Local Rules - Oak Hills Park
Embedded Ball
Through the green, a ball that is embedded in its own pitch-mark in the ground, other than sand, may be lifted without penalty, cleaned and dropped as near as possible to where it lay but not nearer the hole. The ball when dropped must first strike a part of the course through the green.
​
Exception: A player may not take relief under this Local Rule if it is clearly unreasonable for him to play a stroke because of interference by anything other than the condition covered by this Local Rule.
​
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULE:
Match play — Loss of hole; Stroke play— Two strokes.”
Preferred Lies (Winter Rules)
When the Winter Rules sign is posted on the bulletin board or at the first tee, the following Local Rule is to be used. If a player’s ball lies on a closely mown area of the hole being played, the player may mark, lift and clean his ball without penalty. The player must then place the ball on a spot within one club length of and not nearer the hole than where it originally lay, that is not in a hazard or on a putting green.
​
A player must place his ball only once, and it is in play when it has been placed (Rule 20-4). If the ball fails to come to rest on the spot on which it was placed, Rule 20-3d applies and the ball must be replaced. If the ball when placed comes to rest on the spot on which it is placed and it subsequently moves, there is no penalty and the ball must be played as it lies, unless the provisions of any other Rule apply.
​​
*PENALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULE:
Match play — Loss of hole; Stroke play— Two strokes
​
Aeration Holes
​
Through the green, a ball that comes to rest in or on an aeration hole may be lifted without penalty, cleaned and dropped as near as possible to the spot where it lay but not nearer the hole. The ball when dropped must first strike a part of the course through the green.
​
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.
​
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULE:
Match play — Loss of hole; Stroke play— Two strokes.”
Power Lines
​
If a ball strikes the power line during play of the 8th, 9th, 10th, or 12th holes, the stroke is canceled and the player must play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was played in accordance with Rule 20-5 (Making Next Stroke from Where Previous Stroke Made). The towers are considered “immovable obstructions” and any ball striking a tower must be played as it lies.
Roads.
The Road between 15 and 16 is out OB. Also the Road to the right of 14 is OB
​
Ground Under Repair
The following areas may always be played as ground under repair and relief taken as prescribed in Rule 25-1 even if not marked as such.
​
The dirt path leading from the cart path up to the 2nd green
​
The bare spots in the right rough of the 7th hole between 100 to 150 yards from the green, commonly used as the cart path for that hole.
​
The bare spots and dirt path in the left rough of the 12th hole inside of 100 yards.
​
French drains (trenches filled with exposed rock) are deemed to be ground under repair.
​
When winter rules are not in effect, all other unmarked areas through the green must be played as the ball lies.
​
Stones in Bunkers
​
Stones in bunkers are movable obstructions (Rule 24-1 applies).
​
Drop Area for 5th Hole
In addition to the normal options for hitting a ball into a direct or lateral water hazard, if it is known or virtually certain your tee ball is in one of the water hazards a ball may be dropped in the designated drop area to the right of the forward tee.
​
Drop Areas for 14th Hole
In addition to the normal penalty options for relief from the boundary wall behind the 14th green, under penalty of one stroke a player may proceed to the nearest drop zone located on either side behind the 14th green and drop a ball.
​
Distance-Measuring Devices
​
For all tournament play at this course a player may obtain distance information by using a device that measures distance only. If, during a stipulated round, a player uses a distance-measuring device that is designed to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect his play (e.g., gradient, wind speed, temperature, etc.), the player is in breach of Rule 14-3, for which the penalty is 2 strokes for the initial violation and disqualification for any subsequent violation, regardless of whether any such additional function is actually used.
​
Flower Beds
Any flower beds on the course are ground under repair from which play is prohibited. If a player’s ball lies in the area, or if it interferes with the player’s stance or the area of his intended swing, the player must take relief under rule 25-1. The mulched area to the left of the 18th green is not considered a flower bed.
​
Ball Moves on the Green
​
“Rules 18-2, 18-3 and 20-1 are modified as follows:
​
When a player’s ball lies on the 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 as provided in Rules 18-2, 18-3 and 20-1.
​
This Local Rule applies only when the player’s ball or ball-marker lies on the putting green and any movement is accidental.
​
Note: If it is determined that a player’s ball on the putting green was moved as a result of wind, water or some other natural cause such as the effects of gravity, the ball must be played as it lies from its new location. A ball-marker moved in such circumstances is replaced.”