Conditions of Competition
Applicable to all RDGA tournaments
Play shall be governed by the most current edition of the Rules of Golf of the United States Golf Association and the following local rules. Players shall ignore all local rules printed on the local scorecard.
TIME OF STARTING - The Note under Rule 6-3 and Optional Condition as prescribed in Appendix I shall be in effect.
PACE OF PLAY - All players must play without undue delay [Rule 6-7]. Players are expected to maintain the pace of play as allotted on the official scorecard. In the absence of mitigating circumstances, any group exceeding the allotted time and, in the case of second or subsequent groups, out of position, may be warned and advised to pick up its pace. Individual players in the group contributing to the group’s slow play may be subject to penalty.
In the sole discretion of a Rules Official, the individual players in a group that has been warned that it is out of position may be timed. The first player whose turn it is to play shall play his stroke within 45 seconds of the point in time when he has reached his ball in play and the way ahead is clear. Each subsequent player shall then have 25 seconds in which to play his stroke once the way ahead is clear. The starting of the 45 or 25 second timing intervals shall be in the sole discretion of the Rules Official.
Out of Position - In the absence of mitigating circumstances, the first group to start will be considered out of position if, at any time during the round, the group is behind its allotted time.
Any following group will be considered out of position if it (a) is taking more time than the allotted time to play AND (b) arrives at the tee of a par 3 hole and the hole is clear, OR fails to clear the tee of a par 4 hole before the preceding group clears the putting green, OR arrives at the teeing ground of a par 5 hole when the preceding group has already reached the putting green.
Penalty - The penalty for undue delay of play shall be:
Stroke play Match play
1st offense ------------------- Warning Warning
2nd offense -------------------1 stroke Loss of hole*
3rd offense ------------------- 2 strokes Loss of 2 holes*
4th offense ------------------- Disqualification Disqualification
*The status of the match shall be adjusted by number of holes indicated.
DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICES - In RDGA sponsored events, the use of devices which measure distance only is permitted. The use of devices which are capable of measuring elements other than distance, such as wind, elevation changes, slope, etc. are
prohibited, even if such features are not actually used. Penalty for breach: Disqualification [Rule 14-3].
OTHER ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT - The use of cellular phones to make or receive telephone calls during the stipulated round is prohibited. Penalty for breach: 1st offense - warning; 2nd offense - disqualification.
MOTORIZED CARTS - Motorized golf carts are required to be paid for by each player. Keep all carts on cart paths where noted. NB: See Transportation Rules and penalties for breach on separate sheet.
FOOTWEAR - Metal spikes are prohibited (Penalty: Disqualification).
PRACTICE - Practice between holes and stipulated rounds on the competition course is prohibited. [Rule 7-lb (Penalty: Disqualification) and Rule 7-2, Note 2 (Penalty: 2 strokes)].
DOUBT AS TO PROCEDURE (Rule 2-5) - In match play competition only, if a doubt or dispute arises between the players, a player may make a claim, if no duly authorized representative of the Committee is available within a reasonable time, the players must continue the match without delay. The Committee may consider a claim only if the player making the claim notifies his opponent (1) that he is making a claim, (2) of the facts of the situation and (3) that he wants a ruling. The claim must be made before any player in the match plays from the next teeing ground or, in the case of the last hole of the match, before all players in the match leave the putting green.
DOUBT AS TO PROCEDURE (Rule 3-3) - In stroke play competition only, if a player is doubtful of his rights or the correct procedure during play of a hole, he may, without penalty, complete the hole with two balls. After the doubtful situation has arisen and before taking any further action, the player must inform his marker or fellow competitor that he intends to play two balls AND he must select the ball which he wants to count, if the rules allow, if he fails to do so, the provisions of Rule 3-3b(ii) apply. Upon completion of the stipulated round, he MUST report the facts to the Committee. If he fails to do so, he is Disqualified.
SUSPENSION OF PLAY / RESUMPTION OF PLAY (Rule 6-8) - if it becomes necessary to suspend play, the Committee will signal the players as follows:
Discontinue play — Three short blasts on air horn; repeated. Players may discontinue play immediately OR complete the play of the hole they are on. They may not tee off on the next hole until play is resumed by the Committee.
Discontinue play for Dangerous Situation — One long blast on air horn. Players MUST discontinue play immediately.
Penalty for breach: Disqualification.
When play is discontinued, the player may leave his ball in place OR mark its location before lifting it.
Resume Play — Two short blasts on air horn; repeated. Players must resume play immediately from the spot where it was discontinued, if the player had lifted his original ball when play was suspended, he must place a ball on the spot from which his original ball was lifted. If a player’s ball or its marker has been moved during the suspension of play (including by wind or water), a ball or ball marker must be placed on the spot where the original ball lay at the time of suspension. if that spot is impossible to determine, it must be estimated and a ball placed on the estimated spot. (Rule 20-3c does not apply.)
Penalty:
Failure to mark before lifting - 1 stroke
Failure to replace on original spot - 2 strokes
GROUND UNDER REPAIR - Defined by White Lines. Rule 25-1 applies.
French Drains are deemed to be Ground Under Repair even if not so marked.
Areas marked as ground under repair that are adjacent to cart paths are deemed to be part of the cart path and relief may be taken under Rule 24-2b (Immovable Obstruction).
All flower beds are deemed to be Ground Under Repair even if not so marked. Play is prohibited from all flower beds. Players are required to take relief under Rule 25-1. Penalty for breach: Match play — loss of hole; Stroke play —2 strokes.
EMBEDDED BALL RULE - Rule 25-2 and the local rule under Appendix I, Part B, paragraph 3a applies.
Through the green* a ball which 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 the spot where it was embedded, but not nearer the hole. (See Rule 20-2).
* Through the green is the entire area of the course, except:
A. The teeing ground and putting green of the hole being played, and
B. All hazards on the course.
SCORING - In stroke play only, upon completion of the stipulated round, the player must check the accuracy of the hole by hole entries on his scorecard and settle any doubtful points with the Committee. The player must then ensure that his card is signed by his marker(s), sign it himself and return it to the Committee in the RDGA scoring area. The card is deemed to be returned when the player has left the scoring area without possession of his scorecard.
CLOSE OF COMPETITION — The competition is deemed to be closed when all results are posted on the scoreboard and the Winner(s) has(have) been announced.
Play shall be governed by the most current edition of the Rules of Golf of the United States Golf Association and the following local rules. Players shall ignore all local rules printed on the local scorecard.
TIME OF STARTING - The Note under Rule 6-3 and Optional Condition as prescribed in Appendix I shall be in effect.
PACE OF PLAY - All players must play without undue delay [Rule 6-7]. Players are expected to maintain the pace of play as allotted on the official scorecard. In the absence of mitigating circumstances, any group exceeding the allotted time and, in the case of second or subsequent groups, out of position, may be warned and advised to pick up its pace. Individual players in the group contributing to the group’s slow play may be subject to penalty.
In the sole discretion of a Rules Official, the individual players in a group that has been warned that it is out of position may be timed. The first player whose turn it is to play shall play his stroke within 45 seconds of the point in time when he has reached his ball in play and the way ahead is clear. Each subsequent player shall then have 25 seconds in which to play his stroke once the way ahead is clear. The starting of the 45 or 25 second timing intervals shall be in the sole discretion of the Rules Official.
Out of Position - In the absence of mitigating circumstances, the first group to start will be considered out of position if, at any time during the round, the group is behind its allotted time.
Any following group will be considered out of position if it (a) is taking more time than the allotted time to play AND (b) arrives at the tee of a par 3 hole and the hole is clear, OR fails to clear the tee of a par 4 hole before the preceding group clears the putting green, OR arrives at the teeing ground of a par 5 hole when the preceding group has already reached the putting green.
Penalty - The penalty for undue delay of play shall be:
Stroke play Match play
1st offense ------------------- Warning Warning
2nd offense -------------------1 stroke Loss of hole*
3rd offense ------------------- 2 strokes Loss of 2 holes*
4th offense ------------------- Disqualification Disqualification
*The status of the match shall be adjusted by number of holes indicated.
DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICES - In RDGA sponsored events, the use of devices which measure distance only is permitted. The use of devices which are capable of measuring elements other than distance, such as wind, elevation changes, slope, etc. are
prohibited, even if such features are not actually used. Penalty for breach: Disqualification [Rule 14-3].
OTHER ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT - The use of cellular phones to make or receive telephone calls during the stipulated round is prohibited. Penalty for breach: 1st offense - warning; 2nd offense - disqualification.
MOTORIZED CARTS - Motorized golf carts are required to be paid for by each player. Keep all carts on cart paths where noted. NB: See Transportation Rules and penalties for breach on separate sheet.
FOOTWEAR - Metal spikes are prohibited (Penalty: Disqualification).
PRACTICE - Practice between holes and stipulated rounds on the competition course is prohibited. [Rule 7-lb (Penalty: Disqualification) and Rule 7-2, Note 2 (Penalty: 2 strokes)].
DOUBT AS TO PROCEDURE (Rule 2-5) - In match play competition only, if a doubt or dispute arises between the players, a player may make a claim, if no duly authorized representative of the Committee is available within a reasonable time, the players must continue the match without delay. The Committee may consider a claim only if the player making the claim notifies his opponent (1) that he is making a claim, (2) of the facts of the situation and (3) that he wants a ruling. The claim must be made before any player in the match plays from the next teeing ground or, in the case of the last hole of the match, before all players in the match leave the putting green.
DOUBT AS TO PROCEDURE (Rule 3-3) - In stroke play competition only, if a player is doubtful of his rights or the correct procedure during play of a hole, he may, without penalty, complete the hole with two balls. After the doubtful situation has arisen and before taking any further action, the player must inform his marker or fellow competitor that he intends to play two balls AND he must select the ball which he wants to count, if the rules allow, if he fails to do so, the provisions of Rule 3-3b(ii) apply. Upon completion of the stipulated round, he MUST report the facts to the Committee. If he fails to do so, he is Disqualified.
SUSPENSION OF PLAY / RESUMPTION OF PLAY (Rule 6-8) - if it becomes necessary to suspend play, the Committee will signal the players as follows:
Discontinue play — Three short blasts on air horn; repeated. Players may discontinue play immediately OR complete the play of the hole they are on. They may not tee off on the next hole until play is resumed by the Committee.
Discontinue play for Dangerous Situation — One long blast on air horn. Players MUST discontinue play immediately.
Penalty for breach: Disqualification.
When play is discontinued, the player may leave his ball in place OR mark its location before lifting it.
Resume Play — Two short blasts on air horn; repeated. Players must resume play immediately from the spot where it was discontinued, if the player had lifted his original ball when play was suspended, he must place a ball on the spot from which his original ball was lifted. If a player’s ball or its marker has been moved during the suspension of play (including by wind or water), a ball or ball marker must be placed on the spot where the original ball lay at the time of suspension. if that spot is impossible to determine, it must be estimated and a ball placed on the estimated spot. (Rule 20-3c does not apply.)
Penalty:
Failure to mark before lifting - 1 stroke
Failure to replace on original spot - 2 strokes
GROUND UNDER REPAIR - Defined by White Lines. Rule 25-1 applies.
French Drains are deemed to be Ground Under Repair even if not so marked.
Areas marked as ground under repair that are adjacent to cart paths are deemed to be part of the cart path and relief may be taken under Rule 24-2b (Immovable Obstruction).
All flower beds are deemed to be Ground Under Repair even if not so marked. Play is prohibited from all flower beds. Players are required to take relief under Rule 25-1. Penalty for breach: Match play — loss of hole; Stroke play —2 strokes.
EMBEDDED BALL RULE - Rule 25-2 and the local rule under Appendix I, Part B, paragraph 3a applies.
Through the green* a ball which 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 the spot where it was embedded, but not nearer the hole. (See Rule 20-2).
* Through the green is the entire area of the course, except:
A. The teeing ground and putting green of the hole being played, and
B. All hazards on the course.
SCORING - In stroke play only, upon completion of the stipulated round, the player must check the accuracy of the hole by hole entries on his scorecard and settle any doubtful points with the Committee. The player must then ensure that his card is signed by his marker(s), sign it himself and return it to the Committee in the RDGA scoring area. The card is deemed to be returned when the player has left the scoring area without possession of his scorecard.
CLOSE OF COMPETITION — The competition is deemed to be closed when all results are posted on the scoreboard and the Winner(s) has(have) been announced.