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EWGA RULES
(updated 30 April 2024) |
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EWGA will play by the USGA Rules of Golf
Players are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the USGA Rules of Golf.
Some abbreviated rules are listed below to aid players.
We recommend that players download the FREE USGA app. Once downloaded, go to setting to turn on expert mode to view all the rules. The app also includes video explanations.
Some abbreviated rules are listed below to aid players.
We recommend that players download the FREE USGA app. Once downloaded, go to setting to turn on expert mode to view all the rules. The app also includes video explanations.
Questions about the rules are welcome and should be directed to the Rules Chair
Section 1: Local Rules
1. Any bare dirt/ground ( not a divot) in the fairway on the hole you are playing will be treated as Ground under repair even when not marked.
2. Aeration hole. (Local rule E-4) On the putting green, a ball that comes to rest in or on an aeration hole may be placed at the nearest spot not nearer the hole that avoids the situation.
3. Preferred lies (Local Rule E-3).Preferred lies will be in effect when the course is “cart path only” or a particular hole (not a par 3) has been designated as cart path only. The areas affected are fairway and the closely mowed area around the putting green. When any part of a player's ball touches the fairway, the player, with no penalty, may lift, clean and place a ball one time within one club length, no nearer the hole
4. Damaged areas tying into artificially surfaced roads and paths. (Local rule F 3.2) When areas of damaged ground are right next to artificially surfaced road or path they are treated as a single abnormal course condition when taking relief under 16.1.
5. Defining Penalty Areas. (Local Rule B-1)
6. On holes, 5, 8, 12, 13. (Local Rule B-3) If a player does not know whether their ball is in the penalty area, the player may hit a provisional ball, and may use any of the relief options under rule 17.1. Hole 8 has an additional relief option. The player may hit a provisional ball from the dropping zone. (See 6. Below for location)
If after hitting a provisional ball, the original ball is found in the penalty area within 3 minutes search time, the player may choose from the following options.
7. Dropping Zones on holes #8 and #15 (Local Rule E1.1)
1. Any bare dirt/ground ( not a divot) in the fairway on the hole you are playing will be treated as Ground under repair even when not marked.
2. Aeration hole. (Local rule E-4) On the putting green, a ball that comes to rest in or on an aeration hole may be placed at the nearest spot not nearer the hole that avoids the situation.
3. Preferred lies (Local Rule E-3).Preferred lies will be in effect when the course is “cart path only” or a particular hole (not a par 3) has been designated as cart path only. The areas affected are fairway and the closely mowed area around the putting green. When any part of a player's ball touches the fairway, the player, with no penalty, may lift, clean and place a ball one time within one club length, no nearer the hole
4. Damaged areas tying into artificially surfaced roads and paths. (Local rule F 3.2) When areas of damaged ground are right next to artificially surfaced road or path they are treated as a single abnormal course condition when taking relief under 16.1.
5. Defining Penalty Areas. (Local Rule B-1)
- In addition to marked areas, areas of dense vegetation, such as bushes and shrubs, are red penalty areas even if there are no red stakes. The edge of the penalty area is where the grass and the dense vegetation meet and is the reference point for taking relief.
- All areas adjacent to any body of water (lake, brook, and river) are played as a lateral penalty area, even when one or more red stakes are not present. In the absence of one or more red stakes, player shall use the contour, natural or mowed, of the lateral area as the boundary.
6. On holes, 5, 8, 12, 13. (Local Rule B-3) If a player does not know whether their ball is in the penalty area, the player may hit a provisional ball, and may use any of the relief options under rule 17.1. Hole 8 has an additional relief option. The player may hit a provisional ball from the dropping zone. (See 6. Below for location)
If after hitting a provisional ball, the original ball is found in the penalty area within 3 minutes search time, the player may choose from the following options.
- Option 1: Continue to play the original ball in the penalty area; abandoning the provisional ball. However, all options under Rule 17 that includes stroke and distance, back-on-the- line relief and lateral relief are not allowed. The original ball must be hit from the penalty area. (No penalty stroke)
- Option 2: Abandon the original ball. Continue to play the provisional ball. (One stroke penalty)
7. Dropping Zones on holes #8 and #15 (Local Rule E1.1)
- Hole 8 dropping zone is located right of the cart path at the previous tee box @90 yards from the green. Cannot tee up the ball. If a player is uncertain whether their ball crossed the penalty area, the player may proceed under the Local Rule B-3. (See 5. above)
- Hole 15 dropping zone. Use the marked area located on the other side of the cart path bridge from the tee box. If there is no marked area, then drop the ball in an area to the right of the cart path beyond the bridge approximately 10 feet in front of the penalty area, and 10 feet from the right of the cart part.
Section 2: EWGA playing rules
1. Picking up your ball during a round. If a player picks up their ball on any hole the player will not be eligible for flight awards (low gross, low net, putts), but is still eligible for chip-ins, and birdies. On the recording sheet after play, the player writes “picked up”. On the score card, the player records an X instead of a score. There is no total score for the round.
Exception: When a maximum score for an event has been preset or Stableford format is being used a player may pick up but still qualify for flight awards. (Rule 21))
2. Counting Putts. Once the ball reaches the putting surface, all strokes thereafter are considered putts.
Section 3: Some Abbreviated USGA Rules
1. Pace of Play: (5-6b) The USGA encourages prompt pace of play. It is recommended that the player make the stroke in no more than 40 seconds after she is (or should be) able to play without interference or distraction. Searching for ball: The USGA states a ball is lost if not found after 3 minutes after search started.
2. Accidental movement of a ball on a putting green.(13.1) When a player’s ball lies on a putting green, there is no penalty if the ball or ball marker is accidentally moved by the player, his partner, his opponent or any of their caddies or equipment. The moved ball or ball-marker must be replaced, Note that if the ball is moved by wind or water the ball must be played as lies if the ball has not been previously marked.
3. Embedded ball. (16.3) If a ball is embedded in its own pitch-mark in the general area only, the player may take free relief by dropping the original ball or another ball in the relief area. The reference point for determining the relief area is the spot right behind where the ball is embedded. The relief area is 1 club length from the reference point, no closer to the hole than the reference point and must be in the general area.
4. Loose impediments (12.2/ 15.1) may be removed without penalty, including in a bunker. If the removal caused the ball to move, there is a one stroke penalty.
5. Hummocks are part of the general area; not a penalty area.
For pace of play, if a player hits into the hummock, play a provisional ball.
If the ball is lost in a hummock (Rule 18)
Option 1: If original ball is not found in 3 minutes, continue play using the provisional ball. (One stroke penalty)
Option 2: If no provisional ball was played, player must return to the spot where previous stroke was made. (One stroke penalty and loss of distance)
Option 3: Instead of playing a provisional ball and/or searching for the ball, a player may hit another ball from the spot where the previous stroke was made. This ball becomes the ball in play. (One penalty stroke and loss of distance)
Options if ball is found in the hummock (Rule 19.2)
Option 1: Play the ball as it lies. (No penalty)
Option 2: Declare the ball unplayable and choose an option below:
a. Return to spot of previous stoke (One stroke penalty/loss of distance)
b. Take back-on-the- line relief. Back-on-the-line relief allows a player, using the flag and where the ball rests (reference point) to draw imaginary line behind the ball. There is no limit how far back the player may go on that line. The ball must be dropped on that line and can roll up to one club length in any direction—even toward the hole. (One stroke penalty).
c. Lateral relief. Two club relief on either side of the ball (reference point);
No closer to the hole. (One stroke penalty)
Section 4: Helpful explanations of some terms
(Please refer to the USGA Rules of Golf for a full explanation)
1. Picking up your ball during a round. If a player picks up their ball on any hole the player will not be eligible for flight awards (low gross, low net, putts), but is still eligible for chip-ins, and birdies. On the recording sheet after play, the player writes “picked up”. On the score card, the player records an X instead of a score. There is no total score for the round.
Exception: When a maximum score for an event has been preset or Stableford format is being used a player may pick up but still qualify for flight awards. (Rule 21))
2. Counting Putts. Once the ball reaches the putting surface, all strokes thereafter are considered putts.
Section 3: Some Abbreviated USGA Rules
1. Pace of Play: (5-6b) The USGA encourages prompt pace of play. It is recommended that the player make the stroke in no more than 40 seconds after she is (or should be) able to play without interference or distraction. Searching for ball: The USGA states a ball is lost if not found after 3 minutes after search started.
- Match play - The players may agree that one of them can play out of turn to save time. (5.6b 2) This applies ONLY to a situation, not the entire round.
- Stroke play – The players may play "ready golf" in a safe and responsible way ( 5.6b 2)
- Provisional ball: USGA encourages a player to play a provisional ball if the ball might be lost outside of a penalty area or if the ball may be out of bounds.
2. Accidental movement of a ball on a putting green.(13.1) When a player’s ball lies on a putting green, there is no penalty if the ball or ball marker is accidentally moved by the player, his partner, his opponent or any of their caddies or equipment. The moved ball or ball-marker must be replaced, Note that if the ball is moved by wind or water the ball must be played as lies if the ball has not been previously marked.
3. Embedded ball. (16.3) If a ball is embedded in its own pitch-mark in the general area only, the player may take free relief by dropping the original ball or another ball in the relief area. The reference point for determining the relief area is the spot right behind where the ball is embedded. The relief area is 1 club length from the reference point, no closer to the hole than the reference point and must be in the general area.
4. Loose impediments (12.2/ 15.1) may be removed without penalty, including in a bunker. If the removal caused the ball to move, there is a one stroke penalty.
5. Hummocks are part of the general area; not a penalty area.
For pace of play, if a player hits into the hummock, play a provisional ball.
If the ball is lost in a hummock (Rule 18)
Option 1: If original ball is not found in 3 minutes, continue play using the provisional ball. (One stroke penalty)
Option 2: If no provisional ball was played, player must return to the spot where previous stroke was made. (One stroke penalty and loss of distance)
Option 3: Instead of playing a provisional ball and/or searching for the ball, a player may hit another ball from the spot where the previous stroke was made. This ball becomes the ball in play. (One penalty stroke and loss of distance)
Options if ball is found in the hummock (Rule 19.2)
Option 1: Play the ball as it lies. (No penalty)
Option 2: Declare the ball unplayable and choose an option below:
a. Return to spot of previous stoke (One stroke penalty/loss of distance)
b. Take back-on-the- line relief. Back-on-the-line relief allows a player, using the flag and where the ball rests (reference point) to draw imaginary line behind the ball. There is no limit how far back the player may go on that line. The ball must be dropped on that line and can roll up to one club length in any direction—even toward the hole. (One stroke penalty).
c. Lateral relief. Two club relief on either side of the ball (reference point);
No closer to the hole. (One stroke penalty)
Section 4: Helpful explanations of some terms
(Please refer to the USGA Rules of Golf for a full explanation)
- General Area covers all areas of the course except teeing area, putting green, bunkers and penalty areas. (2.2)
- Out of bounds is marked by white stakes and/or white lines.
- Lost ball. The player must return to the location where original ball was last played. However, if the ball might be lost outside the penalty area, the player should hit a provisional ball. Player must announce that they are hitting a provisional ball. The player may play a provisional ball until she reaches the place where her original ball is estimated to be. After that point the provisional ball becomes the ball in play with a one stroke penalty. A ball is lost if not found 3 minutes after search started.(18.1-3)
- Unplayable ball. The player may declare her ball unplayable at any place on the course, except when the ball is in a penalty area. The player is the sole judge as to whether the ball is unplayable. The player may take relief under 19.2 a, b or c. (One stroke penalty).
- Temporary water is the accumulation of water on the surface of the ground (such as a puddle) and is not in a penalty area. Temporary water can be seen before or after a player takes their stance without pressing down excessively
