Local Course Rules

Lexden Wood Golf Club - Local Rules

OUT OF BOUNDS

Out of bounds is OVER boundary walls, hedges and fences. White posts may identify these boundary walls, hedges and fences but do not necessarily indicate the out of bounds line. These stakes are treated as boundary objects from which free relief is not allowed. Rule 8.1:

The white posts to the left of the 1st hole indicate out of bounds.

The white posts to the right of the 4th hole indicate out of bounds.

The white posts to the right and the rear of the 6th hole indicate out of bounds.

The white posts to the right of the 10th hole indicate out of bounds if you are in the ditch or beyond

The white posts to the right of the 11th hole indicate out of bounds.

Internal out of bounds

When playing the 12th hole the 11th hole is out of bounds as indicated by white stakes.

During the play of a hole with an internal out of bounds the white stakes indicating the out of bounds are boundary objects, for all other holes they are immovable obstructions.

PENALTY AREAS

All areas designated by RED posts (Rule 17)

PROVISIONAL BALL IN PENALTY AREA

If a player does not know whether his or her ball is in the penalty area on holes 8, 9, 14 and 17, the player may play a provisional ball under Rule 18.3, which is modified in this way:

In playing the provisional ball, the player may use the stroke-and-distance relief option (see Rule 17.ld(l), the back-on-the-line relief option (see Rule 17.ld(2)) or, if it is a red penalty area, the lateral relief option (see Rule 17.ld(3)).

Once the player has played a provisional ball under this Rule, he or she may not use any further options under Rule 17.1 in relation to the original ball.

In deciding when that provisional ball becomes the player's ball in play or if it must or may be abandoned, Rule 18.3c(2) and 18.3c(3) apply except that:

When Original Ball ls Found in The Penalty Area Within Three-

Minute Search Time. The player may choose to either:

Continue to play the original ball as it lies in the penalty area, in which case the provisional ball must not be played. All strokes with that provisional ball before it was abandoned (including strokes made and any penalty strokes solely from playing that ball) do not count, or Continue to play the provisional ball in which case the original ball must not be played.

When Original Ball ls Not Found Within Three-Minute Search Time or Is Known or Virtually Certain to Be in Penalty Area. The provisional ball becomes the player's ball in play.

This local rule is in place to assist the pace of play, saving players walking beyond the Penalty Area and not finding their ball having to return to the tee side of the Penalty Area to then continue under Rule 17, (Penalty Area.)

PROTECTION OF YOUNG TREES

If a tree or hedging that is less than 2 club lengths in height interferes with a players stance or the area of intended swing, the ball must be lifted without penalty and dropped in accordance with the procedure prescribed in Rule 16. lf, Immovable Obstruction.

Exception: A player may not obtain relief from this local rule if

a) It is dearly unreasonable for a player to make a stroke because of interference by anything other than the tree; or

b) Interference by the tree would occur only through use of an unnecessarily abnormal stance, swing or direction of play.

Exception: No free relief is to be taken from any trees or hedging that are more than 2 club lengths in height even if stakes, wrapping or tree guards are present and the ball must be played as it lies, unless the player declares the ball unplayable, Rule 19, and he or she then takes relief under penalty of one stroke.

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULE Match Play: Loss of Hole; Stroke Play Two Strokes

OBSTRUCTIONS

The following are deemed to be immovable obstructions and relief must be taken in accordance with Rule 16.1;

On course Directional Signage, on course Roping and Supports, Water Control Covers, The Half Way Hut and the Garden to its rear, seats, shelters, bridges, water sprinklers, notice boards, drainage works. (in all cases it is compulsory to lift and drop one club length not nearer the hole) (Rule 16)

Masonry and Stone Pathways are deemed to be artificial man-made pathways throughout the course .and relief may be taken in accordance with Rule 16.1. If a player incurs the general penalty for a breach of this local rule, no additional penalty under the local rule is applied.

GROUND UNDER REPAIR

Areas marked with signs or enclosed with a white line is GUR, from which play is prohibited. If a player's ball lies in the area or their stance is within the area or interferes with the intended area of swing, then relief MUST be taken in accordance with Rule 16-1, Abnormal Ground Conditions, Embedded Ball and Wrong Putting Green.

DRAINAGE WORKS

All drainage works are deemed GUR from which play is prohibited, relief must be taken in accordance with Rule 16-1.

ABNORMAL GROUND CONDITIONS

Areas of tyre rut subsidence in the general area are deemed abnormal ground conditions in accordance with Rule 16.1 and play is prohibited and relief may be taken but relief is only given for the lie of the ball not for stance.

Note: if the ball is in an abnormal ground condition in a penalty area, the player must proceed in accordance with Rule 17. If the original ball is not immediately recoverable another ball may be substituted.

TURF

If a player's ball lies in or touches a seam of cut turf or a seam interferes with the player's area of intended swing:(a) Ball in General Area. The player may take relief under Rule 16.lb.(b) Ball on Putting Green. The player may take relief under Rule 16.ld. But interference does not exist if the seam only interferes with the player's stance. All seams within the area of cut turf are treated as the same seam in taking relief. This means that if a player has interference from any seam after dropping the ball, the player must proceed as required under Rule 14.3c(2) even when the ball is still within one club-length of the reference point.

TELEGRAPH POLE and SUPPORT WIRES

The telegraph pole, support wires and overhead wires on the third hole are deemed an integral part of the course and players do not get free relief if the position of the ball or the stance is being interfered with or if the ball strikes the wires. The ball must be played as it lies unless declared unplayable when relief may be taken under penalty of 1 stroke in accordance with Rule 19.

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE: Match Play: Loss of Hole Stroke Play; Two Strokes

ROBOTIC MOWERS

If a robot moves a ball out of place, the ball must be replaced on its original spot (if not known must be estimated). Rule 9.6. If a ball in motion accidentally hits a robot, the ball must be played as it lies. Rule 11.1

DISPUTES

All disputes regarding the Rules must be reported to the Committee before the scorecard is signed by both the marker and the player and handed in.

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULE

Match Play: Loss of Hole; Stroke Play Two Strokes

If a player incurs the general penalty for a breach of this local rule, no additional penalty under the local rule is applied.

Amended 26/08/2025

To take account of combining all local rules to provide availability to form a QR code.