4.16 SBGS Playing Rules – integral to the Society's Articles of Association

 

These rules are designed to align with R&A Golf Rules as closely as possible – and are generally more generous – while at the same time speed up play.

 

Members and playing monitors should remember that this information as well as the R&A RULES is available online on their phones if they have a query while playing.

 

Note – There is also now a useful R&A App that can be downloaded from the Apple and Android App Stores.

 

Of the 25 rules, the 12 most regularly used rules are printed on our monthly Stableford scorecards.

REGULARLY USED RULES (12/25 RULES)

 

READY, STEADY GOLF

To speed up play, Members must play ready, steady, golf. This means that regardless of whose "honour" it is, if a player can take his next shot without interfering with other players he may do so. This applies on the tees, fairways, and greens. Please use common sense wherever possible to speed up play.

 

In matchplay good course etiquette respects "honour" on the tee. On the green players should play in the correct order.

 

TOO MANY SHOTS

Any player that has already played too many shots on any hole and cannot score a Stableford Point should pick up their ball immediately.

 

“GIMMEE” PUTTS

No “Give Me” putts should be offered, requested, or accepted in SBGS Competitions – other than in Matchplay. A score of “DNF” should be recorded for that hole, and the incident and transgressor should be reported to a member of the Committee immediately on completion of the round.

 

SEARCHING FOR A LOST BALL

The time to search for balls is 3 minutes.

 

PREFERRED LIES AND/OR MUD ON THE BALL – FAIRWAYS ONLY

A ball on the fairway (and only the fairway) can be marked, picked, cleaned, and replaced within 6 inches of its position, no nearer the hole. A ball in the semi rough, or rough, has to be played as it lies. This rule cannot be invoked to improve a player’s line of sight or avoid any other obstruction to the player’s shot, swing, or lie. The player should consult their playing partners if there is any doubt.

 

TEMPORARY OR CASUAL WATER

If a player is standing in any area on the course (fairway/rough) and is standing in temporary or casual water, even if the ball is in a dry area with no water, the player has the option to take relief in the normal manner (one club length to nearest point of relief).

 

LOST BALL – IN BOUNDS

When a player loses a ball, they may accept a penalty stroke and play with a substitute ball dropped as close as possible to the area in which it was lost – preferably confirming this with fellow players. This must be done if the original is not found within 3 minutes. This would be the 3rd shot if the ball was lost from the original tee shot.

 

BALL PLUGGED/EMBEDDED IN ITS OWN PITCH MARK

Within the rules of golf a plugged lie is known as an embedded ball. Relief is available to a player without penalty in all areas of the course except the tee of the hole you are playing, bunkers, penalty areas and the putting green, although you may always lift and mark your ball if it is plugged on the putting green. Please repair the pitch mark thereafter.

 

UNPLAYABLE BALL/LIE

A player can deem that their ball is unplayable anywhere on the course except in a Penalty Area. For a 1-shot penalty they can either play the ball again from where they originally hit it or take up to a 2-club length lateral distance relief or go backwards on line-of-sight relief. If the ball is in a Penalty Area, they must observe the rules for that Penalty Area.

 

OUT OF BOUNDS

A player hitting a ball out of bounds will play the next shot as close as reasonably possible to the point at which the original ball crossed the line of the out of bounds area. Add one penalty shot. Where there is any doubt as to where that point is, fellow players should be consulted.

 

INTERNAL PENALTY AREAS

These are marked by RED or YELLOW stakes – players are entitled to play a ball in the Penalty Area without penalty if they wish. If the ball is deemed unplayable or lost in the Penalty Area then a replacement ball should be dropped as follows: For a YELLOW Penalty Area: (1) return and play from where the original ball was struck (1-shot penalty), or (2) from the point where the original ball entered the Penalty Area, take a line back in line with the flag and drop anywhere on that line (1-shot penalty). For a RED Penalty Area: both options above apply, plus LATERAL RELIEF is available – drop a replacement ball in a relief area as near as possible to where the original last crossed the edge of the RED Penalty Area (1-shot penalty). Confirm the point of entry/exit with fellow players where possible.

 

APPOINTMENT OF MONITORS

The Committee may, on any match day, appoint voluntary monitors to keep track of round times and help with any rule interpretations or queries that may arise in playing groups during their round. Members are asked to support and assist them where required.

 

ADDITIONAL RULES (13/25 RULES)

 

GROUNDING CLUBS IN HAZARDS

Clubs can now be grounded in hazards. In bunkers it is okay to touch the sand at address but not improve the player’s lie.

 

BALL COMING TO REST AGAINST A RAKE

Where a ball comes to rest against a rake, the ball may be replaced in its original position without penalty. The position of the ball should be marked before lifting the rake. Please leave rakes inside bunkers at all times.

 

STRIKING ANOTHER BALL ON THE FAIRWAY

If one player’s ball (A) strikes another ball (B) anywhere, fairway or green, replace the ball (B) to its original position and play ball (A) from where it has come to rest.

 

BALL MOVED BY NATURAL FORCES

A ball at rest which is moved by natural forces must be replaced if it moves to another area of the course or comes to rest out of bounds after being dropped, placed, or replaced.

 

PUTTING WITH THE PIN IN THE HOLE

A ball can be putted with the pin still in the hole – this allows a putt to be made without having the hole tended. There is no penalty for hitting the pin when it is in the hole.

 

BACK-ON-THE-LINE RELIEF PROCEDURE

The back-on-the-line relief procedure, often used for penalty area and unplayable ball relief, has been simplified so that the player now drops their ball on the line, and the ball must come to rest within one club-length of where it is dropped.

 

DROPPING BALLS

Balls should be dropped from knee height.

 

UNPLAYABLE SAND BUNKER

A player can deem a sand bunker unplayable and for a 2-shot penalty remove the ball on a line from the flag and then play it from outside the bunker, or for a 1-shot penalty take lateral relief or on-line relief with the ball remaining in the bunker. No-penalty relief for casual water in a bunker remains as described under that rule.

 

CASUAL WATER IN A SAND BUNKER

When there is casual water in a bunker, a player is entitled to relief without penalty in the bunker at the nearest point of best or maximum relief, no nearer the hole. The ball must be dropped and come to rest within 1 club length. When a bunker is flooded and has no available place to drop the ball, a back on-line free drop option is available keeping the original ball position in line with the flag (usually means having to play over the bunker). Alternatively, the player may for a 2-shot penalty follow the Unplayable Sand Bunker rule.

 

DOUBLE HITS

There is no penalty for a double hit of a ball – this usually happens on a player’s follow through.

 

AIR SHOTS

If a player makes an air shot – they swing at the ball and miss it completely – they should add one stroke to their score for every air shot.

 

BALL LOST IN AN ANIMAL-MADE BURROW/DIGGING

A player is entitled to Free Relief from interference by Animal Holes in certain circumstances. There is an over-riding proviso that the player must first be able to show that if there was not an Animal Hole, but their ball was in the same place, they could take their stance and play a reasonable stroke. If this cannot be demonstrated, then no free relief is granted, and the player must treat their ball as unplayable. See explanatory video: https://www.nationalclubgolfer.com/rules/animal-scrapings-relief-rules/

An Animal Hole is defined as any hole dug in the ground by an animal, except for holes dug by animals that are also defined as Loose Impediments. An Animal Hole also includes the loose material the animal dug out of the hole, a worn-down track or trail that leads into that hole, and any area on the ground that’s either pushed up, or altered, as a result of an animal that’s been digging a hole underground. Animal footprints that are not part of a track or trail leading into an Animal Hole do not qualify for this free relief – though prints on a green may be repaired.

For Animal related matters, the following are defined as Loose Impediments – and are therefore moveable and do not qualify for this free relief – worms, insects and other similar animals that can be moved easily, including their mounds or webs (such as worm casts and ant hills) as well as dead animals and animal waste.

The Free Drop should be taken as follows – at the nearest point of relief (e.g. the nearest edge of material burrowed out – which may not necessarily provide sideways relief), drop within one club length, no nearer the hole, so the ball comes to rest within this relief area.

 

PLAYING THE WRONG BALL

In Match-play, the player loses the hole. In Stroke-play, the player receives a 2-shot penalty and must correct the mistake by going back and playing their own ball to finish the hole.