The RCGA “Rules of Golf” book is available from the Captain or Vice Captain. All competitions of the Men’s Mid-week Club are played under the Rules of Golf as approved by the Royal Canadian Golf Association except as provided for under the following local rules.

Ball Unplayable, Ditches, Lateral Water Hazards (2nd hole lake):
If a player deems a ball unplayable any place on the course, or in a hazard marked by red stakes or a red line, he must, under
Penalty of one stroke (Rules 26, Hazard & 28, Ball Unplayable):

a. Replay the ball from the original spot, or
b. Drop a ball behind the point where the ball lay, if unplayable, or entered the hazard, keeping that point directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind that point the ball may be dropped, or
c. Drop a ball within two (2) club-lengths of the spot where the ball lay or entered the hazard, but not nearer the hole.

Out of Bounds, play a Provisional Ball:

Competition Play: In the likelihood that his ball has gone out of bounds or may be lost, a player must hit a provisional second ball.
Out of bounds is defined by the nearest inside point of white stakes or fence posts bordering the golf course at ground level.
Penalty - stroke and distance

Open Play: If a player fails to hit a provisional ball and subsequently discovers the first ball is out of bounds or lost, he may, in the interest of maintaining the pace of play, substitute another ball as close to the point where his first ball crossed the out of bounds line or at the nearest point of relief, but no nearer the hole.
Penalty – two strokes

Ball lost through the green:
Where there is reasonable evidence that a ball is lost on the fairway or open rough areas in abnormal ground conditions, including casual water, ground under repair, plugged, or an area heavily littered with leaves or other debris, a player may substitute another ball and take relief by dropping a ball at the approximate location of the first ball or if necessary within one club length of the outermost limit of the
abnormal ground condition.
No penalty (adapted from Rule 25-1c(i))

Cart paths and roadways:
Lift the ball to the nearest point of relief then drop ball within one club length no nearer the hole.
No penalty

Aeration Holes:
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.
No penalty

Obstructions:
An “Obstruction” is anything artificial, including paths, a staked tree and 150 yard marker bush. On holes 1 and 5, netting and guy wires are obstructions when this structure interferes with stance or swing. A player is allowed to lift and drop the ball on the fairway side of the netting within one club length not nearer the hole without penalty. Similarly, if a playable ball lies between the netting and boundary fence on holes 1 and 5, a player may lift and drop within one club length of, but not nearer the hole on the fairway side of the netting without penalty (Rule 24-2 applies). An unplayable ball located between the boundary fence and the netting may be played on the fairway side of the netting, as above, penalty one stroke.
Stones in bunkers are considered movable obstructions and may be removed without penalty (Rule 24-1) applies

Playing the ball

Play the ball down, as it lies:

Effective May 1st, 2008 or later, subject to course condition.
Exception: A ball that comes to rest in a divot anywhere on the course may be moved 6” no nearer the hole without penalty.

Preferred Lie Rule: (Winter Rules)

Effective October 1st to May 1st subject to course condition.

You are encouraged to play the ball as it lies. If you must move the ball 6”, do so using the intended club. A ball lying “through the green” may be marked, lifted, cleaned and placed by hand within 6 inches of where it originally lay, but not nearer the hole, without penalty.
Note: “through the green” is the whole area of the course except:

1. The teeing ground and putting green of the hole being played.
2. All hazards on the course.

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