Players get often confused in the type of rules that are in effect in tournaments. We have the Rules of Golf, The Standard Local Rules and the tournament specific local rules.
Here are a few examples:
Damaged club
Under the Rules of Golf, a player may not replace a damaged club. It is possible to put into effect a local rule permitting the replacement of a damaged club.
Summer Rules vs Preferred lies
A player must play his ball where it lies but a local rule may give the opportunity to place a ball not more than one club-length from the original spot, usually on short grass, but sometimes it could be everywhere in the general area.
Movable and immovable obstructions
Under the Rules of Golf, a player may move a movable obstruction, but certain local rules specify that publicity signs must not be removed.
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Aeration holes
When the ball lies in an aeration hole, the player must play the ball has it lies. A local rule could give the possibility to place the ball at the nearest spot to avoid the condition. This local rule is very important in the beginning of the year. Many players told me they moved the ball a fraction of an inch to bring the ball outside the aeration hole on the green. Without the local rule, all those players should have received a penalty of 2 strokes for playing from the wrong place.
Most of the Spring tournaments did not have this local rule in effect.
NOTE: It is not allowed to repair the aeration holes.
Paths
Under the Rules of Golf, we can obtain a relief from a cart path. The path is considered an obstruction when it is artificially surfaced. Dirt path are not obstruction unless a local rule determines they are. Many dirt path or bare earth are present on a golf course and we can’t give relief every time a ball lies on a patch of dirt.
Line of play relief
Under the Rules, a relief is possible from an immovable obstruction for the position of the ball or for our stance. If the ball is lying a few feet from a protective fence, we need a local rule in order to have a free relief for the line of play. We have the same situation around most of the greens because we often see a sprinkler head close to the green. The relief only for the line of play is available if it is mentioned on a Local Rule.
Have a look at your greens and I would be surprised if you don’t have any such situation.
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