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TAUPO GOLF CLUB - LOCAL RULES
E-3
Preferred Lies
When any part of a player's ball touches part of the general area cut to fairway height or less, the player may take free relief once by placing the original ball or another ball in and playing it from this relief area:
- Reference Point: Spot of the original ball.
- Size of Relief Area Measured from Reference Point: One club length from the reference point, but with these limits:
- Limits on Location of Relief Area:
- Must not be nearer the hole than the reference point, and
- Must be in the general area.
In proceeding under this Local Rule, the player must choose a spot to place the ball and use the procedures for replacing a ball under Rules 14.2b(2) and 14.2e. But for the purposes of applying Rule 14.2e, the player has only chosen the spot on which to place the ball once the ball has been set down, and the player has let the ball go with the intent for that ball to be in play. After a ball has been placed and is in play under this Local Rule, if the player then proceeds under another Rule that provides relief, this Local Rule may be used again.
E-4
Relief from Aeration Holes
If a player’s ball lies in or touches an aeration hole on the general area or on the putting green, relief may be taken under Rule 16.1. See Model Local Rule E-4 for further details.
E-5
Alternative to Stroke and Distance for Lost Ball or Ball Out of Bounds
When a player's ball has not been found or is known or virtually certain to be out of bounds, the player may proceed as follows rather than proceeding under stroke and distance. For two penalty strokes, the player may take relief by dropping the original ball or another ball in this relief area (see Rule 14.3):Two Estimated Reference Points:(a) Ball Reference Point: The point where the original ball is estimated to have:
- Come to rest on the course, or
- Last crossed the edge of the course boundary to go out of bounds.
(b) Fairway Reference Point: The point of fairway of the hole being played that is nearest to the ball reference point, but is not nearer the hole than the ball reference point.For purposes of this Local Rule, "fairway" means any part of the general area cut to fairway height or less.If a ball is estimated to be lost on the course or last crossed the edge of the course boundary short of the fairway, the fairway reference point may be a grass path or a teeing ground for the hole being played cut to fairway height or less.Size of Relief Area Based on Reference Points: Anywhere between:
- A line from the hole through the ball reference point (and within two club-lengths to the outside of that line), and
- A line from the hole through the fairway reference point (and within two club-lengths to the fairway side of that line).
But with these limits: Limits on Location of Relief Area:
- Must be in the general area, and
- Must not be nearer the hole than the ball reference point.
Once the player puts a ball in play under this Local Rule:
- The original ball is no longer in play and must not be played.
- This is true even if the ball is found on the course before the end of the three-minute search time (see Rule 6.3b).
But the player may not use this option to take relief for the original ball when:
- That ball is known or virtually certain to have come to rest in a penalty area, or
- The player has played another ball provisionally under penalty of stroke and distance (see Rule 18.3).
A player may use this option to take relief for a provisional ball that has not been found or is known or virtually certain to be out of bounds.
E-10
Protection of Young Trees
The young trees areas are identified by blue stakes on Holes 2, 3, 4, 5, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 on Centennial are no play zones: You must take relief under Rule 16.1f to the end of the blue stake area.
For the other situations please take relief from these new trees to protect them.
- 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 area of intended stance or area of intended swing, the player must take relief under Rule 16.1f.
- If the ball lies in a penalty area, and interference to the player’s stance or area of intended swing exists from such a tree, the player must take relief under Rule 17.1e.
On Centennial or Tauhara Courses if you are near a marker tree (eg. 135m tree) you may take relief from swing and stance even if it is higher than 2 club lengths in height.
E-11
Ball Deflected by Power Line
Model Local Rule E-11 is in effect for a ball that hits a power line or tower or a wire or pole supporting a power line (stroke must be replayed).
Cart Paths:
- You are only allowed to take free relief from a cart path or road if it is artificially surfaced eg. Concrete, pavers, large stones, sandy surface like on Tauhara 18th and Centennial 17th are included for free relief. There is no free relief from natural paths such as grass surface. The example you would get relief is if you have tractor marks that have embedded marks into the ground.
Remember:
- Even if you have interference from the likes of a cart path, or an animal hole, it doesn’t mean you are entitled to a perfect stance and lie after you take relief. To take relief you must find the nearest point to where your ball lies where you no longer have interference from the condition and then drop within one club-length of that point, no nearer the hole.
- If your ball was in the general area, your nearest point of complete relief must also be in the general area and your ball must also be dropped in the general area.
- It is worth noting that in many situations, the nearest point of complete relief will not be the nicest spot - it could even be in a bush, or in very thick rough. That means you should always check where you will be able to drop your ball under this Rule before you lift it, as playing the ball as it lies might be your best option!
- You are not allowed to take free relief from an abnormal course condition in a penalty area.
Garden Beds:
- You may take relief from any Garden Bed that has a frame build around it. Nearest point no closer to the hole.
Fumeroles:
- You may take relief from the fumeroles (Large rock pyramid like formations eg. Hole 2 Tauhara for steam to come out of). If a player’s ball lies anywhere on the course other than in a penalty area and it lies on or touches a fumerole or such a fumerole interferes with the player’s area of intended stance or area of intended swing or line of shot (up to 5m) the player may take free relief.
GUR on Hole 17 Tauhara:
- We have a blue wooden bar in front of the green protecting a small drain behind it. You may take relief of one club length from the bar or drain if your stroke or stance is interfered with.