Local Rules

Alderley Edge Golf Club

LOCAL RULES

TEMPORARY LOCAL RULE (amended) - effective from 12th November 2023

MATS

A ball lying in a part of the General Area cut to fairway height or less MUST be marked & lifted, without penalty, and may be cleaned. Players then have three options for subsequent play:

Option 1

The ball must be placed on and played from an Astroturf, or similar, type of mat in this Relief Area:

  • Reference Point: Spot of the original ball;
  • Size of Relief Area Measured from Reference Point: 6 inches (15cm) from the Reference Point, but with these limits:
  • Limits on Location of Relief Area:
    • o Must not be nearer the hole than the Reference Point, and
    • o Must be in the General Area.

The ball must be placed near the middle of the mat. Placing at the edge is a breach of this local rule. If a ball, when placed, rolls from the mat it may be replaced without penalty.  If it still fails to remain on the mat, the mat must be moved to the nearest spot not nearer the hole where the ball, when placed on it, will remain at rest.  There is no penalty should the ball move or be moved after being placed on the mat and before making a stroke, including when addressing the ball or taking a practice swing.

Should a peg tee be used to secure the mat, the ball must not be placed on the tee.

Option 2

The ball may be placed in the nearest semi-rough/rough in this Relief Area:

  • Reference Point: Nearest semi-rough or rough in the General Area to the original spot of the ball;
  • Size of Relief Area Measured from Reference Point: One club-length, excluding any areas cut to fairway height or less;
  • Limits on Location of Relief Area:
    • o Must not be nearer the hole than the Reference Point, and
    • o Must be in the General Area.

Option 3

The ball may be played with a putter only from this Relief Area:

  • Reference Point: Spot of the original ball;
  • Size of Relief Area Measured from Reference Point: 6 inches (15cm) from the Reference Point, but with these limits:
  • Limits on Location of Relief Area:
    • o Must not be nearer the hole than the Reference Point, and
    • o Must be in the General Area.

Penalty for breach of Local Rule:  Match play – Loss of hole; Stroke play – Two strokes.

In addition, a player may use a mat in the teeing ground if they so wish.

MUD on the ball in the rough

A ball lying in the rough which has mud on it may be marked, lifted and cleaned, without penalty, and then dropped back into the rough near the point at which it rested, the Reference Point

  • Reference Point: Spot of the original ball;
  • Size of Relief Area Measured from Reference Point: 6 inches (15cm) from the Reference Point, but with these limits:
  • Limits on Location of Relief Area:
  • o Must not be nearer the hole than the Reference Point, and
  • o Must be in the General Area.

Golf Committee – November 2023

 

Effective from 6th May 2023

LOCAL RULE - drainage works from Wednesday 28th June 2023 until further notice

In order to clarify the rule position with regard to the damage to the course arising from the drainage works, the following local rule is applicable from Wednesday, 28th June 2023 until further notice:

*  When a ball lies in part of the general area cut to fairway height or less which has been damaged by drainage work on the course and is not marked as GUR, the Player may take free relief once by placing the original ball or another ball within 1 club-length, not nearer the hole and must be in the general area. Relief is not allowed if the only interference is with the Player's stance.

A copy of the local rule will be pinned to the various noticeboards in the locker rooms

Golf Committee

 

Local rules are to be found printed on the scorecard, but additional rules are:

 

SPRINKLER HEADS (clarification of rule on scorecard)

Relief from interference by immovable obstructions may be taken under Rule 16-1.  In addition, if the ball lies through the green and an immovable obstruction on or within two club-lengths of the putting green and within two club-lengths of the ball intervenes on the line of play between the ball and the hole, the player may take relief as follows:

  • The ball must be lifted and dropped at the nearest point to where the ball lay that (a) is not nearer the hole, (b) avoids intervention and (c) is not in a hazard or on a putting green.  

If the player’s ball lies on the putting green and an immovable obstruction within two club-lengths of the putting green intervenes on the line of his putt, the player may take relief as follows:

  • The ball must be lifted and placed at the nearest point to where the ball lay that (a) is not nearer the hole, (b) avoids intervention and (c) is not in a hazard.

The ball may be cleaned when lifted.

Exception:  A player may not take relief under this Local Rule if interference by anything other than the immovable obstruction makes the stroke clearly impracticable.

Penalty for breach of Local Rule:  Match play – Loss of hole; Stroke play – Two strokes.

 

Golf Committee

April 2023

 

OUT OF BOUNDS (Rule 18.2)

In, over or beyond:

  • Any hedge, wall or the inside edge of fence posts bounding the course;
  • The boundary ditch to the left of the 3rd/12th holes;
  • The car park and paths, patio and flower beds surrounding the Clubhouse;
  • The white stakes and boundary ditch to the right when playing the 5th/14th holes only;
  • The stakes supporting the net behind the 2nd/11th green.

OBSTRUCTIONS (Rule 16.1)

The following are defined as Immovable Obstructions:

  • Young trees marked with stakes or yellow tags;
  • Man-made paths within the boundaries of the course;
  • The drain plugs on the 5th/14th & 6th/15th greens;
  • The net surrounding the Men’s 17th tee;
  • The fence surrounding the 4th & 13th tees;
  • Sprinkler heads; in addition, if the ball lies through the green and a sprinkler head on or within two club-lengths of the putting green and within two club-lengths of the ball intervenes on the line of play between the ball and the hole;
  • The small trench (OOB) to the right of the 6th/15th.

GROUND UNDER REPAIR (Rule 16.1)

Ground Under Repair is marked as ‘GUR’ and/or by an unbroken white line.  The flower beds to the rear of the 4th/13th and clearly defined hoof or tractor tracks through the green are defined as Ground Under Repair.  Through the green, a ball that is embedded may be lifted, cleaned and dropped without penalty, as near as possible, to where it lay but not nearer the hole.

PENALTY AREAS (Rule 17)

Yellow penalty areas are marked with yellow lines/stakes (Rules 17.1d (1) and (2)).

Red penalty areas are marked with red lines/stakes (Rule 17.1d (3)).

The drainage ditch behind and to the right of the 1st green is a yellow penalty area when playing 1st/10th holes and a red penalty area when playing 7th/16th. Bridges are integral parts of the course.

TEMPORARY LOCAL RULES

Temporary Local Rules are displayed on the notice boards in the Clubhouse.

Penalty for Breach of Local Rule:   Match Play – Loss of Hole; Stroke Play – Two Strokes.

 

May 2021