Local Rules - Competition Rules

For the full text of any Local Rule referenced below, please refer to the Official Guide to the Rules of Golf effective January 2019 and the Clarifications updated quarterly by The R&A and The USGA, available at www.randa.org / www.usga.org

Unless otherwise noted, the penalty for breach of a Local Rule is the General Penalty: loss of hole in Match Play or two penalty strokes in Stroke Play.

1. Out of Bounds (Rule 18.2) are defined by the course hedges, fences, white lines or white stakes on holes 5, 6, 9, 15 and 18.
    All boundary objects are treated as immovable.

On hole 11, the part adjacent to hole 1 of the Parc Course, on the right-hand side defined with white stakes is out of bounds. The out of bounds limit ends at the two white stakes. 

2. Penalty Areas  (Rule 17) are defined by yellow or red stakes or yellow or red lines.

 On hole 12,  both areasdefined by red stakes with green tops are no play zone.

 It is strictly forbidden to enter those penalty areas & MLR E-1.3 is in effect:

When a ball is in this penalty area, including when it is known or virtually certain to be in this penalty area even though not found, the player may either:

• Take stroke-and-distance relief under Rule 17.1d(1), adding one stroke penalty,
• Or as an additional option the player may take relief by dropping a ball in the Dropping Zone and playing it from the DZ, adding one stroke penalty.

The dropping zone is a relief area under 14.3

3. Abnormal course conditions (including Immovable Obstructions) (Rule 16)

Ground under repairis defined by any area encircled by white lines or blue stakes or lines.

Relief from white lines is optional and is mandatoryfrom blue lines or stakes.

The player may take free relief under Rule 16.1

3.1 Immovable Obstructionsincludeallroads covered with gravel, all paths covered by synthetic rubber and artificial turf. The player may take free relief.

3.2 Bunkers.Areas in bunkers where sand has been removed by movement of water resulting in deep furrows through the sand are GUR & MLR 8F-1 is in effect.Players can take free relief in the bunker or take relief with 1 stroke penalty outside of the bunker using the-back-on-the-line option under R16.1c.

3.3 Sprinkler-Head close to putting green:MLR 8F-5 is in effect.When a player’s ball lies in the general area on the fringe of putting greens cut to fairway height or less, the player may take free relief under 16.1b if a sprinkler-head is on the line of play, is within 2 club-lengths of the edge of the putting green and is within 2 club-lengths of the ball.     

3.4 Fallen Trees which are still attached to their stumps, or tree Stumps which are in the process of being unearthed or tree trunks that are cut up & piled for later removal, are Ground Under Repair (GUR). Player is allowed free relief under 16.1b.

3.5 Embedded Ball: When a player’s ball is embedded in the General Area free relief is allowed under Rule 16.3a, by dropping the original ball or another ball in this relief area 

• Reference Point: The spot right behind where the ball is embedded.
• Size of Relief Area Measured from Reference Point: One club-length, but with these limits:
• Limits on Location of Relief Area: 
  • Must be in the general area, and 
  • Must not be nearer the hole than the reference point.

4. No Play Zones – Free relief (Rule 16.1f)

4.1 Protection forYoung Trees/plantations identified by stakes or circled by wire netting are no play zones. If a player's ball lies on or touches such a tree or such a tree interferes with the player's stance or area of intended swing, the MLR 8E-10 is in effect & the player must take free relief under Rule 16.1f.

4.2 On hole 17: the nursery green is a no play zone. As an extra option the player may drop a ball in the DZ.

4.3 On hole 12: if a player’s ball lies on the closely mown path between the 2 no play zone and the no play zone interferes with the player’s stance or area of intended swing, the player must take free relief under Rule 16.1b.

5. Movable Obstruction (Rule 15)

Rope netting around plantations or trees are movable obstructions. If player’s ball lies within the area encircled by the rope, the player is allowed to remove the rope without causing the ball to move & play the ball as it lies.

6.Suspension of play (Rule 5.7)

The following signals will be used to suspend or resume play.

• Immediate stop / dangerous situation: 1 prolonged note of the siren: the player MUST stop play at once.
• Normal non-dangerous stop: 3 consecutive short notes of the siren, repeated
• Resume play: 2 consecutive short notes of siren, repeated

Penalty for breach of rule 5.7b: Disqualification

7. Preferred lies

When allowed by committee MLR8E-3 is in effect. When a player’s ball lies in a part of the general area cut to fairway height or less the player may take free relief once by placing a ball within one club-length from the spot of the original ball but in the general area and not nearer the hole.

In proceeding under this Local Rule, the player must choose a spot to place the ball and use the procedures for replacing a ball under Rules 14.2b(2) and 14.2e.

Pace of play

The committee highly recommends players to play ‘ready golf’.

Groups of players are supposed to finish their round within the starting interval of the group in front of them and within the time limit set by the Committee to complete the round as stated on the score card.For information, the following time limits apply:

• Single, flights of 2 balls: 3 h21 min 
• Single, flights of 3 balls:  3h42 min
• Four-ball, flights of 4 balls: 4h

Code of Conduct

• Pace of Play: Slow play is not welcome at Ravenstein,
• Always keep your pace with the flight in front of you,
• Replace divots carefully, even in the rough,
• Rake and smooth footprints in bunkers,
• Repair your pitch marks (and others) on putting greens