Heydon Grange Members' Website
Updated: 21 Jan 2025
Local Rules
17th Hole Marker Post - Temporary Local Rule - update 21 Jan 2025 with short time frame ruling
A replacement marker post was recently installed on the 17th fairway.
Currently it is NOT removable.
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We urgently and temporarily need to apply a local rule (basically extension of bird deterrent poles and kites - see members website) - from now until end of February 2025. This temporary immovable object may interfere with intended stance, swing or your line of play to the flag.
R&A rule 16 (relief from abnormal course conditions) only allows free relief one club length from the immovable object if it interfers with intended stance or swing. We can directly apply this rule if appropriate.
But rule 16 does NOT allow for line of play off the green. On the 17th fairway this may, though unlikely, unfairly penalise for line of play.
This temporary local rule is limited until end of February 2025 to allow the club to investigate a permanent approach.
17th Hole Marker Post Line of Play Interference (extension of local rule for bird deterrent poles and kites - see members website). If your ball is positioned on the fairway, near the marker pole and your line of play to the flag is restricted by the marker pole, you are allowed to laterally move your ball (horizontally away from the marker post to flag line) - not nearer the hole and WITHOUT penalty, to nearest point of relief (within 2 club lengths) clearing your line of play to the flag.
Discuss and agree your intended ball reposition with your fellow players.
GUR Bunker Ruling
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As we are currently using and as a refresher - When your ball is in a bunker you have a choice:
▪︎ Play the ball as it lies, or
▪︎ Take free Nearest Point of Relief from the ball position, outside the bunker and NOT nearer the hole. This could be behind the bunker or part of it.
Describing the approach:
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Mark immediately outside the bunker, from the ball position and not nearer the hole.
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Take a stance with your intended playing club. The club head identifies where the ball would lie. (This would roughly appear as - Next to the bunker edge for one part of the bunker, whilst a stance away from edge for other part)
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From the ball position you have one club length (maximum one driver), forming a semi-circle (not nearer the hole) in which to take a free relief ball drop.
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Play your shot, remembering to add that shot as you resume playing out the hole.
Something to ponder
With winter here I am sure some may have noticed the odd worm cast on the course. I am also sure that you are all aware that, off the green, loose soil and sand are not loose impediments and cannot be moved without penalty. However, worm casts are not considered loose soil but loose impediments and can be moved; but don’t move your ball whilst doing so. If your moved ball had been at rest anywhere except on the putting green or in the teeing area, you get one penalty stroke and you must put it back on its spot.
You may also be interested to know that the soil deposited by the inconsiderates spinning their muddy trolly wheels is not a loose impediment and cannot be moved without penalty and there is no free relief; except, if you can take a 6” preferred lie on grass cut to fairway length. To move the soil would incur a General Penalty. (Matchplay – Loss of Hole. Stroke Play 2 shots). Exception – Actions to Care for the Course: There is no penalty under this Rule if the player alters any such other physical conditions to care for the course. i.e moves the deposited mud but it does not improve the lie of your, or another player’s, ball, stance or intended swing.
Don’t forget, a No Play Zone includes your stance. So, you must not be standing in the bunker to play a ball that is not in the bunker.
Competitions and Matches
Local Rules
1. OUT OF BOUNDS (Rule 18.2 applies)
A ball lies out of bounds:
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a) Beyond any boundary hedge, fence, ditch or row of white stakes.
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b) On or beyond the approach road
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c) On or beyond the path leading to the 1st Hole of the Essex Course
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d) On the paved area around the club house.
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2. PENALTY AREAS (Rule 17 applies)
YELLOW & RED PENALTY AREAS are IDENTIFIED by Yellow stakes or Red stakes
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If a player does not know whether his or her ball is in the penalty area on the first and fourth holes of the Essex or the third and ninth hole of the Cambs, the player may play a provisional ball using any of the following relief options: stroke-and-distance, back-on-the-line or, if it is a red penalty area, the lateral relief option (see Rule 17.1d)
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3. WRONG GREEN (Rule 13.1f applies)
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Relief must be taken. When taking wrong green relief, the wrong green is defined to include the area of fairway within two club-lengths from the edge of the putting green. This means when taking relief under Rule 13.1f, the nearest point of complete relief must avoid interference from this area in addition to the wrong green.
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4. ABNORMAL COURSE CONDITIONS (including Immovable Obstructions) (Rule 16)
Areas in bunkers where sand has been removed by the movement of water resulting in deep furrows through the sand are ground under repair.
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If a player’s ball lies in or touches an aeration hole on the putting green, relief may be taken under Rule 16.1.
Damage that is clearly identifiable as having been caused by animal hoofs is ground under repair from which free relief is allowed under Rule 16.1.
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Interference does not exist if condition only interferes with the player’s stance.
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5. YOUNG TREES (Rule 16.1f)
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If a player’s ball lies anywhere on the course other than in a penalty area and it lies on or touches such a tree or such a tree interferes with the player’s stance or area of intended swing, the player must take relief under Rule 16.1f.
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6. IMMOVABLE OBSTRUCTIONS CLOSE TO PUTTING GREENS (Rule 16.1)
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Relief from interference by an immovable obstruction may be taken under Rule 16.1.
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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.)
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7. PROHIBITING RELIEF FROM ABNORMAL COURSE CONDITION WHEN ONLY STANCE INTERFERENCE EXISTS (Rule 16.1)
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In the general area, areas of damage caused by any animal are treated as ground under repair from which relief is allowed under Rule 16.1b.
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Interference does not exist if damage by crows or animal hoof prints only interferes with the player’s stance.
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8. ANT HILLS (Rule 15.1 or 16.1)
Large or hard ant hills on the course are, at the player’s option, loose impediments that may be removed under Rule 15.1 or ground under repair from which relief is allowed under Rule 16.1.
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9. DAMAGE BY TRACTOR TYRES (Rule 16.1b & 16.4).
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If a ball in the general area is in a deep rut cause by a tractor tyre, a player is permitted to take Free Relief under Abnormal Course Condition Rule 16.1b.
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Except: There is no free relief from an abnormal course condition when:
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1. The abnormal course condition is out of bounds or your ball is in a penalty area.
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2. It is clearly unreasonable to play your ball from its position.
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3. Damage by tractor wheel marks only interferes with the player’s intended stance.
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16.4 Lifting Your Ball to See If It Lies in Condition Where Relief Allowed.
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If you reasonably believe that your ball lies in a condition where free relief is allowed under the Rules, but you cannot decide that without lifting your ball, you may mark the spot and lift the ball to see if relief is allowed. The lifted ball must not be cleaned until it is determined free relief is permitted.
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10. ALL ROADS AND PATHS TREATED AS OBSTRUCTIONS (Rule 16.1)
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All roads and paths on the course, except those defined as out of bounds above, are treated as immovable obstructions from which free relief is allowed under Rule 16.1.
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PENALTY FOR A BREACH OF A LOCAL RULE:
General Penalty.
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PLEASE CHECK THE NOTICE BOARDS
FOR ANY ADDITIONAL LOCAL RULES IN OPERATION FROM TIME TO TIME.