Local Rules 

1. Out of Bounds

Beyond any line of white stakes, posts and/or fence bounding the course. Also where white lines are painted between white stakes which define the OOB, the white lines represent the boundary and the white stakes indicate the presence of OOB.


2. Immovable Obstructions
(a) The roadway crossing the course, (b) staked trees, (c) stone chipped pathways, and (d) astroturf/synthetic covered pathways.


3. Sprinkler Heads
All fixed sprinkler heads are immovable obstructions and relief from interference may be taken under rule 16.1.

In addition, if a sprinkler head is on the line of play and is within two club lengths of the putting green and within two club lengths of the ball, the player may take relief under rule 16.1b.

The reference point is the nearest place of complete relief from the interference, and the relief area is 1 club length from that point and must be:

(a)  not nearer the hole,

(b) avoids intervention and

(c) not in a penalty area or on a putting green.

4. Bunker Faces
Embedded Ball in Stacked Turf on Bunker Face, Rule 16.3 is modified such that no free relief is allowed for a ball embedded in the stacked turf face. Penalty relief may be taken under
Rule-19.2 (Unplayable Ball)

Temporary Local Rules 

GROUND UNDER REPAIR

Areas marked by a white line or blue stakes are Ground Under Repair. Relief may be taken under 16- 1(a), i.e. determine the nearest point of full relief and then drop the ball within 1 club length of that spot, no nearer the hole. The ball may be cleaned in this situation.

ABNORMAL COURSE CONDITION - SIGNIFICANT COURSE DAMAGE BY BIRDS

When a ball comes to rest in an area where there is significant damage caused by birds foraging for grubs, relief may be taken by dropping a ball at the nearest point which affords full relief from this condition, not nearer the hole. Note that relief is not granted for interference of stance, just a ball within that condition.

BIRD SCARING KITES

These may be treated as Temporary Immovable Obstructions (TIOs). Relief may be taken under Rule 16.1b (Immovable Obstructions). Additionally the player may take relief where there is Line of Sight interference in the following situations:

  • The TIO is on the player's line of sight to the hole (that is the TIO is located on the straight line between the ball and the hole), or
  • The ball is within one club-length, measured on an equidistant arc from the hole, of a spot where the TIO would be on the player's direct line of sight to the hole (this one club-length arc commonly referred to as the 'corridor').

Relief

If a player finds their ball in such a situation relief may be taken by dropping the ball or another ball in the relief area:

  • The Reference Point is the nearest point of complete relief where both physical and line of sight interference no longer exists
  • The size of the relief area is the entire area within one club-length of the reference point but ;
  • must be in the General Area and must not be nearer the hole than the reference point

Relief may not be taken in the following situations:

  • When playing the ball as it lies would clearly be unreasonable because of something other than the TIO (such as when the player is unable to make a stroke because of where the ball lies in a bush outside the TIO)
  • There is no relief when interference exists only because the player choose a club, type of stance or swing or direction of play that is clearly unreasonable under the circumstances Line of Sight only:
  • There is no relief when it is clearly unreasonable for a player to play the ball far enough that the ball will reach the TIO 

Tractor Marks

If a ball comes to rest in tractor tracks anywhere on the course, relief may be taken under 16- 1(a), i.e. determine the nearest point of full relief and then drop the ball within 1 club length of that spot, no nearer the hole. The ball may be cleaned in this situation.


GENERAL INFORMATION


COURSE ETIQUETTE

  • Please do not take trolleys/buggies between the edges of greens and bunkers.
  • Please ensure that all pitch marks are repaired.
  • Please do not climb over, under or around ropes/posts that are in place to protect areas of the course. If you do need to remove ropes/posts to play your shot, please put back immediately after you have played your shot.

Suspension of Play

  • Suspension – One prolonged blast on the siren/klaxon
  • Resumption – Two blasts + verbal communication
  • Abandonment – Three blasts + verbal communication

Electrical Storm Advice

If it is not possible to give sufficient warning to clear the course prior to the onset of an electrical storm, please consider the following advice. This advice is designed to be of assistance to enable players to leave the course safely. It is not an instruction or part of the conditions of any competition or event. Fairhaven Golf Club will not accept liability for any damage or injury caused by the following of this advice.

After marking the ball:

  • Leave the course immediately and report back to the clubhouse.
  • Do not put up an umbrella
  • Do not shelter under trees or high ground
  • Do not use a mobile phone