Members and Visitors are encouraged to enjoy themselves while playing at Balgowlah Golf Club Ltd, and in doing so are expected to abide by the Rules and By Laws of the Club. These Rules have been developed to ensure that all players are equally able to enjoy their game of golf and the hospitality at the Clubhouse. Members and visitors are requested to acquaint themselves with these requirements.

Rules of Golf

All golfers are required to abide by the Rules of Golf as approved by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, Scotland, The R&A and in affiliation with Golf Australia, who is the governing body of golf in Australia.

GOLF ETIQUETTE Is for the consideration of other players.  Players should ensure, through good manners and common sense, that their conduct does not upset their, or others, enjoyment of the game. On a course like Balgowlah, players can do a lot in the interest of etiquette and avoiding slow play by following these simple rules.

BEHAVIOUR. Golf is a sport of great tradition characterized by golfer’s exemplary behaviour and fair play.  No unsportsmanlike behaviour will be tolerated and golfers must abide by the written and unwritten rules of Golf.

Unacceptable behaviour includes: * Loss of temper * Verbal abuse of officials or players * Deliberately distracting or provoking opponents * Throwing clubs * shouting, swearing or making unnecessary noise * Cheating in any form including manipulating scores and moving a ball to improve its lie * Damaging or littering the Course * Intoxicated behaviour.

RESPECT NEIGHBOURS. Please respect our neighbours by avoiding damage to nearby properties—always take care when hitting balls near out-of-bounds areas. If you do hit a ball our of bounds, please scan the QR code (found on your scorecard and in various locations on the course)and complete the register.

Local Rules

Local Rules are to be read in conjunction with the R&A Rules of Golf and Temporary Local Rules as indicated at the Pro Shop.
PLAYERS ON THE 4^th AND 6^th HOLES HAVE RIGHT OF WAY OVER OTHER PLAYERS  

Out of Bounds (OB) and Lost Ball

1. 1. Area beyond boundary fences including the oval.
   2. Carpark and concrete surrounds of the Clubhouse
   3. Garden area between the protective screen at the first tee and the Pro Shop.
   4. 3^rd hole western side of the creek.

If a ball is lost or OB, a player may drop a ball within 2 club lengths of the nearest edge of the fairway but no nearer the hole at an equal distance from the hole to where the ball was believed to be lost or went OB and add 2 penalty strokes.

OUT OF BOUNDS REGISTER – If your ball goes out of bounds you must scan the QR code attached and complete the register.

Staked trees

If a staked tree or shrub that is staked interferes with the player’s stance or intended swing, the player MUST take relief under rule 16.1 (relief from immovable obstruction)

G.U.R. – free drop allowed no nearer to the hole

• All areas defined by white lines or stakes
• All formed paths and roadways
• Wheel marks (not made by hand buggies) not in penalty areas
• All gardens are G.U.R except spread wood chip areas which are an integral part of the course
• Storage bins along the 6^th and behind the 7^th
• White stake in the centre of a bunker – compulsory drop at the nearest point outside the bunker no nearer to the hole

Rock Face on the 1^st Hole

A ball coming to rest within one club length of the rock face may be marked, lifted and dropped on the upper level within two club lengths from the rock face and their original position (no nearer the hole) without penalty.

Fixed Sprinkler heads

Sprinkler heads are immovable obstructions, and relief may be taken under Rule 16.1. If both the ball and sprinkler head are within two club lengths of the green, and within two club lengths of each other or the player’s stance/swing area is affected, relief is allowed. The ball can be marked, cleaned, and dropped at the nearest point providing:

1. After dropping the ball, it is no nearer the hole
2. Is not in a penalty area
3. Is not on the putting surface.

Use of Distance Measuring devices

They are allowed to measure distance only. If during a competition round, a player uses a device that displays conditions such as gradient, wind speed or elevation, the player is in breach of Rule 4.3.  Penalty is Disqualification.

Motorised Carts

Carts are not to be driven onto tees or greens and are not to be parked within 5 meters of greens.

Penalty for Breach of Local Rules

Stroke play – 2 stroke penalty                       Match play – Loss of Hole

Distance markers are to the centre of the green

Flag Placings:                     Red – Front           White – Centre                 Blue – Back

Slow Play

• Avoid slow play at all times by walking quickly between shots and being read to play without delay.  Please refrain from continuing conversation when addressing the ball.
• Avoid leaving bags and buggies in front of the green.  Players should keep their bag and buggies as near as practicable, avoiding the need to go out of the way to retrieve them.
• Do not cause a break in the field when stopping between nines.
• Call following players through, immediately a ball is considered lost, or whilst looking for a lost ball
• Leave the green before marking cards
• Pick up the ball immediately the hole is lost in Par or Stableford competitions.
• Be prepared to start play five minutes before called to the tee by the starter. The 1st and 10th tees shall be occupied at all times during a competition until the last group has hit off the 10th.
• Do not risk a penalty for slow play.  Keep up with the group in front, not just in front of the group behind.
• Do not move, talk or stand close to or directly behind the ball or the hole, when a player is addressing a ball or making a stroke.
• Players should not play until the players in front are out of range.
• The lowest marker in each group assumes responsibility for the conduct of the group and its speed of place.  All players are expected to comply with the pace of play guidelines.  PLAY READY GOLF!

Players should not practice golf on the course except in designated practice areas, such as, the practice putting green, the area to the right of the Public Tee on the 1st, the temporary hole where rope defines practice area when out of play or any other hole on the course defined as out of play during a competition.

Playing two or more balls concurrently on the course is prohibited.

COURSE CARE

BUNKERS

Before leaving a bunker, players should carefully fill and smooth over all holes and footprints made by him, and then leave the rake with the handle pointing toward the tee of the hole being played. Always enter the bunker at the lowest point.

• Pull the rake toward you as you exit the bunker
• If required, rake other affected areas
• Do not pile sand at the edge of the bunker. Push back excess sand with reverse side of rake.
• Always leave the rake in the flat of the bunker with the handle pointing towards the tee of the hole being played and parallel to the line of flight of the ball. Rakes should be placed as far from the edge as possible.

REPAIRING BALL MARKS

Players must smooth out ALL damage in the bunkers with the rakes provided after playing their shot and replace the rakes in the bunkers with the handle pointing in the direction of the tee.

Always start at the back of the mark and push forward with the repairer;

• Use the repairer around all sides and slowly ease the turf toward the centre of the mark. Do not lift the soil upwards.
• Tap down lightly with a putter.

REPAIRING DIVOTS

• Remove any loose turf from the affected area
• Knock in all the edge of the divot with your club or your shoe
• Sand are be careful not to use too much sand.

Damage to green flagsticks.

Players should ensure that, when putting down bags or the flagstick, no damage is done to the putting green and that neither they nor their caddies damage the hole by standing close to it when handling the flagstick or in removing the ball from the hole. The flagstick should be properly replaced in the hole before the players leave the putting green.

Handling the flag

(a) Don’t drop the flagstick on the putting surface as it will cause damage.

(b) Always lower the flagstick by using a club or by hand.

(c) Avoid damage to the surrounds by placing the stick in the centre of the cup.

REMOVING BALL

Players must NOT use their putter to remove their golf ball from the hole.