Eisenhower Women's Golf Association (EWGA)
Rules
(updated 3/1/2022)
Rules
(updated 3/1/2022)
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.
Players should refer to the Rules of Golf for full explanations
Some abbreviated rules are listed below to aid players.
Players should refer to the Rules of Golf for full explanations
Questions about the rules are welcome and should be directed to the Rules Chair
Section 1: Local Rules
1. 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.
2. Preferred lies. (Local rule E-3) When the committee has in place the “preferred lies” or “winter rules”, a ball lying in player’s fairway, may be lifted without penalty and cleaned. Before lifting the ball, the player must mark its position. Having lifted the ball, she must place it on a spot on the fairway within 1 club length of and not nearer the hole than where it originally lay.
This rule will be in effect for league play when the course is “cart path only” or when a particular hole (not par 3's) has been designated as “cart path only”
3. Defining Penalty Areas. (Local rule 8 B-1) 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.
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. Playing Hole #8 at the Preserve (Local rule E 1.3) If your ball is in the penalty area on hole #8 you have 2 options:
Option 1- Re-tee. Take stroke and distance relief, adding one penalty stroke OR
Option 2-Drop the original ball or another ball in the dropping zone adding one penalty stroke, located forward over the cart path bridge, on the right side of the cart path, past the sign “Cart Path Only”.
Player may NOT take Back -on-the- Line Relief or Lateral relief (if Red penalty area)
Additional Information to Help You
1. 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.
2. Preferred lies. (Local rule E-3) When the committee has in place the “preferred lies” or “winter rules”, a ball lying in player’s fairway, may be lifted without penalty and cleaned. Before lifting the ball, the player must mark its position. Having lifted the ball, she must place it on a spot on the fairway within 1 club length of and not nearer the hole than where it originally lay.
This rule will be in effect for league play when the course is “cart path only” or when a particular hole (not par 3's) has been designated as “cart path only”
3. Defining Penalty Areas. (Local rule 8 B-1) 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.
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. Playing Hole #8 at the Preserve (Local rule E 1.3) If your ball is in the penalty area on hole #8 you have 2 options:
Option 1- Re-tee. Take stroke and distance relief, adding one penalty stroke OR
Option 2-Drop the original ball or another ball in the dropping zone adding one penalty stroke, located forward over the cart path bridge, on the right side of the cart path, past the sign “Cart Path Only”.
Player may NOT take Back -on-the- Line Relief or Lateral relief (if Red penalty area)
Additional Information to Help You
- The course has NOT marked this area as a drop zone yet. See the picture below.
- We are NOT using the old tee box, but moving the drop area over the penalty area so you are chipping onto the green.
- You would probably only use option 1 if you are ticked off and want to prove to yourself that you can hit the ball from that distance, over the junk. We strongly suggest you use option 2.
Section 2: EWGA playing rules
1. Picking up your ball. If you pick up your ball on any hole during the round you will not be eligible for flight awards (low gross, low net, putts), but you are still eligible for closest to the pin, chip-ins, and birdies. On the recording sheet after play, the player marks their score with an X or writes “picked up”. On the score card, the player records their Maximum Score with an X by the number or just an X to show that the player picked up their ball on that hole.
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 or identified after 3 minutes.
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) A ball that is embedded in its own pitch-mark in the general area may be marked, lifted, cleaned and dropped within the relief area without penalty. 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. Rule does not apply to a ball in a bunker or penalty area.
4. Loose impediments in Bunkers. (12.2/ 15.1) Loose impediments and movable obstructions may be removed without penalty unless their removal causes the ball to move. (See “Loose Impediment” definition in the Rules of Golf for a list.)
5. Hitting into a Hummock: Hummocks are part of the general area; not a penalty area.
Options if ball is lost or thought to be lost in hummock. (Rule 18 Rules of Golf)
a. For pace of play, hit a provisional ball. If original ball is not found in 3 minutes, continue play using the provisional ball. (1 stroke penalty)
b. If no provisional ball was played and ball is not found, player must return to the spot where previous stroke was made. (1 stroke penalty and loss of distance)
c. 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.(1 penalty stroke)
Options if ball is found in the hummock
a. Play the ball as it lies. (no penalty)
b. Declare the ball unplayable and choose one of the options listed below. (Rule 19.2 Rules of Golf)
i. Return to spot of previous stoke (1 stroke penalty and loss of distance)
ii. Take back-on-the line of relief. Using the flag and where the ball rests (reference point) drawn an imagery line behind the ball. There is no limit on how far the player may go back on this line before dropping the ball. ( 1 stroke penalty)
iii. Lateral relief. Two club relief on either side of the ball (reference point); no closer to the hole. (1 stroke penalty)
6. "NO PLAY" Zones
On hole #4 on the right and on hole #16 on the left at the Preserve at Eisenhower some signs say: "PLEASE DO NOT ENTER". These areas are to be played as " NO PLAY ZONES". Follow the contour of the penalty area.
Rule 17.1e: Penalty relief MUST be taken if ball is in NO Play Zone in Penalty area. Relief options with ONE stroke penalty as in 17.1d.:
1. Stroke and Distance relief;
2. Back on the line relief' or
3, Lateral relief (as these are red penalty areas).
Player must not play ball as it lies.
On Hole #4, the NO PLAY area runs the whole way on the right, starting to the right and behind the Tee area, all the way beyond the big tree to where the taller grasses/brush ends close to the cartpath to hole #5.
If ball is outside the No Play Zone but No Play Zone interferes with your intended stance or swing, the player MUST take relief as described in Abnormal Course Conditions. NO Penalty. (Take complete relief, measure 1 club length, no closer to hole).
Section 4: Helpful explanations of some terms
(Please refer to the USGA Rules of Golf for a full explanation)
1. Picking up your ball. If you pick up your ball on any hole during the round you will not be eligible for flight awards (low gross, low net, putts), but you are still eligible for closest to the pin, chip-ins, and birdies. On the recording sheet after play, the player marks their score with an X or writes “picked up”. On the score card, the player records their Maximum Score with an X by the number or just an X to show that the player picked up their ball on that hole.
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 or identified after 3 minutes.
- Match play - the players may agree that one of them will play out of turn to save time ( 5.6b 2)
- Stroke play - 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) A ball that is embedded in its own pitch-mark in the general area may be marked, lifted, cleaned and dropped within the relief area without penalty. 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. Rule does not apply to a ball in a bunker or penalty area.
4. Loose impediments in Bunkers. (12.2/ 15.1) Loose impediments and movable obstructions may be removed without penalty unless their removal causes the ball to move. (See “Loose Impediment” definition in the Rules of Golf for a list.)
5. Hitting into a Hummock: Hummocks are part of the general area; not a penalty area.
Options if ball is lost or thought to be lost in hummock. (Rule 18 Rules of Golf)
a. For pace of play, hit a provisional ball. If original ball is not found in 3 minutes, continue play using the provisional ball. (1 stroke penalty)
b. If no provisional ball was played and ball is not found, player must return to the spot where previous stroke was made. (1 stroke penalty and loss of distance)
c. 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.(1 penalty stroke)
Options if ball is found in the hummock
a. Play the ball as it lies. (no penalty)
b. Declare the ball unplayable and choose one of the options listed below. (Rule 19.2 Rules of Golf)
i. Return to spot of previous stoke (1 stroke penalty and loss of distance)
ii. Take back-on-the line of relief. Using the flag and where the ball rests (reference point) drawn an imagery line behind the ball. There is no limit on how far the player may go back on this line before dropping the ball. ( 1 stroke penalty)
iii. Lateral relief. Two club relief on either side of the ball (reference point); no closer to the hole. (1 stroke penalty)
6. "NO PLAY" Zones
On hole #4 on the right and on hole #16 on the left at the Preserve at Eisenhower some signs say: "PLEASE DO NOT ENTER". These areas are to be played as " NO PLAY ZONES". Follow the contour of the penalty area.
Rule 17.1e: Penalty relief MUST be taken if ball is in NO Play Zone in Penalty area. Relief options with ONE stroke penalty as in 17.1d.:
1. Stroke and Distance relief;
2. Back on the line relief' or
3, Lateral relief (as these are red penalty areas).
Player must not play ball as it lies.
On Hole #4, the NO PLAY area runs the whole way on the right, starting to the right and behind the Tee area, all the way beyond the big tree to where the taller grasses/brush ends close to the cartpath to hole #5.
If ball is outside the No Play Zone but No Play Zone interferes with your intended stance or swing, the player MUST take relief as described in Abnormal Course Conditions. NO Penalty. (Take complete relief, measure 1 club length, no closer to hole).
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)
- Ground under repair is marked by white lines.
- Out of bounds is marked by white stakes and/or white lines.
- Red Penalty areas are marked by red stakes and/or lines. Yellow Penalty areas are marked by yellow stakes/lines. Only in the red penalty areas is there a third option allowing a player to take lateral relief. (17.1d)
- Lost ball. The player must return to the location where original ball was last played, adding one penalty stroke or play a provisional ball. To save time, players are encouraged if a ball might be lost outside a penalty area or might be out of bounds to play another ball provisionally. 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. (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 19.2a, b or c. One stroke penalty.
- Temporary water. (Replaces “casual 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.
