FSGA    

HSR Local Rules

The Rules of the United States Golf Association govern play. Unless otherwise noted, the penalty for a breach of a local rules: two strokes in stroke play or loss of hole in match play.

Embedded Ball

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 course through the green.

Ground Under Repair

Defined by enclosed white lines. French drains (trenches filled with exposed rock) are deemed to be ground under repair.

Flower Beds & Newly Seeded/Sodded Areas

All flower beds and all newly seeded/sodded areas on the course are deemed to be ground under repair from which play is prohibited. If a player’s ball lies in such an area, or if it interferes with the player's stance or area of his swing, the player must take relief under Rule 25-1.

Obstructions

An obstruction is a movable obstruction if it can be moved without unreasonable effort, without unduly delaying play and without causing damage. Otherwise it is an immovable obstruction and relief without penalty may be taken by dropping the ball within one club length of the nearest point of relief no nearer the hole. Immovable obstructions include but are not limited to the following: 1.Any cart path or road on the course that is artificially covered, e.g., with asphalt, concrete, tar, gravel or wood chips, etc., 2. All retaining walls made of railroad ties through the green.

Integral Parts of the Course

The following are declared to be integral parts of the course. Therefore relief because of their interference with lie, stance or area of intended swing may not be taken without penalty.

Integral parts of the course include: All stacked stone walls on the course; All railroad ties and artificial walls located within a hazard.

Out Of Bounds

Defined by the inside edge, at ground level, of white stakes wherever they exist on the course; by the outside edge of all walls that define course property.

Stones in Bunkers

Stones in bunkers are movable obstructions (Rule 24-1 applies).

Water Hazard & Lateral Water Hazard Stakes/Lines

Water Hazards are defined by yellow stakes and/or lines. Later Water Hazards are defined by red stakes and/or lines. When both stakes and lines are used to indicate a hazard, the stakes identify the hazard and the line defines its margin per Rule 26-1.

Wrong Putting Green

For purpose of Rule 25-3, the putting green of any wrong putting green (including any practice green) shall include the apron surrounding the green.

Preferred Lies

When conditions warrant, the Tournament Chairmen or President may permit “preferred lies” in such case, a ball lying on the fairway of the hole being played may be lifted without penalty, cleaned and placed within one club length of where it originally lay, but not nearer the hole and not in a hazard or on a putting green. A player may move or place his ball once and after the ball has been moved or placed, it is in play.

Aeration Holes

Through the green, a ball, which comes to rest in or on an aeration hole, may be lifted without penalty, cleaned and dropped as near as possible to the spot where it lay, but not nearer the hole. The ball when dropped must first strike part of the course through the green. On the putting green, the player may place the ball at the nearest spot not nearer the hole which avoids such a situation.

Distance Measuring Devices

Players may use measuring devices to obtain distance information. These devices must not
have the capability to measure elevation or wind conditions.