Local Rules - New Course
1. MARKER STAKES
i. Blue stakes indicate young trees and protected flower beds that are no-play zones.
ii. Red and yellow stakes indicate penalty areas. The ends of a ditch are marked by double stakes.
iii. White stakes with black tops (hole 7) indicate, but do not define, out of bounds. The above stakes are movable obstructions.
2. PENALTY AREAS
Only those areas marked with red or yellow stakes and/or lines are penalty areas. In taking relief from a red penalty area, two club-length relief from equidistant points on either margin is available only when the ball is in a ditch. Equidistant point relief is not available from ponds or other penalty areas. On holes where all ground beyond a cart path is defined as a penalty area, the outer edge of the cart path defines the margin of the PA, and red stakes are for indication only.
3. OUT OF BOUNDS
On any hole - outside the boundaries of the course and where marked by stakes or posts painted white; and the line of any fences which interconnect such posts.
i. A ball that is in, or beyond, the ditch around the 7th green is out of bounds.
ii. When playing the 13th, a ball lying on or beyond the road to Fanling Lodge or in the ditch on the edge of the road is out of bounds.
4. INTEGRAL OBJECTS
i. Flower beds and young trees are integral objects unless marked with blue stakes.
ii. Exception: A flower bed that is wholly surrounded by an immovable obstruction (such as a cart path) is treated as part of the obstruction.
iii. All constructions (other than bridges) lying within the margins of penalty areas are integral objects.
5. OBSTRUCTIONS
i. Greenside fixed sprinkler heads intervening on line of play, within two club-lengths of the green and of the ball: free relief is available. The relief area has a radius of one club-length.
ii. When taking relief from fences on holes 3 and 10, the player must determine the nearest point of relief without crossing over, through or under the obstruction.
iii. The retaining wall for the 2nd tee, the adjoining cart path and steps and any landscaped garden within this area are treated as one obstruction. In determining the nearest point of relief, vertical distance is ignored
iv. The soft netting to the right of Hole 17 may be treated as a movable or an immovable obstruction at the player’s discretion.
v. Graves are immovable obstructions. The two graves to the left of Hole 15 are no play zones from which free relief must be taken.
6. GROUND UNDER REPAIR (G.U.R.)
Indicated by a sign or white line.
i. Seams of newly laid turf are G.U.R. and free relief is available if they interfere with the lie of the ball or the area of intended swing (but not if they only interfere with the stance). The turf itself is not G.U.R. unless so marked with a line and/or sign.
7. DROPPING ZONES
i. Drop zones on holes 10, 13 and 18 are in play in all club competitions, including qualifying rounds.
Updated April 2026
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