Definitions

Ground Under Repair

Ground under repair also includes the following things, even if the Committee does not define them as such:

• Any hole made by the Committee or the maintenance staff in:
• Setting up the course (such as a hole where a stake has been removed or the hole on a double green being used for the play of another hole), or
• Maintaining the course (such as a hole made in removing turf or a tree stump or laying pipelines, but not including aeration holes).
• Grass cuttings, leaves and any other material piled for later removal. But:
• Any natural materials that are piled for removal are also loose impediments, and
• Any materials left on the course that are not intended to be removed are not ground under repair unless the Committee has defined them as such.
• Any animal habitat (such as a bird’s nest) that is so near a player’s ball that the player’s stroke or stance might damage it, except when the habitat has been made by animals that are defined as loose impediments (such as worms or insects).

Rule 13.1c. Improvements Allowed on Putting Green

During a round (and while play is stopped under Rule 5.7a,) a player may take these two actions on the putting green, no matter whether the ball is on or off the putting green:

• (1) Removal of Sand and Loose Soil. Sand and loose soil on the putting green (but not anywhere else on the course) may be removed without penalty.
• (2) Repair of Damage. A player may repair damage on the putting green without penalty by taking reasonable actions to restore the putting green as nearly as possible to its original condition, but only:
• By using his or her hand, foot or other part of the body or a normal ball-mark repair tool, tee, club or similar item of normal equipment, and
• Without unreasonably delaying play (see Rule 5.6a).

But if the player improves the putting green by taking actions that exceed what is reasonable to restore the putting green to its original condition (such as by creating a pathway to the hole or by using an object that is not allowed), the player gets the general penalty for breach of Rule 8.1a.

"Damage on the putting green" means any damage caused by a person or outside influence, such as:

• Ball marks, shoe damage (such as spike marks) and scrapes or indentations caused by equipment or a flagstick,
• Old hole plugs, turf plugs, seams of cut turf and scrapes or indentations from maintenance tools or vehicles,
• Animal tracks or hoof indentations, and
• Embedded objects (such as a stone, acorn or tee).

But "damage on the putting green" does not include any damage or conditions that result from:

• Normal practices for maintaining the overall condition of the putting green (such as aeration holes and grooves from vertical mowing),
• Irrigation or rain or other natural forces,
• Natural surface imperfections (such as weeds or areas of bare, diseased or uneven growth), or
• Natural wear of the hole.

9.4 Ball Lifted or Moved by You

a. When Lifted or Moved Ball Must Be Replaced

If you or your caddie lift your ball at rest or cause it to move, your ball must be replaced on its original spot (which if not known must be estimated), except:

• When you lift the ball under a Rule to take relief or to replace the ball on a different spot, or
• When your ball moves only after you have started the stroke or the backswing for a stroke and then go on to make the stroke.

b. Penalty for Lifting or Deliberately Touching Your Ball or Causing It to Move

If you lift or deliberately touch your ball at rest or cause it to move, you get one penalty stroke.

But there are four exceptions where you get no penalty for doing so:

• Exception 1 – When You are Allowed to Lift or Move Ball.
• Exception 2 – Accidental Movement Before Ball Is Found.
• Exception 3 – Accidental Movement on Putting Green.
• Exception 4 – Accidental Movement Anywhere Except on Putting Green While Applying Rule.

Penalty for Playing Incorrectly Substituted Ball or Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Rule 9.4: General Penalty under Rule 6.3b or 14.7a.

General Penalty Definition

Loss of hole in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play.

16.1 Abnormal Course Conditions (Including Immovable Obstructions)

This Rule covers free relief that is allowed from interference by animal holes, ground under repair, immovable obstructions or temporary water.

These are collectively called abnormal course conditions, but each has a separate Definition.

e. Relief for Your Ball Not Found but in or on Abnormal Course Condition

If your ball has not been found and it is known or virtually certain that your ball came to rest in or on an abnormal course condition on the course, you may take relief under Rule 16.1b, c or d. You do this by using the estimated point where the ball last crossed the edge of the abnormal course condition on the course as the reference point.

-Calendar-

Oct 03 - Nth Turramurra
Oct 17 - Nth Turramurra
Oct 31 - Nth Turramurra
Nov 14 - Nth Turramurra
Nov 28 - Nth Turramurra
Dec 12 - Xmas Round

The New Rules of Golf - Effective 1st January 2019

You can find a new rules flyer from Golf Australia in this PDF file and a new rules poster in this PDF file.

The Main Changes

1. New dropping height.

All drops must be from knee height.

2. New dropping procedure.

Ball must land in and come to rest in relief area.

3. Time reduced for search.

Ball is lost if not found within 3 minutes.

4. Putting with flagstick in.

Hitting unattended flagstick in hole now allowed when putting.

5. Spike mark repair on green.

Repair of almost any damage to green now allowed.

6. Ball or ball-marker moved on green.

No penalty for accidental movement of ball or ball-marker on green.

7. Ball accidentally moved while searching.

Replace ball with no penalty.

8. Loose impediments in bunker or penalty area.

Removal of loose impediments in bunker or penalty area now allowed.

9. Touching Line of play on green.

Touching line of play on green now allowed.

10. READY GOLF.

(in Stableford, Stroke Play, Par)
The new rules actively encourage Ready Golf.

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