penalty of disqualification, the penalty for failing to start on time is loss of the first hole in match play, or two strokes in stroke play. Penalty for lateness beyond five minutes is disqualification.

PACE OF PLAY- Rule 6-7 will be enforced. (See Pace of Play Guidelines)

SUSPENSION OF PLAY DUE TO A DANGEROUS SITUATION- When play is suspended for a dangerous situation, if the players in a match or group are between the play of two holes, they must not resume play until the committee has ordered a resumption of play. If they are in the process of playing a hole, they must discontinue play immediately and not resume play until the committee has ordered a resumption of play. If a player fails to discontinue play immediately, he is subject to disqualification unless the circumstances warrant waiving the penalty as provided in Rule 33-7. Note: A suspension for a dangerous situation will be signaled by one prolonged air horn note. All other types of suspension will be signaled by three consecutive notes, repeated. Resumption of play will be signaled by two short air horn notes, repeated.

PRACTICE- Prior to his round in stroke play, a player may practice in the designated practice areas only. Rule 7-1b applies to other practice in stroke play, and Rule 7-1a covers practice before the round in match play.

DISTANCE-MEASURING DEVICES- A player may obtain distance information by using a device that measures distance only. If, during a stipulated round, a player uses a distance-measuring device that is designed to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect his play (e.g., gradient, wind-speed, temperature, etc.), the player is in breach of Rule 14-3, for which the penalty is disqualification, regardless or whether any such additional functions are actually used.

CLOSE OF COMPETITION- The competition shall be deemed closed when the winner has been announced, or in the absence of a prize ceremony, when all scores have been approved by the committee.

SPORTSMANSHIP AND CONDUCT


The UGA expects a high standard of conduct and sportsmanship from all players in UGA events. Players who conduct themselves in a discourteous or unsportsmanlike manner are subject to disqualification (Rule 33-7) according to the discretion of the tournament committee. The UGA Board of Directors can extend the disqualification to additional future events if circumstances warrant.

Foul and abusive language, cheating, throwing clubs, drinking alcohol in excess on the course, and showing disrespect for club facilities, tournament officials, volunteers, spectators and fellow competitors are actions subject to reprimand, disqualification and/or suspension.

If a player is disqualified under this policy he shall not be permitted to continue play in that particular tournament and shall be asked to leave the course if his conduct remains abusive or threatening. Conduct of a player will be considered in the selection of all participants in UGA team events such as the Utah-Arizona Shootout, the Pacific Coast Amateur, the USGA State Team Championship, the Governor’s Cup, and any other UGA event. The UGA will not select players whose conduct cannot be depended on.

CELL PHONES- Cellular telephones are not permitted to be in use on the golf course during any UGA event, except for an emergency or as otherwise provided in the Notice to the Competitors/Players.

DRESS CODE- Players must abide by the UGA dress code for the event and by the dress code of the hosting facility. The Utah State Amateur Championship, including the qualifying rounds, requires collard shirts and prohibits jeans, levis and denims. Each player is responsible to know the dress code for each event. It is part of the official entry form.

SHOES- Metal spikes are prohibited. Sandals are not permitted at the Utah State Amateur.