Club Rules and Regulations
Loughgall Golf Club have compiled the rules presented below.
GENERAL COURSE AND COMPETITION ETIQUETTE
- Anyone failing to adhere to the Loughgall Golf Club Tee time format will have their tee time removed without notification. • No member can avail of a Loughgall Golf Club Tee time unless entering the competition on that day. • mobile phones must be switched off on Loughgall Golf Course • All notices and signs must be obeyed on Loughgall Golf Course.
DRESS CODE ON THE COURSE
THE FOLLOWING WILL NOT BE PERMITTED
- Jeans or denim wear in general. • The wearing of football jerseys. • Sleeveless Shirts or t-shirts • Training shoes or sports shoes unless fitted with soft spikes. • Tracksuits or shellsuits. • Unless specifically designed for the purpose, wearing of trousers tucked inside socks is strictly prohibited. • Tailored shorts are indeed allowed on Loughgall Golf Course.
TEE TIME BOOKINGS FOR LOUGHGALL GOLF CLUB
- Club members can request a season tee time booking before the season begins. • Club members unable to use their tee time booking should contact the tee time coordinator – details can be found on the website • Failure to cancel your tee time booking will mean removal of your name from the block booking form. • Weekly tee times can be booked by contacting the tee time coordinator • Tee times can be viewed on the web site www.loughgallgolfclub.co.uk which is updated daily. • The block booked tee time form is on the notice board anyone who requires to block book must use the number or email provided.
LOUGHGALL CLUB COMPETITIONS
- Only when the course is closed will a competition be deemed cancelled. • Only members of Loughgall Golf Club can avail of a Saturday Club Tee Time. • Members MUST enter the card on the computer before commencing play. • The starter will stamp each competitors card – it is the responsibility of the competitor to have their card stamped. • Failure to return a card for the competition will result in the competitor being suspended from the next competition. • Failure to pay the competition fee will result in disciplinary action. • Competitors must place their score cards in the specified competition box after they have input their score on the club computer.
- Competitors cannot play both matchplay and stroke/stableford competition at the same time
- If matchplay match is played during the Saturday morning tee time the £5 entry fee is still payable
- Non-returns – competitors must return their card – if they are unable to complete a round they must write their reason on the score card – the committee reserve the right to take action to combat non-returns
ENTRY FEES
- Entry to all the Saturday competitions unless stated will be £5.00
- Entry fee also includes entry to the 2’s.
- All members must ensure the details below are clearly marked and posted in the appropriate box.
Member Name: Date: Competition: Amount:
- Envelopes containing entry fees should be placed in the postbox on the door of the office. This box is for entry fees only and returned cards should not be placed in this box. Competitors must place their score cards in the specified competition box not the postbox on the door of the office.
PLAYER CONSIDERATION AND COURSE CARE
- No slow play (defined as “if your group is more than 1 hole behind, the group behind must be let through if and when they are waiting for your group to play”).
- We as a club praise ourselves in the excellent facilities we offer and we expect that all members ensure at all times the course and its facilities are left in the way you would expect to find them.
- Members bag tags to be clearly visible on golf bags.
Divots and pitch marks.
- It will be expected by the club that all members wither playing competition or practising that they repair divots and pitch marks even though these were not necessary caused by themselves.
We at Loughgall Golf Club trust you except our reasons for the above and trust that your future time with us will be both sporting and memorable.
LOCAL RULES
- OUT OF BOUNDS – A ball lying over the boundaries of the course marked by white posts or hedges and fences
- WATER HAZARDS – (marked by YELLOW stakes): you may play the ball as it lies or, under penalty of one stroke, drop any distance behind the water hazard (keeping the point at which the ball originally last crossed the margin of the hazard directy between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped), or play as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (Rule 26-la.b)
- LATERAL WATER HAZARDS – (marked by RED stakes; in addition to the above, you may, under penalty of one stroke, drop within TWO club-lengths of a) the point where the ball last crossed the hazard margin, b) a point on the opposite hazard margin equidistant from the hole; the ball must be dropped and come to rest not nearer the hole than the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard (Rule 26-1c)
- IMMOVABLE OBSTRUCTIONS STAKED TREES &THE OLD ICE HOUSE adjacent to the 8th fairway where there is interference with the player’s stance or the area of intended swing, providing the ball does not lie in a hazard, shall be deemed to be immovable obstructions and relief must be taken in accordance with Rule 24-2 (ie. lift and drop the ball within ONE club-length of the nearest point of relief, no nearer the hole, without penalty)
- FIXED SPRINKLER HEADS – are immovable obstructions, and relief from interference by them may be obtained under Rule 24-2: in addition, if a ball lies off the putting green,but not in a hazard, and is on or within two club-lengths of a sprinkler head which intervenes on the line of play between the ball and the hole, it may be lifted, cleaned and dropped, without penałty, at the nearest point of relief,no nearer the hole (not in a hazard or on the putting green)
- STONES IN BUNKERS – are movable obstructions, and may be removed, without penalty in accordance with Rule 24-2
- GROUND UNDER REPAIR – Ground enclosed by white lines marked with G.U.R or areas notice. Rule 25-1 applies
- OVERHEAD POWER CABLES Any ball striking overhead power cables must be re-played without penal
- PATHS AND ROADS – Paths and roads are immovable obstructions (see 4)
- DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICES – A player may obtain distance information by using a device that measures distance only. If the player uses a device that is designed to guage or measure any other condition that might affect his play, the player is in breach of Rule 14.3 The Penalty is Disqualification regardless of whether or not these functions are used
- A maximum of 4 players to play at any time
When a player’s ball lies on the putting green, there is no penalty if the ball or ball-marker is accidentally moved by the player, his partner, his opponent, or any of their caddies or equipment.
The moved ball or ball-marker must be replaced as provided in Rules 18-2, 18-3 and 20-1.
This Local Rule applies only when the player’s ball or ball-marker lies on the putting green and any movement is accidental. Note: If it is determined that a player’s ball on the putting green was moved as a result of wind, water or some other natural cause such as the effects of gravity, the ball must be played as it lies from its new location. A ball-marker moved in such circumstances is replaced.”
- Environmentally Sensitive areas – the area between the 2nd Fairway and the 3rd and the area to the left of the 15th green – marked with black and white posts – is as ground under repair from which play is prohibited. If a ball lies in or touches the area the player must, without penalty, take relief under Rule 25-1b (…drop within one club-length of the nearest point of relief not nearer the hole)
Competition Rules 2018
- Introduction
(a) The Rules of Golf effective from 2018 apply.
In addition, these Competition Rules 2018 apply to the running of all Loughgall Golf Club competitions supplemented during the winter season by Winter Rules.
(b) All members please note that these, revised, Competition Rules 2018 come into effect on Saturday 31st March 2018. The Committee is responsible for their application and enforcement. Note that where the ‘Committee’ is referred to this is, normally, the committee in charge of running the competitions and not the Club Committee.
- General
(a) All scorecards should be fully completed including competition name, player’s name, handicap and date. The player must ensure that his handicap is recorded on his score card before it is returned and is accurate. Failure to do so may result in disqualification – see Rules of Golf, Rule 6-2b.
(b) After each hole the marker should check the score with the competitor and record it. On completion of the round he must sign the score card and return it to the competitor – Rule 6-6a. On completion of the round the competitor should check his score for each hole and settle any doubtful points with the Committee. He must ensure that the marker has signed the score card sign the score card himself and return it to the Committee as soon as possible – see Rules of Golf 6-6b. penalty for breach of Rule 6-6b is disqualification.
(c) No alteration may be made on a score card after the competitor has returned it to the committee – Rule 6-6c. A score card is considered to have been returned to the Committee when it has been posted in the letter box in the locker room.
(d) All scores on the scorecard must be entered into the computer. Failure to do so may result in suspension from future club competitions (‘club regulation’ based on Decision 6-6b/8, Decisions on the Rules of Golf).
(e) All cards must be marked by a player with an official GUI/ILGU handicap. In the case of a Junior marker they must be eligible to compete in the competition for which the card is being marked. Group marking and marking your own card is prohibited.
(f) All singles competitions (subject to course conditions) on the fixture list from April onwards will be qualifying competitions for handicap purposes unless otherwise indicated on the timesheet for the day in question.
(g) A player must play without undue delay and in accordance with the following pace of play guidelines. Slow play must be avoided and the guidelines for Ready Golf applied (see the notice board). The pace of play in a Saturday competition is that of a four-ball. The time allowed for completion of 18 Holes is 4 hours 15 minutes.
(i) Any four-ball that falls more than one hole behind the four-ball in front is required to call through the match behind – offenders may, at the discretion of the Committee, face suspension from future Club competitions.
(j) Please repair pitch marks, replace divots and rake bunkers, leaving rake in the back of the bunker.
(k) Match play matches must not be combined with Saturday / Sunday competitions, unless approved in advance by the Committee.
(l) A Golf Buggy may only be used by a competitor with a medical certificate that has been presented to and approved by the committee
(m) Any additional Conditions for the competition will be posted on the sign at the 1st Tee (i.e. stableford, stroke play, lift clean and place etc)
(n) A Maximum of 4 players may play in a group at any time
- Suspensions
(a) Members who offend as follows may, at the discretion of the Committee, be suspended from all Club competitions – first offence, one week, second offence, two weeks, third offence, four weeks and so on:-
Enter their name on time sheet and fail to appear for the competition,
Remove their name from timesheet on the day of the Competition without providing an adequate reason,
Fail to enter their score into the computer and return their card to the Committee following completion of round.
Add, remove or change the name of another member on the timesheet without their express permission
Fail to call through the match behind after falling more than one hole behind the four-ball in front.
- Captain’s Day
For a player to be eligible to win the Captain’s prize on Captain’s Day he must have played in five (5) qualifying competitions during the current season.
- Local Rules
(a) Local Rules for the course can be found on the scorecard or posted on the notice boards in the locker room and the starter hut. They must be complied with. Additional local rules may be posted by the Committee at any time and it is the player’s responsibility to be aware of them.
- Competition Prizes
(a) The Men’s Committee have decided to award prizes in each Saturday competition (except team event weeks) during the summer as follows:
Overall winner
Overall runner-up
Third place
Division winner – handicaps 0 – 11
Division winner – handicaps 12 – 17
Division winner – handicaps 18 – 28
Senior (50+)
Gross prize
Front nine and back nine
Note; no player may win more than one prize; prizes will be allocated in value order and they will take into account the number of players competing.
This prize listing may be changed for specific competitions.
WINTER COMPETITION RULES
The 2018/19 Winter Rules will commence on Saturday 6th October 2018 and will run until Friday 15 March 2019.
COMPETITION RULES
These rules are to be read in conjunction with Competition Rules 2018. The Competition Rules 2018 can be found on the website, the starter hut and on the notice board in the locker room.
- The Winter Scorecard is to be used
- The competition is open to Full members and Junior members with a handicap of 14 and under
- Entry to the winter competition costs £3 per person
- Each competition will be played over the 18 holes – unless otherwise stated.
- Tee off times for winter competitions can be booked on the BRS system
- Prizes – subject to entries – stand alone competitions
- Overall winner
- 2nd
- 3rd
- Gross
- Eclectic competitions – entry £3 per week played
- 1st 2nd and 3rd prize each week
- Overall winner for the eclectic, 2nd, 3rd, 4th Gross, Divisions 1, 2 and 3
Note; no player may win more than one prize; prizes will be allocated in value order and they will take into account the number of players competing.
This prize listing may be changed for specific competitions.
When ‘Winter Rules’ are in play players tend to be a little ‘casual’ about what that actually means. For the avoidance of any doubt we have noted a few rules of thumb below. Hopefully they will be of some assistance.
Players have the option of lifting, cleaning and placing the ball when Winter Rules are in play. If they choose to place the ball (versus playing it as it lies) then they must adhere to the following:
- Before lifting the ball, the player must mark its position immediately behind the ball.
- Having lifted the ball, the player must place it on a spot within six inches, not nearer the hole from where it originally lay. 6 inches is roughly equivalent to the length of a LGC scorecard.
- A player may place his ball only once. If the ball subsequently moves, there is no penalty and the ball must be played as it lies. (In practice, mark, lift and clean, place within 6 inches, remove marker. After that, the ball is live.)
- If the player fails to mark the position of the ball before lifting it or moves the ball in any other manner, such as rolling it with a club, he incurs a penalty of one stroke.
Note: Somewhat surprisingly, when placing the ball, the ball may be moved from fairway to rough and vice versa if within the allowed measuring distance from the original spot once it is not nearer the hole.
When bunkers are deemed out of play the relief is:
The player must drop out of the bunker within one club length at the nearest point of relief not nearer the hole. It is generally advisable to agree with your playing partners what is the nearest point of relief before taking the drop. And if Winter Rules are in play then you can lift, clean, and place as described above.
When bunkers are deemed to be GUR the player has the option of treating the bunker as out of play OR the player also has the option of playing the ball.
Sometimes we have ‘preferred lies‘ which allow placing on the fairway only. Same placing rules apply.
Occasionally, we have placing on the fairway and lift, clean and drop in the rough. When dropping in the rough if the ball rolls more than 6 inches from your marker after two drops it can be placed.
WINTER RULES
“Preferred Lies” and “Winter Rules”
Adverse conditions, such as heavy snows, spring thaws, prolonged rains or extreme heat can make fairways unsatisfactory and sometimes prevent use of heavy mowing equipment. When these conditions are so general throughout the course that the Committee believes “preferred lies” or “winter rules” would promote fair play or help protect the Course the following Local Rule (which should be withdrawn as soon as conditions warrant) is recommended:
“A ball lying on a closely-mown area through the green (or specify a more restricted area, e.g. at the 6th hole) may be lifted without penalty and cleaned. Before lifting the ball, the player must mark its position. Having lifted the ball, he must place it on a spot within six inches of and not nearer the hole than where it originally lay, that is not in a hazard and not on a putting green
A player may place his ball only once, and it is in play when it has been placed (Rule 20-4). If the ball fails to come to rest on the spot on which it was placed, Rule 20-3d applies. If the ball when placed comes to rest on the spot on which it is placed and it subsequently moves there is no penalty and the ball must be played as it lies, unless the provisions of any other rule apply.
If the player fails to mark the position of the ball before lifting it, moves the ball-marker prior to putting the ball back into play or moves the ball in any other manner, such as rolling it with a club, he incurs a penalty of one stroke.
Conditions, such as extreme wetness causing significant amounts of mud to adhere to the ball, may be such that permission to lift, clean and replace the ball would be appropriate. In these circumstances, one of the following Local Rules may apply and will be posted on the sign at the first hole:-
Lift clean and drop – Fairway only
Lift clean and drop – Through the green
Lift clean and place – Fairway only
Lift Clean and place – through the green
EMBEDDED BALL – through the green, a ball that is embedded may be lifted cleaned and dropped, without penalty, as near as possible to the spot where it lay but not nearer the hole.
Note: “Closely-mown area” means any area of the course including paths through the rough, cut to fairway height or less.
*PENALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULE: Match play – Loss of hole; Stroke play – Two strokes.
*If a player incurs the general penalty for a breach of this Local Rule, no additional penalty under the Local Rule is applied.”
