Rules of Play
The Rules of the United States Golf Association govern play. See applicable Notice to Competitors for additional Local Rules and Conditions.
Unless otherwise noted, the penalty for breach of a Local Rule is the general penalty.
LOCAL RULES
Golf Course Tee Markers - color may vary from course to course
Boys Gold Division will play from the 'Blue' tees
Boys Silver Division will play from the 'White' tees
Boys Bronze Division will play from the 'Red' tees
Girls Gold Division will play from the 'White' tees
Girls Silver Division will play from the 'Red' tees
Boys Futures Division will play from the 'Red' tees
Girls Futures Division will play from the 'Red' tees
Out of Bounds — Defined by the line between the course-side points, at ground level, of white stakes and fence posts.
Penalty Areas — When a penalty area is defined on only one side, it extends to infinity. When a penalty area is connected to the out-of-bounds edge, the penalty area extends to and coincides with out of bounds.
Abnormal Course Conditions — Defined by white lines. French drains are ground under repair. For grass-covered trenching, see Temporary Power Lines and Cables.Ground under repair may include areas of unusual damage, including areas where spectators or other traffic has combined with wet conditions to affect materially the ground surface, but only when so declared by an authorized member of the Committee. When immediately adjacent to an immovable obstruction, such an area is part of that obstruction.
Alternate to Stroke and Distance for Lost Ball or Ball Out of Bounds- The Local Rule as prescribed in Section 8 of the Committee Procedures will not be in effect for any LCJGT Contest. In other words, the local rule option to drop in the fairway with a two stroke penalty is not being utilized.
Relief from Seams of Cut Turf — Local Rule as prescribed in Section 8 of the Committee Procedures is in effect. Model Local Rule F-7.
Immovable Obstructions — Include plastic bumpers on roads and paths, and mats secured to the ground with spikes when the bumpers or mats cover cables.
White-Lined Areas Tying Into Artificially Surfaced Roads and Paths — White-lined areas of ground under repair and the artificially surfaced roads, paths or other identified obstructions that they are connected to are a single abnormal course condition when taking relief under Rule 16.1.
Wood Chips and Mulch — Are loose impediments.
Integral Objects — Include cables, rods, wires, and wrappings when closely attached to trees, and artificial walls and pilings when located in penalty areas and bunkers. An exposed bunker line may be treated as ground under repair, but interference does not exist if the liner interferes only with the player’s stance.
Immovable Obstructions close to the Putting Green- Relief is available only when the ball and the immovable obstruction lie in a closely mown area, the ball lies in the general area, and an immovable obstruction on or within two club lengths of the putting green and within two club lengths of the ball intervenes on the line of play between the ball and the hole. (Drop ball within one club length of complete relief)
Temporary Power Lines and Cables — Local Rule as prescribed in Section 8 of the Committee Procedures is in effect. Model Local Rule F-22.
Temporary Immovable Obstructions — Local Rule as prescribed in Section 8 of the Committee Procedures is in effect. Model Local Rule F-23.
CONDITIONS
List of Conforming Driver Heads — Local Rule as prescribed in Section 8 of the Committee Procedures is in effect. Model Local Rule G-1.
List of Conforming Golf Balls — Local Rule as prescribed in Section 8 of the Committee Procedures is in effect. Model Local Rule G-3.
Distance Measuring Devices
For all play in LCJGT events, a player may obtain distance information by use of a distance-measuring device ONLY. Any multi-use device, such as a cell phone, may not be used by a LCJGT player for this purpose. If, during a stipulated round, a player uses a distance-measuring device to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect their play (e.g. elevation change, wind speed, etc.), the player is in breach of rule 4.3. Range finders that have a slope feature that can be turned off are acceptable, but must always be used in the "tournament mode."
Pace of Play
See Pace of Play Policy below. General Rule - 14 minutes/hole = 4 hours and 12 minutes/round.
Stopping and Resuming Play — Local Rule as prescribed in Section 8 of the Committee Procedures is in effect. Model Local Rule J-1. All practice areas are closed during an immediate suspension for a dangerous situation until the Committee has declared them open. Players who practice on closed practice areas will be asked to stop practicing; failure to stop practicing might result in disqualification. An immediate suspension will be signaled by one prolonged airhorn note. All other types of suspension will be signaled by three consecutive airhorn notes. Resumption of play will be signaled by two short airhorn notes.
Practice — Prior to and after a round in stroke play, a player may practice on the designated practice areas. Rule 5.2b covering practice in stroke play is modified in this way: A player may not practice on the competition course before or between rounds. Penalty for breach of Local Rule, see Rule 5.2.
Prohibiting Use of Motorized Transportation — Local Rule as prescribed in Section 8 of the Committee Procedures is in effect. Model Local Rule G-6.
Caddies - A player is prohibited from using a caddie during the stipulated round Rule 10.3a is modified.
How to Decide Ties
In the event of a tie for first place, there will be a hole by hole sudden victory playoff starting at a hole determined by the Committee. Ties at other places will be determined by the USGA designated method of matching cards.
TERMS OF THE COMPETITION
When Competition Is Final— The competition is final when the trophy has been presented to the winner or, in the absence of a prize ceremony, when all scores have been approved by the Committee. The result of a match is final when the Committee has approved the result as posted on the public scoreboard.
SCORING
A. All competitors will keep a legible scorecard with their fellow competitors score as well as their own score on it. (Penalty for not keeping a complete score card - disqualification).
B. All golfers must witness all strokes taken by their fellow competitors.
C. State your score as you hole out!
D. End-of-the-round scoring verification - report immediately to the scorer’s table/score board in the pavilion to verify scores.
E. Any time a rules infraction occurs, the player shall inform his fellow competitors immediately. Where uncertainty or disagreement exists, the situation shall be referred to the Tournament Director for an official ruling. If an official in not present, play a second ball and record both scores. Rule 20.1c.
F. It is up to each competitor to protect the integrity of the field by playing by the LCJGT and USGA rules.
Par 3's
Allow group behind to hit up if they are on the tee and all players in your group are on the green and clear.
PACE OF PLAY POLICY
“The Player shall play without undue delay and in the accordance with the pace of play guidelines which may be laid down by the committee, “and thereafter prescribes penalties for slow play. In order to prevent such a penalty, we suggest that you review carefully the following guidelines.
Allotted Time
Groups are expected to play at no more than the allotted time published for the event. The allotted time is 4-hours and 30-minutes for the 18-hole round or 15 minutes per hole.
Definition of “Out of Position”
The first group to start will be considered out of position if, at any time during the round, the group is behind their allotted time.
Any following group will be considered out of position if it (a) is taking more than the allotted time to play and (b) reaches the tee of a par 3 hole and the hole is clear, fails to clear the tee of a par 4 hole before the preceding group clears the putting green or arrives at the teeing ground of a par 5 hole when the preceding group is on the putting green. Both (a) and (b) must apply for a group to be out of position.
Group Notification
Groups MAY BE NOTIFIED when they are out of position and given an opportunity to regain their position. If a ruling or some other legitimate delay occurs which causes a group in question to lose its position, that group is expected to regain its position in a reasonable time [within two holes]. If a group fails to regain their position, they will be notified and subject to being timed.
Timing
A group may be monitored or timed for compliance with this pace of play guideline if it is “out of position.” When a group is “out of position” a player in the group is expected to play any stroke within 40 seconds.
Other than on the putting green, the timing of a player’s stroke will begin when he has had a reasonable opportunity to reach his ball, it is his turn to play and he can play without interference or distraction. Time spent determining yardage will count as part of the time taken for the next stroke.
On the putting green, timing will begin after a player has been allowed a reasonable amount of time to lift, clean and replace his ball, repair his ball mark and other ball marks on his line of putt and remove loose impediments on his line of putt. Time spent looking at the line from beyond the hole and/or behind the ball will count as part of the time taken for the next stroke.
NOTE: The Committee reserves the right, at any time, to time a group when the Committee deems it necessary. Players should also be aware that the Committee may assess a “bad time” to a player in a group which is out of position if the player makes no effort to help his group get back in position. An example of this would be a player who unduly delays play between shots.
Pace of Play Penalties
The following are the penalties, in sequence, for any player in a group out of position who takes more than 40 seconds to play a stroke when it is his turn to play:
Stroke Play
One bad timing Warning
A second bad timing 1 penalty stroke
A third bad timing Additional 2 penalty strokes
A fourth bad timing Disqualification
NOTE: If the group in question regains its proper position, any previous timings of more than 40 seconds will be carried over for the remainder of that round in the event that group requires additional monitoring.