The Old Courses Overview

Preferred Lies (Winter Rules)

• When a player's ball lies in an area of the general area cut to fairway height or less, the player may take free relief once by placing the original ball or another ball within the relief area below:
  • Reference Point: Spot of the original ball
  • Relief Area: Within 6 inches of the reference point, no nearer the hole
  • Conditions: Relief must be taken in the general area
• The ball must be placed, not dropped, and the procedure for replacing the ball must follow Rules 14.2b(2) and 14.2e

Frost Greens – Main Greens Out of Play

• When frost greens are in use, main greens are considered Wrong Greens under Rule 13.1f. Players must take full relief and may not play from or stand on the main greens during this time

No Play Zones

• The following areas are designated as No Play Zones from which play is strictly prohibited. If your ball is in one of these areas—or if the area interferes with your stance or intended swing— you must take relief under the appropriate rule:
  • Winter Temporary Greens (marked with yellow lines)
  • Wild Orchid Preservation Area between the 1st and 18th holes (Old Course), marked by stakes
• Penalty for Breach of this Local Rule:
  • Match Play: Loss of hole
  • Stroke Play: Two-stroke penalty (Note: If a general penalty is applied for the breach, no additional penalty under this Local Rule is incurred.) 

Artificial Retaining Walls and Piling in Penalty Areas

• Artificial walls and piling within Penalty Areas are considered integral objects.
  • Under Rule 11.1, if the ball is found, play it as it lies.
  • Under Rule 17.1, if it is not known or virtually certain that the ball is in the Penalty Area, it is treated as a lost ball, and you must proceed under stroke and distance. 

Out of Bounds (Rule 18.2). >A ball is out of bounds when:

• It is lying beyond any wall or fence bounding the course.
• The boundary to the rear of #3 and #16 is defined by the kicker board beyond the path which ties into the green fence.
• The boundary to the rear of #6 is defined by the white posts and the white paint spot which ties into the wall to the rear of the 1st tee.
• The boundary to the left of #7 is defined by the course side of the ditch.
• The boundary to the left of #8 is defined by white posts, paint spot and the concrete foundations and patio of the halfway hut which ties into the boundary to the rear of #6.
• The boundary to the right of #18 is defined by the course side of the ditch then the boundary fence followed by the white posts around the green. To the rear of the green OOB is defined by white stakes and white dot on the artificial path before crossing over to the wall at the rear of the 1st tee.

Ditches. All ditches are Penalty Areas 

Fixed Sprinkler Heads.

• In addition to the types of interference described in Rule 16.1a, when a ball lies in the general area, interference also exists if an immovable obstruction is: on the player's line of play, is within two club-lengths of the putting green and is within two club-lengths of the ball. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b. (Exception - There is no relief under this Local Rule if the player chooses a line of play that is clearly unreasonable.)

Relief from Tree Roots.

• If a player's ball lies in the general area and there is interference from exposed tree roots that are in part of the general area cut to fairway height or less or in the rough within two club lengths of the area cut to fairway height or less, the tree roots are treated as ground under repair. Free relief is available under Rule 16.1b. But interference does not exist if the tree roots only interfere with the player's stance.

Immovable Obstructions.

• The following are Immovable obstructions; Drainage plugs in the centre of the 14th Green; Yardage Marker Posts; Roads and Pathways; Sleepers and Supports bordering pathways; and Drain Manhole Covers and Bricks at drainage points. Free relief is available under Rule 16.1b.

Etiquette.

• Singles and foursomes matches have precedence over and are entitled to pass any other kind of match. Any match playing a full round is entitled to pass a match playing a shorter round. A match losing one clear hole on the match in front MUST allow the following match to pass. Faster groups should be let through.