Rules of Play
Contra Costa Golf Club –
LOCAL RULES IN EFFECT
Contra Costa Golf Club
tournament play is governed by the USGA Rules of Golf and the current
Decisions on the Rules of Golf and, where applicable, the following Local Rules
and Conditions, along with additional Local Rules as may be supplied. Complete
text of Rules and Appendix I may be found in the current edition of the Rules of
Golf. Unless otherwise specified, the penalty for breach of a Local Rule or
Condition is two strokes in stroke play and loss of hole in match play.
FOR ALL NET COMPETITIONS:
The Contra Costa Golf Club reserves the right to adjust a player's handicap or decline his entry based upon previous performances in tournament events. CCGC handicaps are calculated using the best two of four rounds. All new members must have three rounds or one round and a NCGA card to qualify to win the tournament. If guest has a current NCGA card and handicap they can participate in the SKINS games. The NCGA handicap will count as three rounds, after one additional round a club handicap will be established and the new member will have full participation in tournaments.
GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEMS AND HAND HELD RANGE FINDERS.
Distance-Measuring Devices: a player may obtain distance information by using a device that measures distance only. However, if, during a stipulated round, a player uses a device that is designed to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect his play (e.g. gradient, wind speed, temperature, etc.), the player is in breach of Rule 14-3, for which the penalty is disqualification, regardless of whether any such additional functions are actually used. (This rule will not be enforced unless it is voted on and passed by the club.)
GROUND UNDER REPAIR:
Areas defined by white lines and/or stakes are deemed ground under repair. French drains are deemed to be ground under repair (Rule 25-1).
SODDED AREAS:
Through the green, seams of cut turf (not the turf itself) are deemed to be ground under repair. However, interference by a seam with the player's stance is deemed not to be, of itself, interference under Rule 25-1. If the ball lies in or touches the seam or the seam interferes with the area of intended swing, relief is available under Rule25-1. All seams within the cut turf area are considered the same seam.
CCGC allows for a six-inch bump no closer to the hole.
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.
FOR ALL NET COMPETITIONS:
The Contra Costa Golf Club reserves the right to adjust a player's handicap or decline his entry based upon previous performances in tournament events. CCGC handicaps are calculated using the best two of four rounds. All new members must have three rounds or one round and a NCGA card to qualify to win the tournament. If guest has a current NCGA card and handicap they can participate in the SKINS games. The NCGA handicap will count as three rounds, after one additional round a club handicap will be established and the new member will have full participation in tournaments.
GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEMS AND HAND HELD RANGE FINDERS.
Distance-Measuring Devices: a player may obtain distance information by using a device that measures distance only. However, if, during a stipulated round, a player uses a device that is designed to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect his play (e.g. gradient, wind speed, temperature, etc.), the player is in breach of Rule 14-3, for which the penalty is disqualification, regardless of whether any such additional functions are actually used. (This rule will not be enforced unless it is voted on and passed by the club.)
GROUND UNDER REPAIR:
Areas defined by white lines and/or stakes are deemed ground under repair. French drains are deemed to be ground under repair (Rule 25-1).
SODDED AREAS:
Through the green, seams of cut turf (not the turf itself) are deemed to be ground under repair. However, interference by a seam with the player's stance is deemed not to be, of itself, interference under Rule 25-1. If the ball lies in or touches the seam or the seam interferes with the area of intended swing, relief is available under Rule25-1. All seams within the cut turf area are considered the same seam.
CCGC allows for a six-inch bump no closer to the hole.
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.
On the putting green, a ball
that comes to rest in or on an aeration hole may be placed without penalty
at the nearest spot to where it originally lay not nearer the hole.
RELIEF FOR EMBEDDED BALL:
Local Rule as prescribed in Appendix I – Rule 25-2 provides relief, without penalty, for a ball embedded in its own pitch mark in any closely mown area through the green in effect. Note this is for closely mown areas not balls in the rough or bunkers. Ball may be lifted, without penalty, cleaned and dropped as near as possible to where it original lay but not nearer the hole.
PERMANENT ELEVATED POWER LINES AND CABLES:
If a ball strikes a permanent elevated power line or cable on the course, the stroke must be cancelled and replayed, without penalty (See Rule 20-5). If the ball is not immediately recoverable, another ball may be substituted.
STAKED TREES:
Players are allowed a free drop, if a staked tree (immovable obstruction - Rule 24-2) is in his line of swing (i.e., if the players swing would be likely to damage or kill the tree). Damage by the ball in flight is not an acceptable reason for this rule to be in effect. Drop shall be taken no closer to the hole and such that the player’s swing will no long impact the tree.
DROP AREAS:
Players are allowed to utilize predetermined drop areas as long as they are clearly marked or shown on the back of the score card.
STONES IN BUNKERS:
Stones are, by definition, loose impediments and, when a player’s ball is in a hazard, a stone lying in or touching the hazard may not be touched or moved (Rule 13-4). However, stones in bunkers may represent a danger to players and they may interfere with the proper playing of the game. A player may take relief, without penalty, from a moveable obstruction. If the ball moves, directly attributable to the removal of the obstruction, it must be replaced to its’ original position.
RELIEF FOR EMBEDDED BALL:
Local Rule as prescribed in Appendix I – Rule 25-2 provides relief, without penalty, for a ball embedded in its own pitch mark in any closely mown area through the green in effect. Note this is for closely mown areas not balls in the rough or bunkers. Ball may be lifted, without penalty, cleaned and dropped as near as possible to where it original lay but not nearer the hole.
PERMANENT ELEVATED POWER LINES AND CABLES:
If a ball strikes a permanent elevated power line or cable on the course, the stroke must be cancelled and replayed, without penalty (See Rule 20-5). If the ball is not immediately recoverable, another ball may be substituted.
STAKED TREES:
Players are allowed a free drop, if a staked tree (immovable obstruction - Rule 24-2) is in his line of swing (i.e., if the players swing would be likely to damage or kill the tree). Damage by the ball in flight is not an acceptable reason for this rule to be in effect. Drop shall be taken no closer to the hole and such that the player’s swing will no long impact the tree.
DROP AREAS:
Players are allowed to utilize predetermined drop areas as long as they are clearly marked or shown on the back of the score card.
STONES IN BUNKERS:
Stones are, by definition, loose impediments and, when a player’s ball is in a hazard, a stone lying in or touching the hazard may not be touched or moved (Rule 13-4). However, stones in bunkers may represent a danger to players and they may interfere with the proper playing of the game. A player may take relief, without penalty, from a moveable obstruction. If the ball moves, directly attributable to the removal of the obstruction, it must be replaced to its’ original position.