Oak Hills Park LOCAL RULES (which take precedence over the Oak Hill Club Rules below)
Embedded Ball
This former OHP local rule is now a full USGA rule because of section 16.3 which now allows for relief for embedded balls.
In the general area, previously known, as 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 general area.
In taking relief, the player may take free relief by dropping the original ball or another ball in this relief
area.
Note: We will remove this as an independent OHP local rules next year, now that is an official USGA
rule.
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 part of the general area, cut to fairway height or less of the hole being played, the player may take free relief by placing the original ball or placing another ball and playing it from this relief area. The player must then place the ball on a spot within one club length and not nearer the hole than where it originally lay and within the general area.
A players ball must be placed by setting it down on the required spot and letting it go so that it stays on that spot. (Rule 14.2b(2). If the ball fails to come to rest on the spot on which it was placed,
Rule 14.2e applies and the player must try a second time. If the ball again does not stay on that spot, the player must replace the ball placing it on the nearest spot where the ball will rest, but with these limits depending on where the original spot is located.
The spot must not be nearer to the hole and if the original spot is the general area, the nearest spot
must be in the general area. If the original spot is in the bunker or penalty area, the nearest spot must
be either in the same bunker or in the same penalty area. If the original spot is on the putting green, the nearest spot must be either on the putting green or in the general area.
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULE:
Match play — Loss of hole; Stroke play — Two strokes in total
Aeration Holes
In the general area, if a ball lies in or touches an aeration hole the player may take relief. If the ball
comes to rest in another aeration hole the player may take relief again. In taking relief, the player may
take free relief by dropping the original ball or another ball in this relief area. The player must then place the ball in the nearest point of complete relief within one club length and not nearer the hole than where it originally lay and must be in the general area.
On the putting green, if a players ball lies in or touches an aeration hole the player may take relief. The player may take free relief by placing the original ball or another ball on the spot of the nearest point of complete relief. A players ball must be placed by setting it down on the required spot and letting it go so that it stays on that spot. (Rule 14.2b(2)). If the ball fails to come to rest on the spot on which it was placed, Rule 14.2e applies and the player must try a second time. If the ball again does not stay on that spot, the player must replace the ball, placing it on the nearest spot where the ball will rest, but within the limit depending on where the original spot is located. The spot must not be nearer to the hole and if the original spot is on the putting green, the nearest spot must be either on the putting green or in the general area.
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULE:
Match play — Loss of hole; Stroke play — Two strokes
Power Lines and Electrical Tower
If a ball strikes the power line during play of the 8th, 9th, 10th, or 12th holes, the player must replay the stroke 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). If the stroke is not re-played, the stroke counts, and the player receives the general penalty but will not be considered having played from a wrong place.
The towers are considered “immovable obstructions” and any ball striking a tower must be played as it lies.
If players ball hits the electric tower, it is in play (no free drop). If the tower interferes with your swing
or stance, please drop one club length from the tower perimeter nearest to where the ball lies, no
nearer to the hole.
Roads and Fencing
The Road to the right of 14 and between 15 and 16 is out OB. Also, the back of 13 (parking lot) and the back of 18 (parking lot) is OB. Fencing on holes 3, 4, 5, 6, 11 and 14 define out of bounds. No free drop is permitted.
Ground Under Repair
The following areas may always be played as ground under repair and relief taken as prescribed in
Rule 16.1(b) even if not marked as such.
The dirt path leading from the cart path up to the 2nd green.
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
This is a full USGA rule under section 12.2 which allows for relief from loose impediments in a bunker.
Before playing a ball in a bunker, a player may remove loose impediments under Rule 15.1 and movable obstructions under Rule 15.2. Stones in bunkers are loose impediments that you may remove in a bunker (USGA Rules FAQ 2019)
Note: We will remove this as an independent OHP local rules next year, because it is an official USGA rule.
Drop Area for 2nd Hole
There is a declared red penalty area for the woods on the right. In addition to the normal penalty
options for relief when landing in such areas, under penalty of one stroke a player may take lateral relief from the estimated point where the original ball last crossed the edge of the red penalty area.
Drop Area for 3rd and 5th Holes
In addition to the normal options for hitting a ball into a penalty area (the term water hazards is
superseded by this expanded term), if it is known or virtually certain your tee ball is in one of the
declared penalty areas your ball may be dropped in the designated drop area to the right of the green
on Hole 3, or to the right of the forward tee on Hole 5.
Training Area Free Relief for 6th Hole
The 6th hole teaching area will be designated as an abnormal course condition. The location is in the
back of the green vicinity starting at edge of the gravel path. If there is a lesson in progress, you must
not enter the area in the interest of safety. If your ball enters the teaching area, please drop your ball on the line and towards the nearest point of complete relief where the ball was thought to enter the
teaching area and to the immediate left of the gravel path as a reference point. The player may take free relief by dropping the original ball or another ball in the general area.
Out of Bounds for Holes 7 and 13
If it is known or virtually certain your tee ball either on Hole 7 and/or Hole 13 goes out of bounds as
identified by white stakes, your only option is to go back to the spot of your previous stroke to play
under stroke and distance.
If you think or know that your ball might be out bounds you can play a provisional ball to save time. You must announce that you are playing a provisional ball before doing so. If you find it out of bounds, your provisional ball is your ball in play under stroke and distance, and you don’t have to take the time to walk all the way back to the spot of your previous stroke.
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.
Drop Between Holes 16 and 17
There is a declared red penalty area for the creek (even if there is no water present) in the middle of
both holes for balls landing in that area. In addition to the normal penalty options for relief when
landing in such areas, under penalty of one stroke a player may take lateral relief from the estimated
point where the original ball last crossed the edge of the red penalty area.
Distance Measuring Devices
This former local rule is now a full USGA rule because of section 4.3 which allows for these devices in tournament play.
Please note that if 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 4.3, 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.
Note: We will delete this from our official local rule next year, now that is in the official USGA rules.
Flower Beds
Any flower beds on the course are no play zones that are to be treated as abnormal course conditions.
Free relief must be taken under rule 16.1b. The mulched area to the left of the 18th green is not
considered a flower bed.
Ball Moves on the Green
This former local rule is now a full USGA rule because of section 13.1d which now allows for relief for
embedded balls.
Rule 13.1d revises the procedure for when a ball on the putting green is moved by wind, water or other natural forces, so that it must sometimes be replaced and sometimes be played from its new spot:
----- If the ball had been lifted and replaced on its original spot before it moved, the ball must always
be replaced on its original sport, regardless of what caused it to move.
----- The ball must be played from its new spot only if the ball had not been lifted and replaced
before it moved.
Note: We will delete this from our official local rule next year, now that is in the official USGA rules.
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Oak Hill Club Rules
The following Club Rules have been set forth and established by the past and present Board of Directors. Requests by a member to change or amend these Rules must be presented in writing to the current Board of Directors for due consideration.
These Club Rules are for the Oak Hills Women’s Golf Association (OHWGA) and do not supercede any other club rules. Please be aware of other club rules when playing in a tournament other than at Oak Hills.
The OHWGA has chosen to use winter rules for the entire season regardless of any other course posting. This means that a ball in the proper fairway may be moved up to 6 inches in any direction except closer to the hole. In addition, if the ball is in a diseased area in the fairway, free relief may be taken at the closest spot where neither the ball nor the player’s feet are in the diseased area, but not closer to the hole. In the event that a ball is embedded anywhere in the general area (excluding bunkers and penalty areas), it may be lifted, cleaned and placed within a semi-circle no nearer to the hole.
The maximum allowable course handicap for tournament-scoring purposes is 45 for all tournaments played at Oak Hills. This means that if your handicap is 52, you receive only 45 strokes during tournament play at Oak Hills. Handicaps in effect for all players will be determined as of each Monday night prior to the start of the tournament, unless specified otherwise in the tournament description. The handicap listing will be sent to captains, scorers and pairers by the start of each tournament week showing the course handicaps to be used for each tournament during that week and will remain the same for that tournament regardless of any subsequent changes to the handicap.
If the course is open during inclement weather, the player has the option to play in the tournament. If the course is open for play on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday or Sunday, the tournament will be considered official and prizes will be awarded as scheduled.
The 5 Key Rules Changes
- "Penalty area" is a new concept that includes water hazards. Golfers are able to do things such as grounding a club and moving loose impediments.
- A golfer will drop the ball from knee height.
- You can leave the flagstick in the hole when playing from on the green.
- Spike marks on the green and any other damage to a green done by shoes or a club will be OK to repair prior to putting.
- The time allowed to search for a possibly lost golf ball is now three minutes.