Golf Rules for SRPGA Tournaments

The SRPGA follows and strictly adheres to the rules established by the USGA, SRPGA Local Rules, and the course local rules. It is extremely important that you become familiar with these rules.

Players are expected to recognize when they have breached a Rule and to be honest in applying their own penalties.

  • If a player knows that they have breached a Rule that involves a penalty and deliberately fails to apply the penalty, the player is disqualified.
  • If two or more players agree to ignore any Rule or penalty they know applies and any of those players have started the round, they are disqualified (even if they have not yet acted on the agreement).

 

USGA

Visit to USGA website at https://www.usga.org to obtain “The Rules of Golf”.  It is also recommended the USGA Rules of Golf Mobile App be downloaded to your phone allowing the rules to be available during your round.

SRPGA Local Rules

The SRPGA makes use of the following Local Rules:

  • Desert Rule (Used only in specified tournaments)
  • E-5 Alternative to Stroke and Distance for Lost Ball or Ball Out of Bounds
  • E-11 Ball Deflected by Power Line

See below for specific wording on each rule.

Course Local Rules

Prior to play, review course local rules typically on the course scorecard or signs mounted in golf cart to identify course out of bounds, lateral hazards, free drop areas, etc.

Desert Rule

The Desert Rule is used in specified tournaments. When in effect, it will be When in effect, it will be announced by the tournament directors in the Event Information and/or Players Information page(s) in tournament’s Event Portal.

When hit in a desert area, you may drop a ball within 2 club lengths no nearer to the hole of where your ball crossed the margin of the desert. Penalty – 1 Stroke

E-5 Alternative to Stroke and Distance for Lost Ball or Ball Out of Bounds

The Alternative to Stroke and Distance Rule is in effect for all SRPGA tournaments unless announced by the tournament directors in the Event Information and/or Players Information page(s) in tournament’s Event Portal. See additional information at the link Stroke and Distance: New Local Rule on the USGA website

When a player’s ball has not been found or is known or virtually certain to be out of bound and a provisional ball has not been played, the player may proceed as shown below rather than proceeding under stroke and distance. Penalty - 2 strokes

Steps

  1. Determine where your ball went out of bounds or likely to be lost (point A).
  2. Find nearest fairway edge no closer to the holes (point B).
  3. Drop your ball the area as define by a line from the hole through point A and the other side by a line from the hole through point B, and not nearer the hole. The relief area is extended on both side by two club-lengths.

 

 

E-11 Ball Deflective by Power Line

If it is known or virtually certain that a player’s ball hit a power line (or a tower, a wire, or a pole supporting a power line) during the play of a hole, the stroke does not count.

The player must play a ball without penalty from where the previous stroke was made (see Rule 14.6 for what to do).

This Rule does not apply for power lines that do not interfere with play of a hole or are out of bounds.